What is Shape: Definition and 635 Discussions

A shape or figure is the form of an object or its external boundary, outline, or external surface, as opposed to other properties such as color, texture, or material type.
A plane shape, two-dimensional shape, or 2D shape (plane figure, two-dimensional figure, or 2D figure) is constrained to lie on a plane, in contrast to solid figures.

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  1. B

    Integrating to find volume of an unusual shape

    is there an exact way to calculate the volume of a shape where one shape is revolved around a parabolic curve (obviously with limits). i don't know much about this stuff but I am pretty sure u need to integrate it. the shape revolved is a rectangle (vertical) with a triangle connected at the...
  2. S

    Best shape to flip or spin in Water?

    So I'm not sure if this is the right place - and its a crazy question - but I am trying to get something to spin and/or flip when I put it in a beaker of water, just by its own weight and gravity. I have tried a maple seed shape, propeller shapes, simple curls, sprials, Rocchetti pasta shapes...
  3. M

    Triangulate Concave Shape

    I am looking for a "good" way to triangulate a closed concave shape of vertices and edges. "good" is quite a vague term, but the basic principles I'm interested in are: 1) Minimize "sliver" triangles that are very thin and contain really small angles. 2) Must be reasonable to compute...
  4. P

    Shape of hydraulic piston thought experiment

    Typical hydraulic pistons are flat simple surfaces. What if one had a T-shaped or a upside down U-shaped piston? i.e. the "leg" of the T would be in the liquid submerged protruding down. Some of the horizontal piston surface would be at a great depth, while some piston surface would be at...
  5. S

    Acceleration vs mass graph shape?

    I know acceleration vs mass graphs are curved, but why? also, how would i calculate an uncertainty?
  6. M

    Work done in a parabolic shape

    Homework Statement This isn't actually a homework question (well it is for homework). Basically for one of our projects we had a motor pull a cup through an upside down parabola shape. The motor was located off-axis in comparison to the parabola. The cup started from zero, then as the motor...
  7. K

    Why Do Orbits Take an Elliptical Shape?

    why are the orbits elliptical in shape?i know that force equations give differential equations whose solutions imply that the orbits elliptical in shape.but what is the particular physical reason behind it?
  8. I

    Why won't pressure on an irregular shape make it move?

    This is a very simple doubt, since pressure is force per unit area, if I place an object with say one side twice the area of the other underwater ( or even in the atmosphere ) wouldn't there be twice as much force on one side? ( the one with larger area ) and shouldn't that make the object move...
  9. A

    Rotating Cylindrical Magnets: Impact on Magnetic Field Shape

    If a cylindrical magnet with a uniform magnet field were to be rotated at high speed along its polar axis (assuming the poles to be at either end of the cylinder) would there be any change or distortion to the shape (ie pattern of field lines) of the magnetic field?
  10. D

    Exploring the Shape of a Light Cone

    Just wondering about the shape of a light cone. On the attachment below, if I were standing at A and pointed a flashlight in the positive time direction, it would form the cone show, correct? Is this cone a perfect cone? For instance, if I were standing on the north pole and pointed a...
  11. H

    Mathematical shape for a lens with no spherical aberration

    I'm trying to construct a lens model, and having trouble because I want to portray a perfect lens rather than one with spherical aberration. It's proved impossible to find via Google, although I did find an earlier thread on this forum that was helpful. From what I can gather, the lens needs...
  12. wolram

    My Kitchen Reflection Mystery: Bikes, Jumpers, and a Ghostly Shape

    My kitchen window looks into an (out house) the out house is where i keep my bikes so it is securely locked. So at night i am cooking a meal and see my reflection in the window just as clear as in a mirror. I am wearing a stripey jumper which also shows clearly in the reflection, as i move...
  13. D

    Molecular Shape Class: AX2E Explained

    I have never come across this term before in my few years of chemistry. At first, i thought it meant molecular shape, such as "trigonal planar" or linear. But apparently, that is not the case. Apparently, it is in some form of AX2E (2 being a subscript), but that's all i can find on the matter...
  14. L

    What is the shape of a mass vs. acceleration graph?

    The mass is constant, and there is a varying force. So would the mass be the dependent value(y-axis) and the acceleration be the independent value(x-axis)? I think the mass is the dependent value so when I graphed it the line went straight across(horizontal). Is this right? I'm really...
  15. f95toli

    Shape preserving fitting algorithms

    "Shape preserving" fitting algorithms Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a "shape preserving" fitting algorithm? Now and then I run into the following problem: I have a set of rapidly varying data and try to fit it using an equation with e.g. 5 unknowns; I know that I can make it...
  16. D

    What is the method for finding the volume of a trapezoidal shape?

    Find the volume of the following figure, its just one part of a larger problem which is to find the center of gravity of a machine element. I know how to figure everything else out but I'm not sure how to find the volume of this shape so I can finish the problem No equation was given to find...
  17. B

    New model for the Shape of the Universe?

    It has been my understanding from various articles I've been reading by Jeff Weeks and others that there was a strong belief that the shape of the Universe was the Poincare Dodecahedral Space (PDS), based upon the WMAP data's missing certain larger frequencies and the given range for the...
  18. L

    Help Needed: Solving the Equation for a Vortex Shape

    I hope someone can help with this - its been driving me mad for a while now! You will have noticed the shape coffee (or whatever liquid) takes when you stir it. Clearly a vortex getting deeper and steeper the faster it is stirred. So - here's my problem. What's the equation that defines...
  19. P

    Deriving Shapes from Equations - Visual Representation

    I came across this website: http://www1-c703.uibk.ac.at/mathematik/project/bildergalerie/gallery.html and was excited to see that they had a visual representation of each equation. I am curious however as to how they derived a shape from an equation. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
  20. A

    Snowball Shape Debate: Circle vs Sphere

    What is the shape of snowball? i thought it's circle but my friend said it's a sphere.
  21. N

    Deducing Curve Shape from Definite Integral Estimates

    I am asked to deduce the shape of a curve by knowing the following: The estimate of the definite integral for the area using the trapezium rule with 2 intervals of equal widths is above the real value. The estimate of the definite integral for the area using the trapezium rule with 4...
  22. Ivan Seeking

    Shape Your Future: Build a Quixtar Business for Life Goals

    http://www.quixtar.com/ I saw that Amway now has a slick advertising campaign running on TV. I don't have the time to comment on this in detail right now, but I can say that I got involved in Amway when I was 18 years old. I had a downline of over 50 people, including one of the richest men...
  23. A

    Chemistry Electron Domain Geometry vs Molecular Shape

    What's the difference between "Electron Domain Geometry" and "Molecular Shape"? Please help! Thanks
  24. U

    Understanding the Shape of Magnetic Fields: Insights on Single Moving Particles

    i know how the magnetic field is shaped around a wire with current, and in the case of a solenoid, and in a bar magnet or U-magnet but that is the sum of all the magnetic fields of the charges moving through them. what i still don't know is the shape of the magnetic field surrounding a...
  25. A

    What lens shape gives perfect focus?

    Assuming ray optics model is valid, what lens profile focuses light to a point? It must not be spherical, otherwise there would not be the term 'spherical abberation'.
  26. Y

    Relationship between surface tension and the shape of a liquid drop

    i don't know how to describe the relationship between surface tension and the shape of a liquid drop. Also what are the attractive forces that increase surface tension?
  27. S

    Nuclear cooling tower analysis, vary shape - best way to go about?

    I've got a project due this Friday whose objectives are no more than a single sentence: cooling tower improvements. This is for a thermal hydraulics class, so I thought I'd investigate the effects of different shapes of a hyperbolic cooling tower on heat flux q" through the walls of the tower...
  28. E

    Help with aerodynamic shape considerations

    I have a flow acting perpendicular to a shape ie an airfoil however i don't think an airofoil is the best shape for the flow not to recirculate too much was wondering if anyone has any ideas? please view my attachment for basic drawing of the problem thank you engineering
  29. N

    Shape and speed of electromagnetic waves

    What are electromagnetic waves supposed to look like in 3D? Also, in the vacuum of space, electromagnetic waves are supposed to travel at light speed. Is this the linear speed? Or the speed of the flux as it curves?
  30. J

    Shape of Black Holes: Clarification Needed

    I am interested in the theoretical shape(s) of black holes. I read that they may be cone shaped, they made be "shells", they may be two dimensional, etc. Can i get some clarification? thanks, jlr
  31. O

    Will a Conic Container Shape Prevent Bouncing Up Due to Gas Pressure?

    Hi there, I am developing a really cool new product and it somehow relates to pressure's behavior. Since I do not have any Physics background I will appreciate if someone could help me out. The thing is that I attach a small container to certain area. This attachment actually seals the...
  32. P

    What Is the Area of This Complex Shape?

    hi guys I'm doing a physics problem and it requires me to know the area of the following shape: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v89/p3rf3ct4u/a.jpg" any help would be greatly appreciated!
  33. U

    Can we predict a complex molecule's shape?

    I've recently learned that we can predict the shape of molecules with a small amount of atoms. Can the shape of a complex molecule with many atoms be predicted too?
  34. J

    What are the shape functions for a polynomial with given boundary conditions?

    Homework Statement I am asked to determine two shape functions based off of a polynomial and Boundary conditions that are given at this url: http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii286/TechNewsSource/ShapeFunctions.jpg" I would have posted it here but I can't remember how to do symbols on...
  35. L

    Can you shape a magnetic field?

    Can you shape a magnetic field?
  36. K

    What's the shape of a microwave beam?

    What's the shape of a microwave beam in a microwave oven? I wonder wether is a ray a small cone, a big cone a band... Does this beam reflects on the inner walls of the microwave or get absorbed? I would say the second one because one side of the food, if it doesn't turn inside the microwave...
  37. D

    Shape of field line in an electric dipole

    Homework Statement In a xy-plane, we have a +q charge in A(0,h) and a -q charge in B(0,-h). Let's take a field line passing through A, that has horizontal slope in A. Find the point C(m,0) where this field line intersects the X axis. Homework Equations I think Gauss' law \epsilon_0...
  38. Z

    How does the V shape of a shock wave depend on the speed of the wave source?

    Hello, the question I have to answer is above in the Title...I thought that the V shape of the shock wave gets wider the faster you are going. No? Thanks Zach
  39. A

    Possibility of a point moving out of a shape

    Dear all: The question is like this: Given a point in a shape like square or triangle. Let's take square as the simplest one. Say the length of the side of the square is l. If add a noise to the point which will move the point [tex]r[\tex] distance and the direction is arbitrary, what will...
  40. J

    Spinning liquid creating a parabolic shape

    [SOLVED] spinning liquid creating a parabolic shape take a container of liquid and spin it... a parcel at any given radius (r) experiences (in the rotating frame) a force outward = mass x angular speed^2 x r and a vertical force of mg. Thus the surface curves such that the tangent to the...
  41. B

    Space-time transformations with different shape

    I find in the literature the following transformation equations for the space-time coordinates x'=g(x-vt) t'=t/g g=gamma. Please tell me what do they bring new in the approach to SRT? Thanks
  42. Q

    Does any lattice or lattice shape has a periodic boundary condition?

    If not, then what are the conditions for us to construct a periodic boundary condition(PBC)? If so, then please help me construct a PBC for the lattice shape in the attachments. I want to ask that what lattice site m's left neighbor is and what lattice site i's down neighbor is.From the...
  43. H

    Vibration problem: mode shape?

    Hi all. I am taking a course in mechanical vibrations. I know that a mode shape is a pattern specific to a natural frequency of a system. That maens, the mode shape is determined under the context of free vibration, right? What kind of information can we obtained from the mode shape? Is the...
  44. Q

    Is the Universe Expanding Into Nothing?

    Is our universe a 3 sphere expanding in time into nothing? OR i
  45. F

    How can I rotate a shape in 2D space?

    How do I rotate some shape in 2d space? That is, what factor do I multiply the x and y components to rotate my shape? Thanks.
  46. V

    Can the shape of Earth affect its weight and gravity?

    Hi, Which formula may help to compute the effect to weight due to geoid shape of earth? I assume Earth is not rotating. Thanks
  47. N

    Does Shape Affect Terminal Velocity?

    Before an object hit terminal velocity does the shape matter. In other words if you drop a small rectangle will it slow down in any way or will it keep on falling till it gets to it's terminal velocity. then another part to that is why when you drop a pencil or anything else shaped like that...
  48. N

    Chain shape (Euler-Lagrange equations)

    A chain with uniform linear density d and length L is tied at two ends to the ceiling. How to find its shape using Euler-Lagrange equations? (I know it can be done with other methods, but I want to know how to do it using E-L).
  49. P

    What is the shape of an electron?

    What does an electron look like? What is it made of? It has to be made of something? Can we/Have we been actually able see an electron?
  50. Holocene

    Exploring the Shape of a Flat Universe

    I just want to make sure my understanding is correct. In a "flat" universe, the total density of the universe matches the "critical density". As a result, the universe will expand forever, and never "fall back" into itself. The shape of a flat universe, as the name suggests, is flat like a...
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