CautiousCold8392
CautiousCold8392 t1_jeg9tsm wrote
Reply to comment by Chromotron in ELI5-What is the fibonacci sequence? by amsdys
Even though it may be true that no physical process directly favors them, saying there aren't any in the natural world is inaccurate. Although they might not have been the only factors in the creation of some naturally occurring spirals, the golden ratio and the Fibonacci sequence can be seen in some of them. A nice illustration of the pattern is how seeds are distributed in sunflowers.
CautiousCold8392 t1_jeg3v46 wrote
Reply to comment by Chromotron in ELI5-What is the fibonacci sequence? by amsdys
>No, those are at best just any logarithmic spirals, the factor is not the golden ratio or otherwise Fibonacci-related.
It is true in some cases but not all. Even though there may not always be a connection between math and nature, there are still instances where the golden ratio and the Fibonacci sequence can be seen.
CautiousCold8392 t1_jeg1e81 wrote
Reply to ELI5-What is the fibonacci sequence? by amsdys
In the Fibonacci sequence, each number is the sum of the two previous ones. It is helpful in computer science, for instance, for creating random numbers and sorting data. Natural examples include the spiral shapes of shells and galaxies.
CautiousCold8392 t1_jefytiz wrote
Reply to Eli5 if the universe is expanding, then why isn’t the earth, and everything in it (us) getting measurably bigger too? by Far-Contribution-632
There is a very strong force holding the Earth, the sun, and the moon together known as gravity, which prevents them from separating on their own. The universe's expansion is unnoticed from our own galaxy. It's really on much larger scales, between galaxies, where the universe's expansion is noticeable.
CautiousCold8392 t1_jeggbab wrote
Reply to comment by Chromotron in ELI5-What is the fibonacci sequence? by amsdys
It's nice to know that we are in agreement. It is true to say that the Fibonacci sequence may not account for the unpredictability of natural processes.
Other examples exist that may resemble the sequence. The spiral pattern on a ram's horns often resembles the golden ratio. As the pinecone grows bigger and you count the spiral in each direction, the ratio gets closer to the golden ratio.