Prime Knot: 3_1 (trefoil knot)

This is a model of the prime knot 3_1, also called the trefoil knot or the overhand knot.

It is tied in a tube of constant radius, and pulled tight. In the thin version, the tube has been reduced to half-size in order to help you see the crossings. In the thick version, the tube appears at full scale. These are easier to print without as much support material. For more information about this prime knot, look at its page in the Knot Atlas

http://katlas.math.toronto.edu/wiki/3_1.

For more information about tight knots, see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ropelength.

For ropelength data, see

http://www.jasoncantarella.com/wordpress/papers/.

To see a movie of this prime knot tightening, visit

http://www.jasoncantarella.com/movs.