Outside In/Not Knot

Synopsis

This package includes a DVD of two award-winning computer animations of mathematical concepts and theorems, as well as supplementary material.

OUTSIDE IN explains the amazing discovery, made by Steve Smale in 1957, that a sphere can be turned inside out by means of smooth motions and self-intersections. Stunning computer animation combined with accessible dialogue and exposition builds up to the grand finale - Bill Thurston’s "corrugations" method of turning the sphere inside out. The accompanying four-colour booklet, Making Waves, includes a transcript of the movie’s dialogue and expands on the explanations provided in the film. The booklet also includes an article by Bill Thurston himself, on how the method of corrugations can be applied to similar problems in any dimension. (20 minutes)

NOT KNOT - This animation is a guided tour into computer-animated hyperbolic space. It proceeds from the world of knots to its complementary space, what’s not a knot. Profound theorems show that most knot complements carry the structure of hyperbolic geometry. The video shows the geometry of the knot complement, the space around the knot, changing into hyperbolic space, and then you see what it is like to "fly through" hyperbolic space. Each new viewing will produce questions or answers to previous questions. (16 minutes)

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2009

Year of production

1992

Notes

NOT KNOT was reviewed by David Epstein in New Scientist (3 Aug 91), p34-5.

Subjects

Mathematics

Keywords

Borromean rings; geometry; knots; spheres; Thurston conjecture; topology

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 1 NTSC

Price

$39.00

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

20, 16 minutes

Year

2011

Production Company

Name

University of Minnesota, Geometry Center

Distributor

Name

Peters (A K) Ltd

Email

service@akpeters.com

Web

http://www.akpeters.com External site opens in new window

Phone

+1 781 416-2888

Fax

+1 781 416-2889

Address

888 Worcester Street, Suite 230
Wellesley, MA 02482
USA