And now we can start to see that we’re getting the shape of the Klein bottle.And now, if I want to go a little further, I can start to add in a little bit of color.And now we can start to see the Klein bottle in all its glory.
For years, Brady and I have discussed Klein bottles and the mathematics of one-sided surfaces, but never actually made one. Today, Lucas Clarke from Simon Fraser University is here in Oakland, Berkeley, and California to make THE Klein bottle. Welcome, Lucas!
Lucas then began to explain the process of making a Klein bottle. He started off with cold fire, which is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon. To melt the glass, he added oxygen from a tank and balanced the mixture of gases. He then added borosilicate, which is a type of glass with a pinch of boron and has a low coefficient of expansion. Afterwards, he shaped the body of the bottle, added a handle, and sealed the inside. Lastly, he added a bit of color to the Klein bottle to make it complete. .
I’m going to take this project and slowly bring it together. We’ll make contact with the two lips and create a ring seal. I’ll heat it up and get rid of the curved edges, using a reamer to push it where I want it. Then I’ll heat it up again, tap it, and use surface tension and gravity to pull it out. I’ll wait for it to cool off and grab it with my hand to work on the other side.
Making a Klein bottle is more than just craftsmanship; it’s an enjoyable experience. To get a good look at it, I can check out Brilliant. They have a variety of hat problems and courses that can give your brain a workout. Numberphile viewers can get a 20% discount on their subscription.
If I want to fill a Klein bottle with water, the answer is yes. But it might cost me 100 bucks! He pulls out twenty dollar bills and starts counting.