Assignment

1. Please research the Umbilic Torus sculpture outside the Physics building at STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY. 

a. Who built it?  Why?

b. What is unusual about this 3D form? 

c. Estimate its surface area (Hint: Look up a shape called a deltoid, which is the shape of a cross section of the torus), and volume.  Show how you did this.  If you are really into math, you can calculate this based on the equations for an umbilic torus, but that is difficult.

d. If it weighs 10 tons and is composed of bronze, is it solid?  Why or why not?

 2. Estimate the height and weight of the big Pagoda structure on top of the Charles B. Wang Center.  Make sure you provide details about how you did this. (also, who is Charles B. Wang?  What is he known for?)

3.  a. What is the “SUNYLAB” structure standing behind the Heavy Engineering building?

b. Based on its weight and dimensions (which you can rather easily find out (Hint – go look at it!)), calculate the resolved forces (perpendicular and parallel to the ground) on one of the three legs.

c. How would you go about designing a lighter and more portable version of SUNYLAB – in other words, how would you solve the problem of creating a lighter and more transportable version of a structure that does what the SUNYLAB was designed to do (back in 1973!)?  Describe your problem solving –process.