Tessellations
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What is a tessellation?
If many copies of a shape can be used to cover a surface, without leaving any gaps between them, then we say that the shape will tessellate. The pattern that is formed is called a tessellation.
Simply put: A tessellation is like a puzzle that repeats a particular pattern. For example:
In nature and life, they appear often:
Honeycombs...
Mud flats...
In games, like checkers..
Tessellations in Nature
snake skin
spider web armadillo armor
Tessellations are all around us: Look for tessellations in walls, patios and pavements.
Tessellations are all around us:
Common shapes can be arranged in unusual ways Sometimes an unusual shape will tessellate
Tessellations are all around us:
Sometimes 2 or more different shapes will tessellate.
Tessellations Around the House
Tessellations can be found in quilts, floor tiling, and wallpaper.
Study of Science
X-ray Crystallography
This picture depicts the transformation of eight points in an array to make a very small crystal lattice, which tessellates.
more science.
This image suggests the relationship between tessellations, symmetry, and x-ray crystallograpy.
and even more science.
Hydrogen Peroxide, among other chemicals, has this tessellating, crystal structure.
Many different geometric shapes can be used to create tessellations. Which of the shapes below would fit with itself to make a good tessellation design?
Math in Tessellations
The mathematics of the Regular Tessellation...
A regular polygon tessellation is constructed from regular polygons. Regular polygons have equal sides and equal angles. The regular polygons must fill the plane at each vertex, with repeating patterns and no overlapping pieces.
Note: this pentagon does not fit into the vertex therefore it is not a regular tessellation.
Regular tiling
Which other regular polygons do you think can tile the plane?
Triangles Triangle? Yep!
How many triangles to make 1 complete rotation?
The interior angle of every equilateral triangle is 60. If we sum the angles around a vertex, we get 60 + 60 + 60 + 60 + 60 + 60 = 360 again!.
Pentagons Will pentagons work? The interior angle of a pentagon is 108, and 108 + 108 + 108 = 324.
Hexagons Hexagons? The interior angle is 120, and 120 + 120 + 120 = 360. How many hexagons to make 1 complete rotation?
Heptagons Heptagons? Octagons? Not without getting overlaps. In fact, all polygons with more than six sides will overlap.
Regular tiling So, the only regular polygons that tessellate the plane are triangles, squares and hexagons.
That was an easy game. Lets make it a bit more rewarding.
A famous mathematician, Kepler studied tessellations and noted the regular tessellations or (tilings) of the plane.
There are only three regular tessellations;
one of triangles
one of squares
and one of hexagons.
This is NOT a regular polygon tessellation, because...
vertex The plane is not filled at the vertex, because there is space left over.
space
A regular polygon tessellation, can be changed using alterations to the sides of the polygon. These alterations are called transformations.
Three Common Transformations
1. Translation, which is a slide of one side of the polygon.
2. Reflection, which is a flip or mirror image of one side of the polygon. 3. Rotation, which is a turn of a side around one vertex of the polygon.
Translations - a slide
this side
the alteration
moves here
Get practice template and try creating a translation.
Lets try together.. a translation or slide.
Reflections - mirror images
the alteration
flips here
Get practice template and try creating a reflection.
Lets try together.. a reflection, flip or mirror image
Rotations - turns
the alteration
here rotates around this vertex
Get practice template and try creating a rotation...
Lets try together.. a rotation or turn
Tessellations by M.C. Escher
Make Your Own Escher Tessellations 1
Step 1: Start with a simple shape that will tessellate e.g. a rectangle.
Step 2: Remove a shape or shapes from one side of the rectangle and fix them to the opposite side.
Make Your Own Escher Tessellations 1
Use this as a template to create your tessellation.
Make Your Own Escher Tessellations 2
You could start with a hexagon and cut semi-circles from three of the sides and fix them to the opposite sides like this.
Make Your Own Escher Tessellations 2
Make Your Own Escher Tessellations 3
Start with a square and cut segments from two sides and fix them to the opposite sides like this.
Make Your Own Escher Tessellations 3
Professional Tessellation Designs
Sun and Moon
M.C. Escher
Fish
Robert Ingalls
Many artists have created master works of art using the simple rules of tessellations. M.C. Escher and Robert Ingalls are among many tessellation artists. Can you you spot the repeating shape?
You Can Be a Tessellation Artist
You need to first create a tessellating template. Step 1: using grid paper cut out a perfect square. Step 2: with a pencil make a line on two adjacent sides of the square. Be sure not to draw through a corner. Step 3: cut out the pieces and attach them with tape to the opposite sides from where they came. You have now created your tessellation template.
Seeing a Figure
Looking at your tessellation template, study the sides and the shape to decide what sort of figure you might see. The person who designed this form saw an elephant and an elf. Are there any other different forms that you might see? When looking for the shape be sure not to see too much detail as it can make the art work too crowded.
Putting It All Together
Take your tessellation template and trace it on to a piece of paper. When tracing you can use different types of symmetry to change your picture. Be sure that your whole page is filled with a repeating pattern. Colour in your picture creatively.
Elephants Translation symmetry
Elves and Elephants
Combinations of symmetry
Extras
...
Is this a regular tessellation? What kind of tessellation is this? Tessellation internet activity Cool site for interactive Javascript tessellations. Constructing tessellations - Claris/Appleworks, HyperCard, HyperStudio, Geometry Sketchpad, Windows Paint and more.
Links
Totally Tessellated - ThinkQuest winner - great site, instruction, information. [Link] Tessellations Tutorials - Math Forum site [Link] - site for construction of tessellations. [Link] - great list of tessellation links Math. Com - List of good tessellation links [Link] World of Escher site - commerical site with gallery of Dutch artist,Escher who was famous for his tessellation art. [Link] Science Universitys Tilings Around Us Site. [Link] Other links from Forum. [Link]
The end ...
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