Trigonal lattice with each angle equal to 120degree

  • Thread starter Thread starter PrinceOfDarkness
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Angle Lattice
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the geometric implications of a trigonal lattice with angles of 120 degrees. It establishes that at 90 degrees, the structure is a simple cubic lattice, while 109 degrees corresponds to a body-centered cubic lattice, and 60 degrees results in a face-centered cubic lattice. The participants speculate that a 120-degree angle may yield a structure resembling a football. Additionally, the feasibility of pentagons forming a lattice is examined, concluding that regular pentagons do not satisfy translational symmetry, and no pentagon with varying side lengths can form a lattice.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of lattice structures in crystallography
  • Familiarity with geometric angles and their implications in 3D space
  • Knowledge of translational symmetry in geometric shapes
  • Basic vector mathematics, including dot products
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the properties of trigonal lattices and their applications in materials science
  • Investigate the mathematical principles behind translational symmetry in polygons
  • Learn about the geometric configurations of pentagons and their potential for tiling
  • Study vector mathematics in three dimensions, focusing on angles and dot products
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, crystallographers, and materials scientists interested in lattice structures and geometric properties of polygons.

PrinceOfDarkness
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
1. What happens when the angles between the three sides of a trigonal reach 120degrees?

I know that at 90degrees, it becomes a simple cubic. At 109degrees, it becomes a body centered cubic. At 60 degrees, it becomes a face centered cubic.
What about 120degrees? I think that perhaps it should form a structure like a football?

2. Can pentagons form a lattice? I know that regular pentagons don’t satisfy translational symmetry. But can any pentagon with different side lengths form a lattice?
I tried making one, but no pentagon satisfies the translation symmetry.



Many thanks.

- Farrukh
 
Physics news on Phys.org
For #1 write two vectors in the x-y plane at 120° separation angle. Then write a general vector in 3-D and take the dot procuct with each of the two in-plane vectors and see where it has to point to make the angles to both of those vectors 120°

For #2, if it did exist you would probably find it here

http://www.mathpuzzle.com/tilepent.html
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
Replies
3
Views
11K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Replies
1
Views
3K