In October 2004, I was honored to be the Utah State University Prospects in Mathematics
lecturer. The first lecture was for an undergraduate audience and it was about the
Mathematics of Soap Films. We did experiments with films illustrating various mathematical
and physical principles. Also, we talked about the mathematics needed to understand
soap film geometry: differential geometry and complex variables. Finally, we showed
how Maple can be used to create new minimal surfaces according to the Weierstrass-Enneper
Representation and how Maple can solve differential equations (explicitly and
numerically) to give us shapes.These are photos from the lecture, all taken by Nancy Smart
of the Utah State Math Department. Thanks to Nancy and to all of the "volunteers" for
their help with the experiments! Finally, thanks to my host Dariusz Wilczynski and
Utah State for the invitation to speak and for the chance to see a beautiful part of
the country.
Dariusz Wilczynski
Pepper held up by Surface Tension
Pepper held up by Surface Tension
Soap films do work
Soap films minimize area: A catenoid
Another catenoid
Soap films minimize area: A helicoid
Circles maximize area subject to fixed perimeter
Plateau's Rules
What has he been drinking?
Is this a flattering view?
Talking
More talking
Even more talking
Will it end?
Bear Lake
Dariusz again
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