Events: detail
The maths of pylons, art galleries and prisons under the spotlight
- Hosted by:
- Gresham College
- Speaker:
-
John D Barrow FRS, Gresham Professor of Geometry
- Starts:
- January 12, 2009 at 01:00 pm
- Ends:
- January 12, 2009 at 02:00 pm
- Location:
- Royal College of Surgeons of England, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE United Kingdom
- Maps:
Description
Some mathematics of straight lines. Why are electricity pylons made of triangular patterns of struts? Rigid shapes and flexible shapes. What is the smallest number of attendants you need to watch all the paintings on the wall of an art gallery of any shape with straight walls, and any number of rooms? What if the attendants move around? What is the smallest number of cameras you need to watch the outside walls of a prison? What is the smallest number of spotlights needed to illuminate a stage of any size?
- Registration required:
- No
- Free:
- Yes
