dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaElements, topology, and T-shirts
| Authors | P. Fraundorf |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0603026 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0603026 |
Abstract
Consider the network of elements connected by adjacency in atomic number and periodic table column. If all elements except H-He are connected by identical springs and constrained to a z-spiral in 2D, a map sans spring-crossing results for various values of rest length in units of the H-He distance. If the z-spiral is removed, and the network allowed to relax in 3D, the resulting surface with three holes has the topology of a T-shirt or open-handle teapot. Mapping this to a shirt's front-back pattern yields a 2D table of elemental inter-connects in tabular (nearly rectilinear) form. Sample applications: The flat spiral (like other spiral patterns) might serve as basis for an educational board game, while the T-shirt table might serve as a starting point for ``topologically informed'' classroom periodic-table design projects with wearable awards.
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"date_created": "2026-03-02T18:01:06.604000Z",
"date_modified": "2026-03-02T18:01:06.604000Z",
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"abstract": "Consider the network of elements connected by adjacency in atomic number and\nperiodic table column. If all elements except H-He are connected by identical\nsprings and constrained to a z-spiral in 2D, a map sans spring-crossing results\nfor various values of rest length in units of the H-He distance. If the\nz-spiral is removed, and the network allowed to relax in 3D, the resulting\nsurface with three holes has the topology of a T-shirt or open-handle teapot.\nMapping this to a shirt\u0027s front-back pattern yields a 2D table of elemental\ninter-connects in tabular (nearly rectilinear) form. Sample applications: The\nflat spiral (like other spiral patterns) might serve as basis for an\neducational board game, while the T-shirt table might serve as a starting point\nfor ``topologically informed\u0027\u0027 classroom periodic-table design projects with\nwearable awards.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0603026",
"authors": [
"P. Fraundorf"
],
"categories": [
"physics.ed-ph",
"physics.chem-ph"
],
"title": "Elements, topology, and T-shirts",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0603026"
},
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"source": {
"execution_id": "2373e74a-6868-4ac7-9ddf-f6a0ddca21d8",
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"type": "Model",
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