In the Beginning was Information

F = G x m 1 x m 2 / r 2The force F is given by a constant (the so-called gravitational constant,G) multiplied by the product of the two masses m 1 and m 2 ,divided by the square of the distance r. In addition, it can be mentionedthat the effect of a force on an object is to accelerate it. Thismeans that the velocity of an object acted on by a force changesfaster when its mass is smaller. Now almost everything worthknowing about the law of gravity, has been said. But when this lawis used to compute the orbits of the planets, it immediatelybecomes clear that the effects of a simple natural law can be verycomplex. When the relative motions of three bodies are analysed interms of this law, the mathematical formulations become quiteintractable.Faraday’s law of electrolysis states that the quantity of matter separatedout during electrolysis, is proportional to the electrical currentand to its duration (e. g. electroplating with copper or gold).This formulation may seem to be very mathematical, but what itreally means, is that one unit of charge is required to separate oneatom from the molecule it belongs to.Conclusion: Laws of nature may be expressed and formulated verballyto any required degree of precision. In many cases it is possibleand convenient to formulate them mathematically as well. AsFeynman states [F1, p 41]: “In the last instance mathematics isnothing more than a logical course of events which is expressedin formulas.” Sir James H. Jeans (1877 – 1946), the well-knownBritish mathematician, physicist and astronomer, said [F1, p 58]:“The Great Architect seems to be a mathematician.”N7: The laws of nature are (in principle) falsifiable. To bereally meaningful, a theorem must be formulated in such a waythat it could be refuted if it was false. The fact that the laws ofnature can be formulated the way they are, cannot be ascribed tohuman ingenuity, but is a result of their being established by theCreator. After a law has been formulated, we discover that it couldin principle very easily be negated if invalid. This is what makesthese laws so important and accords them their great range ofapplicability.31