Exploring Some of the Mathematical Properties of Chains
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Date
2009
Authors
Knoll, Eva
Taylor, Tara
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Abstract
This workshop aims to explore various mathematical topics that emerge from examining classes of chains and their
properties. Basic concepts are taken from topology, an area of mathematics that is concerned with notions like
connectedness, how many holes there are, and orientability; geometry, including symmetries; and collapsibility and
degrees of freedom. These topics are explored through an examination of a small number of chain designs including
examples that are not topologically linked at all, examples in which the relative position of the links determine the
symmetries, degrees of freedom, and the way in which their structure is analogous to that of a Moebius band, and
finally a model of a chain design with a fractal structure. The workshop will include building human models to
explore various properties and other activities where the participants will be able to play with necklace models to
better understand the theory and to come up with their own questions to investigate.
Description
Keywords
Chains , Mathematics