SYMMETRY: Ideas for Exercises for the K-12 Classroom Part II: Rotation and Reflection Symmetries in...
-
Upload
brooke-jennings -
Category
Documents
-
view
215 -
download
0
Transcript of SYMMETRY: Ideas for Exercises for the K-12 Classroom Part II: Rotation and Reflection Symmetries in...
SYMMETRY:Ideas for Exercises for the K-12
Classroom
Part II: Rotation and Reflection Symmetries in Letters, Words, and Sentences
C. Y. Jones, Columbia University, January 2014, www.solidstatechemistry.org
SymmetrySymmetry
Examine the capital letters of the Latin alphabet.
Identify the mirror planes and rotation axes of each letter.
Notice that some letters might have symmetry depending on how they are written.
-- Arial normal font is a good font for demonstrating symmetry.
-- Serifs destroy the symmetry of many letters
How does the symmetry of the lower-case letters compare to that of the upper-case letters?
A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o
p q r s t u v w x y z
The Latin Alphabet
C. Y. Jones, Columbia University, January 2014, www.solidstatechemistry.org
SymmetrySymmetry
Examine the letters of other alphabets, such as the Greek alphabet.
Identify the mirror planes and rotation axes of each letter.
Consider how serifs remove symmetry in some cases.
Consider how the font style affects the symmetry in some cases
The Greek Alphabet
C. Y. Jones, Columbia University, January 2014, www.solidstatechemistry.org
SymmetrySymmetry
Words can have symmetry
1. If it’s only in the order of the letters, then it’s a palindrome (the same forward and
backward):
ANNA, BOB
2. However, some words have true symmetry elements:
OTTO, MOM, CHECKBOOK, bid
For fun, names with symmetrical orders of the letters can be rewritten so that they contain true
symmetry elements:
BOB BOB or BOB
What are some other examples of symmetrical words?
Symmetry in Words
C. Y. Jones, Columbia University, January 2014, www.solidstatechemistry.org
SymmetrySymmetry
Sentences with symmetry are also known as palindromes.
Dee saw a seed.
Is it I? It is I!
Was it a bar or a bat I saw? What are some other examples of symmetrical words?
Symmetry in Sentences
C. Y. Jones, Columbia University, January 2014, www.solidstatechemistry.org
SymmetrySymmetryReferences and Related Topics
1. http://www.fun-with-words.com/word_records.html, accessed on 1/20/2014
2. http://www.palindromelist.net/, accessed on 1/23/2014
3. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palindrome, accessed on 1/23/2014
4. Ambigrams, for example:
1. http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/creative-and-cool-ambigram-designs/
2. http://vector.tutsplus.com/articles/inspiration/a-clever-collection-of-40-inspiring-
ambigrams/
5. Interesting examples of symmetry
1. http://www.xtal.iqfr.csic.es/Cristalografia/parte_03-en.html
C. Y. Jones, Columbia University, January 2014, www.solidstatechemistry.org