“Gauss' Theorema Egregium and the Curvature of Space-Time” - Ken Wolfe

About this event

This lecture will be an intuitive, geometrical approach to the concept of curvature. Beginning from two-dimensional curvature, it will then go on to discuss space curves and curved surfaces. We will consider the major results of Gauss' General Investigations of Curved Surfaces , in particular the Theorema Egregium , showing that curvature is an intrinsic property of surfaces. At the end we will consider the importance of Gauss' work for non-Euclidean geometry (Lobachevsky) and Einstein's theory of general relativity.