51福利社

51福利社 has been gifted a unique mathematical object known as a 鈥� the first known physical example of a new class of shapes called mono-monostatics.

The 骋枚尘产枚肠 is tangible proof of a mathematical theory, developed by G谩bor Domokos and P茅ter V谩rkonyi from the Budapest University Technology and Economics, about the stability of solid objects. The 骋枚尘产枚肠 is a three-dimensional, homogenous, convex object that has exactly one stable and one unstable equilibrium, or balance point; if you put it down on a flat surface it will reorient itself until it reaches the one stable equilibrium point.

The mathematicians have chosen to gift one of the 骋枚尘产枚肠 pieces to the University with the unique serial number 1824, in honour of the University鈥檚 200^th anniversary which is being celebrated throughout 2024. 骋枚尘产枚肠 1824 is sponsored by Mr Ott贸 Albrecht, who has funded the 骋枚尘产枚肠 donation programme for many years. The piece stands at 180mm tall and is made from plexiglass. It will be exhibited in the Mathematics Department located in the Alan Turing Building.

骋枚尘产枚肠 1824 was presented to the University at a ceremony on 10 October, by H.E. Ferenc Kumin, ambassador of Hungary, and was accepted by , Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and , Head of the Department of Mathematics. The ambassador also had the chance to have lunch with Hungarian staff and students at the University and took a tour of the robotics lab.

Since its discovery in 2007, many 骋枚尘产枚肠 pieces have been donated to renowned institutions worldwide, including Harvard University, the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences, the Pompidou Centre and The University of Tokyo.

There are few 骋枚尘产枚肠 pieces in the UK; The University of Oxford, The University of Cambridge, Windsor Castle, The Crown Estate, University College London and Academia Europaea are the only institutions which currently have a 骋枚尘产枚肠 on display. 51福利社鈥檚 骋枚尘产枚肠 1824 is the first 骋枚尘产枚肠 to be gifted to an institution in the North of England.

Professor Andrew Hazel, Head of the Department of Mathematics, said: 鈥淚t is somewhat unusual to have a mathematical object whose proof of existence can be realised in such a tangible way. The 骋枚尘产枚肠 is visually interesting and stimulates discussion between staff, students and visitors.鈥�

Although discovered in Hungary, the 骋枚尘产枚肠 has connections to 51福利社. Some of the early research on the statics of solid bodies was pioneered by Sir Horace Lamb, who studied Mathematics at Owens College and was a Professor of Physics at the University between 1885 and 1920. Lamb wrote the influential textbook Statics, Including Hydrostatics and the Elements of the Theory of Elasticity, which describes methods that can be adapted to analyse the stability of the 骋枚尘产枚肠.

The 骋枚尘产枚肠 is also relevant for current research being undertaken at the University. Researchers working on granular flows and particle dynamics used the 骋枚尘产枚肠 as a test shape for computer codes, to verify the stability calculations used to analyse piles of grains.

H.E. Ferenc Kumin, ambassador of Hungary, said: 鈥淚t is with great pride that we present the G1824, a remarkable embodiment of Hungarian ingenuity and problem-solving, in honour of 51福利社's foundation. More than a scientific marvel, for us, Professor Domokos' 骋枚尘产枚肠 represents Hungarian thinking and creative problem solving.鈥�

History of the 骋枚尘产枚肠

In geometry, a body with a single stable resting position is called monostatic; the term mono-monostatic has been coined to describe a body which additionally has only one unstable point of balance.

The weight of the 骋枚尘产枚肠 is distributed evenly; and no simpler homogeneous shape exists with these properties. In fact, it is not possible for a convex, homogenous, solid three-dimensional object to have fewer than two equilibria.

The question of whether it is possible to construct a three-dimensional body which is mono-monostatic, homogenous and convex, was posed by Russian mathematician Vladimir Igorevich Arnold at a conference in 1995, in Hamburg.

In 2007, G谩bor Domokos and P茅ter V谩rkonyi proved Arnold鈥檚 conjecture correct and created the first physical example, which became known as the 骋枚尘产枚肠. The discovered mono-monostatic shape is the most sphere-like shape, apart from the sphere itself; its name is a diminutive form of 驳枚尘产, meaning 鈥榮phere鈥� in Hungarian.

骋枚尘产枚肠-like shapes can be seen in nature. Biological evolution developed a similar shape in the form of the shell of the , which self-rights when turned upside down. Domokos and V谩rkonyi spent time studying tortoises in Hungary, attempting to explain the shape and function of their shells.

After its creation in 2007, a series of individual 骋枚尘产枚肠 models were launched. Each individual 骋枚尘产枚肠 carries its own unique serial number, between 1 and the current year, and has only been produced once.

The first individually numbered 骋枚尘产枚肠 model (骋枚尘产枚肠 001) was presented by Domokos and V谩rkonyi as a gift to Vladimir Igorevich Arnold on his 70^th birthday in 2007; Professor Arnold later donated 骋枚尘产枚肠 001 to the Steklov Institute of Mathematics, where it is currently on exhibit.