How does a 'open surface' of a closed loop look like?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the visualization of the "open surface" of a solenoid in the context of electricity and magnetism, referencing Walter Lewin's lecture. Participants clarify that the correct term for the surface in question is "helicoid," distinguishing it from a Riemann surface. A Riemann surface is explained as a mathematical concept used to visualize different branches of a function and their relationships. The conversation highlights the importance of precise terminology in understanding complex concepts in physics and mathematics. Overall, the distinction between helicoids and Riemann surfaces is crucial for accurate visualization in these fields.
serverxeon
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im on the topic of electricity and magnetism, and came across walter lewin's lecture.

i cannot visualise how the 'open surface' of this solenoid will look like

b7f9ye.png


is the open surface a riemann surface? or something else?

[PLAIN]http://wiki-images.enotes.com/thumb/b/b5/Riemann_sqrt.jpg/180px-Riemann_sqrt.jpg

thanks
 
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I believe the correct terminology is helicoid.

A Riemann surface is something else entirely. I'm not a mathematician, but as I understand it, a Riemann surface is just a way to visualize different branches of a function and how they are related to each other.
 
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