# Visualizing the space and structure described by a metric

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1. Feb 17, 2016

### Whitehole

I need help to visualize the geometry involved here,

How can I visualize the last paragraph? Why is the surface of fixed r now an ellipsoid? Also for r = 0, it is already a disk? I've tried searching for the geometry of these but I can't find any image of the geometry that I can just stare at and understand already what the paragraph meant. Anybody can give me insights?

2. Feb 17, 2016

### andrewkirk

Bear in mind that these machinations do not change the space, which remains 3D Euclidean. All they change is the coordinate system, so that the surfaces defined by fixing a coordinate change.
In spherical coordinates in flat space the surfaces of fixed coordinates are:
- spheres centred on the origin for fixed $r$
- cones around the z axis with tip at the origin, for fixed $\theta$
- half planes emanating from the z axis, for fixed $\phi$

The change above alters the first of these so that the spheres become ellipsoids. You can see that must be the case because of the equations:
$$x=f\sin\theta\cos\phi$$
$$y=f\sin\theta\sin\phi$$
$$z=r\sin\theta\cos\phi$$
If $f=r$ these are the equations of a sphere of radius $r$. If $a\neq 0$ than $f=\sqrt{a^2+r^2}>r$ so the horizontal dimensions $x,y$ are expanded while keeping the vertical dimension $z$ constant. That squashes the sphere into an oblate spheroid.

3. Feb 17, 2016

### Whitehole

How can $a$ only alter the horizontal dimensions, $r$ is a 3-d coordinate here so it should affect the z component if it were to change right? Also, is the term squashed sphere accurate? Because squashed means that the z coordinate is decreasing and eventually flat, correct me if I'm wrong.

4. Feb 17, 2016

### andrewkirk

No. I think you are confusing yourself by using the term '3D coordinate'. Look at the formulas for x, y and z. You can see that only the x and y formulas use f, which depends on a. z uses r instead of f, and hence has no dependence on a.
No, squashed doesn't mean having zero height. It just means having less height than it had previously.

5. Feb 17, 2016

### Whitehole

Now I got it, I didn't carefully saw the "fixed r". Also, yes, specifically squashed means having less height than it had previously. For the last part, how can $θ$ play the role of the radial variable if it is already flat? $φ$ sweeps out the disk from 0 to 2π. But $θ$ . . .

6. Feb 18, 2016

### andrewkirk

Think about what it looks like when you view an ant crawling about on the Northern hemisphere of an origin-centred sphere from above it on the z axis, eg viewing the unit sphere from the point (0,0,10).
Changes in the ant's $\theta$, keeping $r$ and $\phi$ constant, will look like increases or decreases in radius.
Squashing the sphere down to absolutely flat, which is what the set r=0 is, looks the same as viewing a 'fully inflated' sphere from above.

7. Feb 18, 2016

### Whitehole

Very nice example. Thanks a lot for helping me visualize all this!