How can you visualize a quaternion?

Question

When I visualise a three dimensional rotation matrix, or scaling matrix I visualize it as three axes.

Is there a similar way that I can visualize a rotation quaternion?

Answer 1

There is an entire 600 page book on "Visualizing Quaternions": http://books.google.ca/books?id=CoUB09xzme4C&lpg=PP1&ots=uEdJHsni9y&dq=Visualizing%20Quaternions&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false

The book is actually quite good, covering a wide range of topics. It starts with a good introduction to game related linear algebra, it talks about matrices and vectors, their shortcomings and why you would want to use Quaternions. It then explains what they are and how to make use of them. If you are interested you might want to pick it up: http://www.amazon.com/Visualizing-Quaternions-Kaufmann-Interactive-Technology/dp/0120884003

Answer 2

I visualize my quaternions as three-dimensional vectors (direction + length) with a bit to the side to be able to show rotation along the vector's axis.

It's a common way to visualize rotation vector in physics, but the name escapes me.

Answer 3

You do not necessarily need an alternate visualization technique for quaternions versus matrices.

When you visualize your rotation matrix as the 3 axes gizmo, what you're really visualizing is an orientation. Since the quaternion also represents an orientation, consider continuing to use your 3 axes gizmo as your mind's eye visualization object.

Rarely, for both quaternions or matrices, do you need to relate the actual component values into your visualization, so just because the component values of the quaternion do not relate to your 3 axes gizmo doesn't mean it can't be used for visualization purposes.

Answer 4

You can, but it becomes difficult. Instead of three separate axis of rotation, or three gimbals that are each moving independently one at a time, you have to picture a quaternion as a description of the full three dimensional rotation angle and the magnitude at once as a single description of the entire translation.

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

Quaternions are definitely not an area I'm rock solid on, but that wiki page has some decent info on it. Wikipedia talks about rotations on a hypersphere though, gets a little confusing. Good luck!

Answer 5

As you know, Quaternion is based on complex numbers and represents rotation of 4D sphere in 4D dimension. So you cannot visualize it 'as is'. I see that you know it too. And one and only one choice will be visualization of result of rotation. For example result of rotation of basis; Or you can render 3D sphere and paint it by layered 'temperature' of rotation by each axis; Good luck!