Geometric Model, L. Brill No. 148 g Ser. 10 No. 1g, Minimal Surface
Geometric Model, L. Brill No. 148 g Ser. 10 No. 1g, Minimal Surface
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- Description
- Students at the technical high school in Munich, working under the direction of Alexander Brill, developed a series of wire models of minimal surfaces that was first published by Ludwig Brill in 1885. A minimal surface is the surface of smallest area of all the surfaces bounded by a closed curve in space. Its mean curvature is zero. Minimal surfaces are often represented by soap films, as was the intention with this model. This, the seventh model in the series, is in the shape of a cube. A handle is attached to a wire joining the midpoints of two opposite sides.
- This example was exhibited at the Columbian Exposition, a world’s fair held in Chicago in 1893.
- References:
- L. Brill, Catalog mathematischer Modelle..., Darmstadt: L. Brill,1892, p. 21, 85.
- G. Fischer, Mathematical Models: Commentary, Braunschweig / Wiesbaden: Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn, 1986, pp. 41-43.
- H.A. Schwarz, Bestimmung einer speciellen Minimalfläche, Berlin: F. Dümmler's Verlags-Buchhandlung, 1871. This source is mentioned in Brill’s catalog.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- Geometric Model
- geometric model
- date made
- 1892
- maker
- L. Brill
- place made
- Germany: Hesse, Darmstadt
- Physical Description
- metal (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 18.2 cm x 7.3 cm x 7.3 cm; 7 5/32 in x 2 7/8 in x 2 7/8 in
- ID Number
- 1985.0112.112
- catalog number
- 1985.0112.112
- accession number
- 1985.0112
- Credit Line
- Gift of Wesleyan University
- subject
- Mathematics
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics
- Science & Mathematics
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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