Fibonacci Series in Nature
Fibonacci Series in Nature
So what is the Fibonacci Series? One often hears this term especially as a math student, programmer, naturalist or an environmentalist. In a Fibonacci series, each number is the sum of its two preceding numbers. For eg 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, so on. The sequence usually starts with 0 or 1 and the first term is omitted in most cases. Here we easily see that the series justifies the only criterion. The Fibonacci sequence is also widely known as the golden ratio or golden number.
Although this series certainly doesn’t represent everything that grows in nature, it has been extensively observed that this series is abundantly present in nature, all around us. These patterns can be studied by observing the arrangement of seeds, fruits, vegetables, patterns on shells, flower petals, branches of trees, natural disasters and even the human body.
Seeds, Fruits and Vegetables
If we closely look at the pattern of the arrangement of sunflower seeds, it will positively turn out to be a Fibonacci series. Also fruits and vegetables like pineapple, custard apple, cauliflower, cabbage are the quintessentials of displaying the perfect Fibonacci.
Shells, Flower petals and Branches of trees
On noticing the pattern on the shells of different mollusks (snails, clams, oysters, etc.), we get another example of how brilliantly the series is blended in nature. The number of petals in a flower and how the branches divide on a tree are also examples that can simply be seen every now and then.
Storms
Storms like tornadoes, hurricanes, whirlpools, etc. follow the Fibonacci series. Next time do not miss to observe the spiral patterns of these storm systems on the screen.
Human Body
A keen observation reveals that most of our body parts also follow one, two, three and five. One nose, two eyes, three divisions of each limb with five fingers and toes. The proportion of our body can also be divided in terms of the golden ratio. It is scientifically shown that our DNA molecules also follow the same ratio.
On studying deeply scientists have revealed the possible reasons why nature so profusely displays the golden ratio. It has been said that by following the Fibonacci, the growth pattern of nature has emerged to be the most effective. In plants, it is believed to allow maximum exposure to light or maximum seed arrangement.
