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Michael Henle and
Jim Walsh created the interactive exhibit on
fractals and chaos. PHOTOGRAPHS BY
LINDA
GRASHOFF
Visitors Invited to Explore the Mathematics of Fractals and Chaos
Walsh and Henle created these images with Julia Sets and Fractals, two of six programs available at the exhibit.
Editor's Note: Besides representing themselves as visual objects, fractals can express their nature in music. Gary Lee Nelson, professor of electronic and computer music at Oberlin, creates such works. One is called "Fractal Mountains." Walsh suggests these other links for exploring fractals and chaos:
SEPTEMBER 3, 1999--The mathematics department has long used the area outside the department office--near the south stairwell on the second floor of the King Building--to display information about mathematical concepts. This year James A. Walsh, associate professor of mathematics, took advantage not only of the glass display cases along the wall but also the space in front of the cases to set up an interactive computer experience of the type seen in science museums.
Walsh wanted to engage a wide audience, so he needed to build the display around a topic that did not require an extensive mathematical background.
"The mathematics of chaos and fractals was a natural choice," he says. The mathematical process that underlies fractals and chaos is simple enough to be taught at the high-school level, says Walsh.
"Yet, surprisingly, this simple process produces amazingly intricate and beautiful mathematical objects. The complexity of the output of these computer programs is stunning given that they were generated by such a simple method."
The process used to generate the fractals in the display is iteration, which Walsh explains as "applying a mathematical rule or procedure over and over and over again.
"Iteration is boring to execute by hand," Walsh says. "A computer is essential for the enjoyment of fractals, as indeed it was for their discovery."
Visitors to the display can explore fractals and their associated dynamical systems using the computer after reading some brief preliminary material, looking at the accompanying examples, and following a few suggestions. Although the software is easy to use, short user manuals (for emergencies, Walsh says) are at hand.
Besides colorful images of several fractals mounted in the display case, Walsh's exhibit includes introductory and explanatory material geared to anyone seeking a hands-on glimpse into this field of mathematics.
"The exhibit is accessible to anyone who remembers some mathematics from high school," he says.
Michael Henle, professor of mathematics, helped Walsh create the setup, and Bruce Richards, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, arranged for the computer placement.
The mathematics department welcomes comments and encourages exhibit visitors--especially since no museum attendant is gazing over their shoulder--to take their time with the materials and have fun.
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The display cases show examples of fractals. |
Please send comments, questions, and suggestions about Oberlin Online news and feature articles to Linda.Grashoff@oberlin.edu.
