Coffee Stirrer Structures and HyperTiles

G4G15

Coffee Stirrer Structures and HyperTiles

Robert Becker

Puzzle,Game,Art,Rec Math

Easy and inexpensive geometric frames (of truncated cubes or dodecahedra, for example) can be constructed from coffee stirrers and twist ties. These can be used to hang from the ceiling or to dip in soapy water. When one such frame, tetrahedral in shape, is dipped in soapy water a spectacular film array results consisting of six isosceles panes all meeting at a central point - mirroring the bonding arrangement around an sp^3-hybridized carbon atom! And when two of these six panes are removed (popped), the resulting film approximates a hyperbolic paraboloid - the shape upon which the author has dedicated his retirement. That dedication is to a construction toy he has developed called HyperTiles - all proceeds from which are being donated to some of the author's favorite charities. https://www.hypertiletoy.com/

video for making coffee stirrer structures: https://youtu.be/2g4sIufZpWs
video of soap films: https://youtu.be/kvYSDGQFlOI


The gift will include 20 coffee stirrers, 20 twist-ties, three sample HyperTiles and three connectors.

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