Ropelength

Ropelength is a concept from mathematics, specifically in the field of topology and geometric topology, that measures the complexity of a curve in relation to the space it occupies. It is defined as the length of a curve (or rope) adjusted for how tightly it can be knotted or twisted in three-dimensional space. In formal terms, the ropelength of a curve is defined as the ratio of its length to its thickness (or diameter).