ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Constructal theory

Constructal theory is a way to understand how things are designed to optimize or work better. Think of it like building a race car or a tree growing. When we build a race car, we want it to go fast, so we design it with the shape and material to make it go faster. Similarly, a tree grows its branches and leaves to get the most sunlight, water, and nutrients for better survival.

Constructal theory is about looking at how everything is shaped in the world around us, from the smallest things like water droplets to the biggest things like mountains, and figuring out the patterns that make them work the way they do. With this theory, engineers, scientists, and other people can make better designs for things like cars, buildings, and airplanes.

For example, if an engineer needs to design a cooling system for a computer, they will use constructal theory to figure out the best way to create liquid channels within the computer to move heat away from the computer's processor. By doing this, the computer will be able to run faster and last longer since it won't overheat.

So, in simple terms, the constructal theory is a way to understand how things are designed to work better, and it helps people make better designs for things that need to move, flow, exchange energy, or dissipate heat.