On the equilibria of finely discretized curves and surfaces

DOI10.1007/S00605-011-0361-XzbMATH Open1264.53007OpenAlexW2010810162MaRDI QIDQ691035FDOQ691035

Authors: Gábor Domokos, Zsolt Lángi, Tímea Szabó 

Publication date: 29 November 2012

Published in: Monatshefte für Mathematik (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Our goal is to identify the type and number of static equilibrium points of solids arising from fine, equidistant $n$-discretrizations of smooth, convex surfaces. We assume uniform gravity and a frictionless, horizontal, planar support. We show that as $n$ approaches infinity these numbers fluctuate around specific values which we call the imaginary equilibrium indices associated with the approximated smooth surface. We derive simple formulae for these numbers in terms of the principal curvatures and the radial distances of the equilibrium points of the solid from its center of gravity. Our results are illustrated on a discretized ellipsoid and match well the observations on natural pebble surfaces.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1106.0626

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zbMATH Keywords

equilibriumpolyhedral approximationconvex surfacePoincaré-Hopf formula

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Polyhedral manifolds (52B70) Curves in Euclidean and related spaces (53A04) Surfaces in Euclidean and related spaces (53A05) Applications of differential geometry to physics (53Z05)

Cites Work

• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Monostatic Simplexes
• How do convex bodies sit?
• What shape is a loaded die?
• Static equilibria of rigid bodies: Dice, pebbles, and the Poincaré-Hopf theorem
• Pebbles, shapes, and equilibria
• Static equilibria of planar, rigid bodies: Is there anything new?
• What is Analysis in the Large?

Cited In (6)

• Geometry of equilibrium curves and surfaces for discrete anisotropic energy
• A topological classification of convex bodies
• Monotonicity of spatial critical points evolving under curvature-driven flows
• Tracking critical points on evolving curves and surfaces
• A solution to some problems of Conway and Guy on monostable polyhedra
• On properties of analytical approximation for discretizing 2D curves and 3D surfaces

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