Abstract
You and your students can investigate arrangements of tightly packed circles by using drinking straws and string or rubber bands. Wrap the string or band loosely around a handful of straws, and pull it taut. Observe the way that the straws align on the end when the string is pulled as tightly as possible. See figure 1. Looking at the cross section of the bundle of straws, notice that the centers of the circles and the points of tangency form the lattice points of an isometric grid, as shown in figure 2. You can use isometric paper to record the “packed” arrangements of various numbers of circles (fig. 3).
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
