Scribd
Upload
279 views

Shapes of Constant Width

Shapes of constant width include the Reuleaux triangle and irregular shapes. The Reuleaux triangle has a constant width no matter how it is rotated, and fits inside a square while touching each side. Its perimeter equals the circumference of a circle with the same diameter. Irregular shapes of constant width can be constructed from any triangle. Only polygons with an odd number of sides can be modified into shapes of constant width, as even-sided shapes will spiral outwards when connecting arcs.

Uploaded by

chessgeneral
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
279 views

Shapes of Constant Width

Shapes of constant width include the Reuleaux triangle and irregular shapes. The Reuleaux triangle has a constant width no matter how it is rotated, and fits inside a square while touching each side. Its perimeter equals the circumference of a circle with the same diameter. Irregular shapes of constant width can be constructed from any triangle. Only polygons with an odd number of sides can be modified into shapes of constant width, as even-sided shapes will spiral outwards when connecting arcs.

Uploaded by

chessgeneral
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Shapes of constant width

If you are asked to name a shape that has a constant distance between the top
and the bottom no matter how it is rotated, chances are you’ll think of a circle.
But it’s not the only one…
A Reuleaux triangle is an example of a shape of
constant width – that is, when sandwiched
between two parallel lines, the distance between
the lines is fixed no matter how the shape is
rotated.

A consequence of this is that the shape also fits


inside a square in such a way that it is touching
each edge of the square at the same time, and
can rotate within this square.

To construct this shape:


1. Draw a circle. Keep your compass setting the same for the next circle.
2. Draw a second circle with centre on the first circle and the same radius.
3. Draw a third circle with the same radius, whose centre is on one of the
crossing points of the first two circles.
The overlap of all three circles forms a
Reuleaux triangle.

Note: joining the three corners would form


an equilateral triangle.
A rotary combustion engine uses this shape
as a more efficient method than pistons.
http://youtu.be/6BCgl2uumlI
A drill with a Reuleaux triangular cutting bit
can drill a square(ish) hole.
http://youtu.be/L5AzbDJ7KYI

The constant width of this shape can be


verified by measuring from each corner to
the opposite (curved) side. Each of these
lines should be the same length.

Extension: Use your knowledge of


equilateral triangles and circle formulae to
calculate the perimeter of this shape.
Compare this to the width of the shape (your radius). What do you notice?
More shapes of constant width
The Reuleaux triangle is only one example of a shape of constant width.

Any polygon with an odd number of sides can be


modified to generate a shape of constant width.

The heptagon opposite has had curves added, centred


on the opposite corner, to form a seven-sided shape of
constant width.

Do you know any everyday objects with this shape?

To construct a regular shape of constant width:


1. Draw a regular polygon with an odd number of sides. This is most easily
done by drawing a circle, then making marks around the circumference
equally spaced (by dividing 360° by the number of sides) for the corners.
2. Use a compass to construct an arc from one corner to another, centred
on the corner opposite.
3. Repeat until you have used each corner as the centre for an arc, and there
is an arc from each corner to the next.

The constant width of your shapes can be


verified by measuring from each corner
to the opposite (curved) side.

Each of these lines should be the same


length.

Use your knowledge of angles in regular polygons to calculate the perimeter of


your shapes.
Compare this to the width of the shape (your radius). What do you notice?

Extension: Why does this method only work for polygons with an odd number
of sides? What happens if you try to turn a square or hexagon into a shape of
constant width?
Irregular shapes of constant width
So, lots of shapes have constant width, but they’re all nice and regular, right?
A constant width doesn’t automatically mean a circle, or even a regular shape…
To construct an irregular shape of constant width:
1. Draw a triangle.
This can be equilateral (for a modified version
of the Reuleaux triangle) or isosceles or
scalene.

Extend the lines of the triangle beyond the


corners out across the page.
2. Label the corner opposite the shortest side A.

Label the other two B and C, working your way


clockwise from A.

3. Choose a radius for your first arc – this can be


anything from 0 up.

Make an arc centred at A between the


extended lines BA and CA.

4. Make a second arc, centred at C, with radius


set so that it meets the first arc at the line CA.

Extend this arc to the line CB.

5. Repeat this process for the next 4 arcs.

Make sure the centre for each arc is the point


where the two lines cross.

Extension: Measure the lengths and angles of your


triangle (and the radius of the first arc), and use the
cosine rule to calculate the perimeter of your shape.
Compare it to the diameter. What do you notice?
Shapes of constant width SOLUTIONS
Perimeter:
To find the perimeter of a regular shape of constant width such as the Reuleaux triangle, it is necessary to
calculate the angle of the sector for each arc.

The triangle itself is rather more straightforward than the pentagon or other polygons, since the angle is
the same as the interior angle of the shape, 60°.

60 1
For a Reuleaux triangle of side length 𝑥, each arc has length 360 (2𝜋𝑥) = 3 𝜋𝑥 and the total perimeter is
therefore 𝜋𝑥. Note that the ‘diameter’ of this shape (the distance between parallel lines containing the
shape) is constant, and, in this case, is equal to 𝑥. Therefore the perimeter of the Reuleaux triangle is
identical to the circumference of a circle of the same diameter.

This result is also true for shapes of constant width with a greater number of sides, and even modified
versions or irregular versions, although use of non-right-angled trigonometry is required for more sides.

Even number of sides:


When constructing a shape of constant width, the procedure involves identifying a point the shape may
balance on and constructing the curve required when the shape rests on this point. Then at the ends of
this constructed curve, subsequent curves can be generated from other corners (see instructions for
constructing an irregular shape of constant width). However, if you attempt this method with a polygon
with an even number of sides…
1 2 3

4 5 6

… the minimum curve generated from the first corner provides the minimum size for the next curve, and so
on, but by the time you get back round to the first curve, instead of meeting up they just spiral outwards.

You might also like