Work in celestial mechanics
Newton's law of gravitation is the foundation of work in celestial mechanics. It nevertheless sometimes seems to malfunction. Thus, Jupiter and Saturn do not seem to behave as expected; the tidal flow is greater than what the theory predicts. Through extensive work, Laplace discovers little-known phenomena: the so-called Coriolis forces, tidal dynamics, gravitational resonances... The Norman polymath had even predicted the existence of black holes!
All articles in this folder
Laplace's brilliant insight into black holes | Tangente
The finite speed of light and its particle nature led Laplace, through a bold line of reasoning, to contemplate the existence of black holes—before changing his mind. Although he could not have conceived of light's dual nature at the time, he was right!
The ebb and flow of the sea: a dynamic theory | Tangente
Laplace took an interest in "the ebb and flow of the sea," as he put it. After examining the approaches taken by his predecessors, he grasped the impact of the Earth's rotation and studied the tides, paving the way for their times to be calculated accurately.
From Laplace's equation to the Laplacian
The Laplacian operator is used to describe most diffusion phenomena in physics. It is central to analysis, geometry and probability theory, among other fields. Its origins lie in an equation discovered by Laplace that governs the gravitational interaction between bodies separated by empty space.
The empire of resonances
Kepler's laws and the law of gravitation made it possible to predict the positions of the planets over time. Yet Jupiter and Saturn insisted on straying from those predictions—and every attempt to explain why had failed! It was Laplace who would uncover the underlying phenomenon of resonance.
Before black holes: Laplace's hidden stars | Tangente
In astronomy, a "black hole" is neither a hole nor black. The existence of these celestial objects was predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity in the early twentieth century. It was demonstrated several decades later through the detection of gravitational waves produced by the coalescence of objects that came to be called black holes. What exactly are they?
Solar System stability: Laplace and Newton | Tangente
Laplace set out his model for the creation of the Solar System in his Exposition du système du monde, several successive editions of which appeared between 1796 and 1824.