Geodesic Flow on the Flat Torus

Rational slope → periodic orbit; irrational → dense ergodic filling

slope: - steps: 0 type: -
On the flat torus T² = ℝ²/ℤ², a geodesic is a straight line with periodic boundary conditions. If slope dy/dx = p/q is rational, the orbit is periodic (closes after q horizontal wraps). If irrational, the orbit is dense and equidistributed (Weyl's theorem 1916). Left: torus (wrap-around). Right: unfolded trajectory in the plane. Click the torus to set start position.