Jitterbug: Icosahedron as Maximum
Fuller described the "Jitterbug" transformation as the loss of the nucleus, causing the vertices to move closer to the center and creating the icosahedral shell. But if the vertices of the icosahedron are closer to the center than the vertices of the vector equilibrium, then why does it expand? The faces move closer together, but the vector equilibrium and the dodecahedron occupy the same, minimal, amount of space, and it's the icosahedron that occupies the most space. If Bucky didn't know this, it's surprising. But he didn't have access to 3D computer software. He only had his physical models. From an isotropic perspective, the vector equilibrium does, indeed, appear to shrink during its transition into an icosahedron. Jitterbug in VE phase -- Isotropic Jitterbug in Icosahedron phase -- Isotropic But from other perspectives, it's obvious that the icosahedron phase is the point of maximum expansion. Jitterbug in VE phase -- parallel p...

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