The Golden Ratio in Nature: A Tour across Length Scales

Marples, Callum Robert; Williams, Philip Michael

Abstract

The Golden ratio is an irrational number that has a tendency to appear in many different scientific and artistic fields. It may be found in natural phenomena across a vast range of length scales; from galactic to atomic. In this review, the mathematical properties of the Golden ratio are discussed before exploring where in nature it is claimed to appear; beginning at astronomical scales and progressing to smaller lengths, until reaching those of atomic and quantum physics. For each phenomenon discussed, the evidence for the presence of the Golden ratio is assessed. In making such a tour across length scales, it is illustrated just how prevalent this single number is within the natural universe.

Citation

Marples, C. R., & Williams, P. M. (2022). The Golden Ratio in Nature: A Tour across Length Scales. Symmetry, 14(10), Article 2059. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym14102059

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 23, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Oct 3, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Oct 5, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 14, 2022
• Journal: Symmetry
• Electronic ISSN: 2073-8994
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 10
• Article Number: 2059
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sym14102059
• Keywords: Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous); General Mathematics; Chemistry (miscellaneous); Computer Science (miscellaneous)
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/12030504
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/14/10/2059