what does this picture represent?

Question

I understand that it doesn't really belong here, but if you think about it long enough, you'll see why I put it in the space section.

So, i threw it together in 3d studio and am wondering who else here understands what it means.

1st to give a correct answer, aka title or theme and you'll win 10

sorry. I lost my link
http://us.f6.yahoofs.com/blog/467432afzae6970df/4/__hr_/c09a.jpg?mgQm4xGBV5UGi05_

damn good answer Dan, but i jumped the gun

oh so close. along the right lines, but simpler.
some could consider it the beginning of things I guess

Answer 1

once upon a time

Answer 2

If you mean our icon then it is the Neil Bohr model of the 3rd element; Lithium.

The Bohr model thought the atom looked like a miniature solar system with the electrons revolving around the nucleus. The Nucleus would be the center of the system. However, quantum theory soon over turned his idea. Electrons are actually moving in a cloud of probability around the nucleus; not in any regular orbit. They also seem to move in orbital shells. The first shell would only hold two electrons which makes Helium a noble element because it won't react with any other element.

Lithium is highly reactive (burns when exposed to oxygen and explodes in contact with water). It needs to fill up its outer shell to reach the quantum magic number of 8. Quantum mechanics explains chemistry as an attempt by atoms to share electrons so they reach a stable outer orbital shell.

Your image is quite an old one, pre 1970s (when I first learned quantum theory). The Bohr model proved to be inaccurate and related to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle which says that the act of trying to locate or measure an electron changes the electron so it is impossible to predict its original measurement or position. This is why no one knows where the electrons are actually orbiting, we can’t measure it.

Oh, you mean the theme of dimensions.

You use a 2D object to describe a 1D dimensional object, that is seated in a 3D object that is on top of the 3D representation of a tesseract, a hyper cube; or a 4D object. It is a pretty good drawing and people can find out more about them here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesseract

There is one minor error though, your number 1 has an edge making it a 3D object. A better representation would be a dot, over the one then a text 2, followed by your chair over the tesseract.

Answer 3

The picture you linked is a chair with the number one on it, and a tesseract underneath it.

A tesseract is another name for a hypercube, or a cube extended into the fourth dimension. There is no way we can actually see all of a 4 dimensional object, so the version shown in your picture is a classic way of showing a typical 3D cross section of the object.

Answer 4

Looks like schematic representation of an atom with 3 electrons, so a Lithium atom?

Answer 5

Electron orbits. Not anything like the real thing but symbolic.

Answer 6

Its a representation of a tritium or a lithium atom.

Answer 7

An atom

Answer 8

Put what together in 3d studio? Your avatar?