Why can mathematics and physics simulate natural phenomena so closely in thought experiments, calculations and computer programs?
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You have two options:
– The universe has no rules, or
– The universe has rules.
Which do you choose? Option 2, good. Now if it has rules you need a system of rule that is predictable and logical. You have only one option for this: math. You measure a “before”, you add a measurable “event”, and then you get a measurable “result. “before + event = result”. Logic.
Logic says if reality has rules, you can model it with math.
Because science is used to explain what we see. If someone comes up with a mathematical formula to explain something, but the math doesn’t actually work out, then we…don’t use it, because it was wrong.
The math that we use to model natural phenomena is used *because* it works out correctly. If someone in the future discovers a problem with our current formulae and fixes it, then we’d start using their corrected formulae instead.
Because mathematical and physics models that do not correspond closely to reality are deemed incorrect and not used, then the scientists get to work trying to fix what is wrong or looking for a new approach. Your question is quite like asking why a car is so good at travelling on roads: because the attempts at building a car that resulted in something that really sucked at travelling on roads are simply not selected for mass production.
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