Thursday, August 16, 2007

Crossing cylinders

Imagine two cylinders of diameter one with axes intersecting at right angles.

  • What is the volume of the space belonging to both cylinders?
  • Describe the curve along the intersection you would get by "unrolling" one cylinder like a piece of paper.
(The shape of the intersection is called a "Steinmetz Solid," and Wolfram has spoilers about it.)