CS 39R:  Symmetry & Topology
Lecture #11 -- Mon. 4/22, 2013.


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Your Project Presentations

Presentation Sequence:





In preparation for a couple of talks in our final meeting, think about the following issues:

1.)  Determining the Geometry and Topology of the Space that you are living in; specifically:
==>  How can 2D flat-worms determine the type of 2D-manifold in which they are crawling around?
==>  How could the old Greek scientists determine the radius of the Earth with best accuracy?
==>  If they were suspecting that the Earth might be an ellipsoid {or torus}  (-- they did not!),
            how could they have determined separate radii for the E-W direction and the N-S direction?

2.)  Symmetry, Asymmetry, and the Structure of Molecules:
----  A carbon atom connected to 4 different things ( atoms or groups of atoms )
            is a center of asymmetry that comes in two different (chiral) forms.
----  A single bond between two atoms, e.g.,  -C--C- , allows twisting rotations in that axis.
==>  Considering the above facts:  How many different molecular forms (stereo-isomers)
            result from a molecule with this structure?  

        e.g.,   

Final Homework Assignments:

Work on your projects!   ( ... a crucial part of getting a passing grade in this course!)
Prepare
for Monday, 4/29/2013:
an 8-minute (15min. for 2-person teams) formal presentation with visuals (and possibly models).

Practice your talk (and time it) !



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