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In geometry, a Johnson solid is a convex polyhedron, each face of which is a regular polygon, which is not a Platonic solid, Archimedean solid, prism, or antiprism. There is no requirement that each face must be the same polygon. An example of a Johnson solid is the square-based pyramid with equilateral sides (J1); it has one square face and four triangular faces.

As in any strictly convex solid, at least three faces meet at every vertex, and the total of their angles is less than 360 degrees. Since a regular polygon has angles at least 60 degrees, it follows that at most five faces meet at any vertex. The pentagonal pyramid (J2) is an example that actually has a degree-5 vertex.

Although there is no obvious restriction that any given regular polygon cannot be a face of a Johnson solid, it turns out that the faces of Johnson solids always have 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 10 sides.

In 1966, Norman Johnson published a list which included all 92 solids, and gave them their names and numbers. He did not prove that there were only 92, but he did conjecture that there were no others. Victor Zalgaller in 1969 proved that Johnson's list was complete.

Of the Johnson solids, the elongated square gyrobicupola (J37) is unique in being vertex-uniform: there are four faces at each vertex, and their arrangement is always the same: three squares and one triangle.

Names

The names are listed below and are more descriptive than they sound. Most of the Johnson solids can be constructed from the first few (pyramids, cupolae, and rotundae), together with the Platonic and Archimedean solids, prisms, and antiprisms.

  • Bi- means that two copies of the solid in question are joined base-to-base. For cupolae and rotundae, they can be joined so that like faces (ortho-) or unlike faces (gyro-) meet. In this nomenclature, an octahedron would be a square bipyramid, a cuboctahedron would be a triangular gyrobicupola, and an icosidodecahedron would be a pentagonal gyrobirotunda.
  • Elongated means that a prism has been joined to the base of the solid in question or between the bases of the solids in question. A rhombicuboctahedron would be an elongated square orthobicupola.
  • Gyroelongated means that an antiprism has been joined to the base of the solid in question or between the bases of the solids in question. An icosahedron would be a gyroelongated pentagonal bipyramid.
  • Augmented means that a pyramid or cupola has been joined to a face of the solid in question.
  • Diminished means that a pyramid or cupola has been removed from the solid in question.
  • Gyrate means that a cupola on the solid in question has been rotated so that different edges match up, as in the difference between ortho- and gyrobicupolae.

The last three operations — augmentation, diminution, and gyration — can be performed more than once on a large enough solid. We add bi- to the name of the operation to indicate that it has been performed twice. (A bigyrate solid has had two of its cupolae rotated.) We add tri- to indicate that it has been performed three times. (A tridiminished solid has had three of its pyramids or cupolae removed.)

Sometimes, bi- alone is not specific enough. We must distinguish between a solid that has had two parallel faces altered and one that has had two oblique faces altered. When the faces altered are parallel, we add para- to the name of the operation. (A parabiaugmented solid has had two parallel faces augmented.) When they are not, we add meta- to the name of the operation. (A metabiaugmented solid has had two oblique faces augmented.)

Names and Johnson numbers

Pyramids, cupolas and rotunda
Modified pyramids
Modified cupolas and rotunda
Augmented prisms
Modified Platonic solids
Modified Archimedean solids
Miscellaneous
Jn Solid name Image Type V E F F3 F4 F5 F6 F8 F10 Symmetry
1 Square pyramid pyramid 5 8 5 4 1 0 0 0 0 C4v
2 Pentagonal pyramid pyramid 6 10 6 5 0 1 0 0 0 C5v
3 Triangular cupola cupola 9 15 8 4 3 0 1 0 0 C3v
4 Square cupola cupola 12 20 10 4 5 0 0 1 0 C4v
5 Pentagonal cupola cupola 15 25 12 5 5 1 0 0 1 C5v
6 Pentagonal rotunda rotunda 20 35 17 10 0 6 0 0 1 C5v
Jn Solid name Image Type V E F F3 F4 F5 F6 F8 F10 Symmetry
7 Elongated triangular pyramid elongated pyramid 7 12 7 4 3 0 0 0 0 C3v
8 Elongated square pyramid
(augmented cube, or augmented square prism) 		elongated pyramid 9 16 9 4 5 0 0 0 0 C4v
9 Elongated pentagonal pyramid elongated pyramid 11 20 11 5 5 1 0 0 0 C5v
10 Gyroelongated square pyramid gyroelongated pyramid 9 20 13 12 1 0 0 0 0 C4v
11 Gyroelongated pentagonal pyramid
(diminished icosahedron) 		gyroelongated pyramid 11 25 16 15 0 1 0 0 0 C5v
12 Triangular dipyramid bipyramid 5 9 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 D3h
13 Pentagonal dipyramid bipyramid 7 15 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 D5h
14 Elongated triangular dipyramid elongated dipyramid 8 15 9 6 3 0 0 0 0 D3h
15 Elongated square dipyramid
(biaugmented cube, or biaugmented square prism) 		elongated dipyramid 10 20 12 8 4 0 0 0 0 D4h
16 Elongated pentagonal dipyramid elongated dipyramid 12 25 15 10 5 0 0 0 0 D5h
17 Gyroelongated square dipyramid gyroelongated dipyramid 10 24 16 16 0 0 0 0 0 D4d
Jn Solid name Image Type V E F F3 F4 F5 F6 F8 F10 Symmetry
18 Elongated triangular cupola elongated cupola 15 27 14 4 9 0 1 0 0 C3v
19 Elongated square cupola
(diminished rhombicuboctahedron) 		elongated cupola 20 36 18 4 13 0 0 1 0 C4v
20 Elongated pentagonal cupola elongated cupola 25 45 22 5 15 1 0 0 1 C5v
21 Elongated pentagonal rotunda elongated rotunda 30 55 27 10 10 6 0 0 1 C5v
22 Gyroelongated triangular cupola gyroelongated cupola 15 33 20 16 3 0 1 0 0 C3v
23 Gyroelongated square cupola gyroelongated cupola 20 44 26 20 5 0 0 1 0 C4v
24 Gyroelongated pentagonal cupola gyroelongated cupola 25 55 32 25 5 1 0 0 1 C5v
25 Gyroelongated pentagonal rotunda gyroelongated rotunda 30 65 37 30 0 6 0 0 1 C5v
26 Gyrobifastigium bicupola 8 14 8 4 4 0 0 0 0 D2d
27 Triangular orthobicupola
(gyrate cuboctahedron) 		bicupola 12 24 14 8 6 0 0 0 0 D3h
28 Square orthobicupola bicupola 16 32 18 8 10 0 0 0 0 D4h
29 Square gyrobicupola bicupola 16 32 18 8 10 0 0 0 0 D4d
30 Pentagonal orthobicupola bicupola 20 40 22 10 10 2 0 0 0 D5h
31 Pentagonal gyrobicupola bicupola 20 40 22 10 10 2 0 0 0 D5d
32 Pentagonal orthocupolarotunda cupolarotunda 25 50 27 15 5 7 0 0 0 C5v
33 Pentagonal gyrocupolarotunda cupolarotunda 25 50 27 15 5 7 0 0 0 C5v
34 Pentagonal orthobirotunda
(gyrate icosidodecahedron) 		birotunda 30 60 32 20 0 12 0 0 0 D5h
35 Elongated triangular orthobicupola elongated bicupola 18 36 20 8 12 0 0 0 0 D3h
36 Elongated triangular gyrobicupola elongated bicupola 18 36 20 8 12 0 0 0 0 D3d
37 Elongated square gyrobicupola
(gyrate rhombicuboctahedron) 		elongated bicupola 24 48 26 8 18 0 0 0 0 D4d
38 Elongated pentagonal orthobicupola elongated bicupola 30 60 32 10 20 2 0 0 0 D5h
39 Elongated pentagonal gyrobicupola elongated bicupola 30 60 32 10 20 2 0 0 0 D5d
40 Elongated pentagonal orthocupolarotunda elongated cupolarotunda 35 70 37 15 15 7 0 0 0 C5v
41 Elongated pentagonal gyrocupolarotunda elongated cupolarotunda 35 70 37 15 15 7 0 0 0 C5v
42 Elongated pentagonal orthobirotunda elongated birotunda 40 80 42 20 10 12 0 0 0 D5h
43 Elongated pentagonal gyrobirotunda elongated birotunda 40 80 42 20 10 12 0 0 0 D5d
44 Gyroelongated triangular bicupola gyroelongated bicupola 18 42 26 20 6 0 0 0 0 D3
45 Gyroelongated square bicupola gyroelongated bicupola 24 56 34 24 10 0 0 0 0 D4
46 Gyroelongated pentagonal bicupola gyroelongated bicupola 30 70 42 30 10 2 0 0 0 D5
47 Gyroelongated pentagonal cupolarotunda gyroelongated cupolarotunda 35 80 47 35 5 7 0 0 0 C5
48 Gyroelongated pentagonal birotunda gyroelongated birotunda 40 90 52 40 0 12 0 0 0 D5
Jn Solid name Image Type V E F F3 F4 F5 F6 F8 F10 Symmetry
49 Augmented triangular prism augmented prism 7 13 8 6 2 0 0 0 0 C2v
50 Biaugmented triangular prism augmented prism 8 17 11 10 1 0 0 0 0 C2v
51 Triaugmented triangular prism augmented prism 9 21 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 D3h
52 Augmented pentagonal prism augmented prism 11 19 10 4 4 2 0 0 0 C2v
53 Biaugmented pentagonal prism augmented prism 12 23 13 8 3 2 0 0 0 C2v
54 Augmented hexagonal prism augmented prism 13 22 11 4 5 0 2 0 0 C2v
55 Parabiaugmented hexagonal prism augmented prism 14 26 14 8 4 0 2 0 0 D2h
56 Metabiaugmented hexagonal prism augmented prism 14 26 14 8 4 0 2 0 0 C2v
57 Triaugmented hexagonal prism augmented prism 15 30 17 12 3 0 2 0 0 D3h
Jn Solid name Image Type V E F F3 F4 F5 F6 F8 F10 Symmetry
58 Augmented dodecahedron augmented dodecahedron 21 35 16 5 0 11 0 0 0 C5v
59 Parabiaugmented dodecahedron augmented dodecahedron 22 40 20 10 0 10 0 0 0 D5d
60 Metabiaugmented dodecahedron augmented dodecahedron 22 40 20 10 0 10 0 0 0 C2v
61 Triaugmented dodecahedron augmented dodecahedron 23 45 24 15 0 9 0 0 0 C3v
62 Metabidiminished icosahedron diminished icosahedron 10 20 12 10 0 2 0 0 0 C2v
63 Tridiminished icosahedron diminished icosahedron 9 15 8 5 0 3 0 0 0 C3v
64 Augmented tridiminished icosahedron - 10 18 10 7 0 3 0 0 0 C3v
Jn Solid name Image Type V E F F3 F4 F5 F6 F8 F10 Symmetry
65 Augmented truncated tetrahedron augmented truncated tetrahedron 15 27 14 8 3 0 3 0 0 C3v
66 Augmented truncated cube augmented truncated cube 28 48 22 12 5 0 0 5 0 C4v
67 Biaugmented truncated cube augmented truncated cube 32 60 30 16 10 0 0 4 0 D4h
68 Augmented truncated dodecahedron augmented truncated dodecahedron 65 105 42 25 5 1 0 0 11 C5v
69 Parabiaugmented truncated dodecahedron augmented truncated dodecahedron 70 120 52 30 10 2 0 0 10 D5d
70 Metabiaugmented truncated dodecahedron augmented truncated dodecahedron 70 120 52 30 10 2 0 0 10 C2v
71 Triaugmented truncated dodecahedron augmented truncated dodecahedron 75 135 62 35 15 3 0 0 9 C3v
72 Gyrate rhombicosidodecahedron gyrate rhombicosadodecahedron 60 120 62 20 30 12 0 0 0 C5v
73 Parabigyrate rhombicosidodecahedron gyrate rhombicosadodecahedron 60 120 62 20 30 12 0 0 0 D5d
74 Metabigyrate rhombicosidodecahedron gyrate rhombicosadodecahedron 60 120 62 20 30 12 0 0 0 C2v
75 Trigyrate rhombicosidodecahedron gyrate rhombicosadodecahedron 60 120 62 20 30 12 0 0 0 C3v
76 Diminished rhombicosidodecahedron diminished rhombicosadodecahedron 55 105 52 15 25 11 0 0 1 C5v
77 Paragyrate diminished rhombicosidodecahedron gyrate diminished rhombicosadodecahedron 55 105 52 15 25 11 0 0 1 C5v
78 Metagyrate diminished rhombicosidodecahedron gyrate diminished rhombicosadodecahedron 55 105 52 15 25 11 0 0 1 Cs
79 Bigyrate diminished rhombicosidodecahedron gyrate diminished rhombicosadodecahedron 55 105 52 15 25 11 0 0 1 Cs
80 Parabidiminished rhombicosidodecahedron diminished rhombicosadodecahedron 50 90 42 10 20 10 0 0 2 D5d
81 Metabidiminished rhombicosidodecahedron diminished rhombicosadodecahedron 50 90 42 10 20 10 0 0 2 C2v
82 Gyrate bidiminished rhombicosidodecahedron gyrate diminished rhombicosadodecahedron 50 90 42 10 20 10 0 0 2 C2v
83 Tridiminished rhombicosidodecahedron diminished rhombicosadodecahedron 45 75 32 5 15 9 0 0 3 C3v
Jn Solid name Image Type V E F F3 F4 F5 F6 F8 F10 Symmetry
84 Snub disphenoid - 8 18 12 12 0 0 0 0 0 D2d
85 Snub square antiprism - 16 40 26 24 2 0 0 0 0 D4d
86 Sphenocorona - 10 22 14 12 2 0 0 0 0 C2v
87 Augmented sphenocorona - 11 26 17 16 1 0 0 0 0 Cs
88 Sphenomegacorona - 12 28 18 16 2 0 0 0 0 C2v
89 Hebesphenomegacorona - 14 33 21 18 3 0 0 0 0 C2v
90 Disphenocingulum - 16 38 24 20 4 0 0 0 0 D2d
91 Bilunabirotunda - 14 26 14 8 2 4 0 0 0 D2h
92 Triangular hebesphenorotunda - 18 36 20 13 3 3 1 0 0 C3v

See also

References

  • Norman W. Johnson, "Convex Solids with Regular Faces", Canadian Journal of Mathematics, 18, 1966, pages 169–200. Contains the original enumeration of the 92 solids and the conjecture that there are no others.
  • Eric W. Weisstein. Johnson Solid at MathWorld.
  • The first proof that there are only 92 Johnson solids.

External links

Johnson solids | Polyhedra

Sólido de Johnson | Solide de Johnson | Solido di Johnson | ジョンソンの立体

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Johnson solid".

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