Projection of a Torus
From Math Images
| Projection of a 4-Dimensional Torus |
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Basic Description
It is impossible to visualize a complete four-dimensional object, since we have only ever lived in three-dimensional space. However, there are ways to capture parts of the four-dimensional object in three-dimensional space.A useful analogy is a world map. We can capture the essence of the three-dimensional globe on a two-dimensional map, but only by using a projection, which translates a three-dimensional object onto a two-dimensional surface at the expense of distorting the object in some way.
A similar process is carried out to create this page's main image. A four-dimensional object, described further below, is projected into three-dimensions using two different projections.
A More Mathematical Explanation
The four-dimensional torus is defined parametrically by UNIQ7eb568286d4f81a [...]
The four-dimensional torus is defined parametrically by 
. The first two coordinates of the parametrization give a circle in u-space, and the second two coordinates give a circle in v-space. The 4-D torus is thus the cross product of two circles.
A stereographic projection is used to map this 4-D object into 3-D, using a projection point of 
for the first object in this page's main image. This projection is centered above the four-dimensional object, projecting the symmetric torus into three-dimensional space. For the second object, the projection point is shifted to be closer to one part of the four-dimensional object than the other, creating an uneven object in 3-D. This projection's unevenness is similar to the shadow of a symmetric object becoming asymmetric because of the light source's positioning.
Teaching Materials
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About the Creator of this Image
Thomas F. Banchoff is a geometer, and a professor at Brown University since 1967.
Leave a message on the discussion page by clicking the 'discussion' tab at the top of this image page.
