I have a lot of respect for the pool of knowledge here and I have seen answers that have required a vast depth of knowledge I areas that are totally unrelated to machining. So, I am asking if anyone has any idea on a subject that has puzzled me for many years.
Snowflakes have a high degree of symmetry. They basically have six-fold symmetry although there is evidence of three-fold symmetry as well. That is, they have six sides or branches and they are very similar in almost EVERY single snowflake. By very similar, I mean that they either have this symmetry in an obvious manner or they were growing in a manner that shows it with some poorly formed branches. But they were forming in the direction of symmetry. I know there are exceptions, but I believe they are comparatively fewer. And yes, I have personally examined many snowflakes. Most of they were indeed symmetrical in a six-fold manner, usually with more or fewer defects. Some snowflakes actually have a dual three-fold symmetry. They have two similar, but different shaped arms which alternate. That is, #s 1, 3, and 5 are one shape and 2, 4, and 6 are another. Wow! Think about that one.
I can understand the “six” or “three”. That is almost dead simple. Round objects will tend to line up in equilateral triangles (three-fold symmetry), that is, they line up like cells in a honeycomb. After you have more than a few of these triangles, they show a hexagonal structure and that is six-fold symmetry. This is simply a minimal packing situation.
But, what makes each of these six sides build up in the same manner, tending toward the same shape. And the branches themselves will demonstrate two fold symmetry. That is not simple. That is really hard to understand. I mean, lets say that side one is forming a bit faster than the other five sides. Now, how does side two or three or four “KNOW” how side one is forming so they can copy it? How do they know what shape is taking form on side one? Or is there some internal (electrical, atomic, sub-atomic?) process going on inside the forming snow flake that makes all six sides tend to grow the same shape?
I know that the dimensions here are only a mm or two, but on an atomic scale, that is a vast distance. I could accept that a force could easily repeat itseld on opposite sides of a single atom, but how could it travel across millions of atoms while maintaining this symmetry.
And why are these six sides all in a single plane? I mean, why not have a arm at an angle to that plane? Why is this symmetry two dimensional, and not three-dimensional? Those same round shapes can build three-dimensional shapes. A four-sided solid with triangular faces would be just one such three dimensional shape.
And yes, I have attempted web searches on this. No luck yet.
Snowflakes have a high degree of symmetry. They basically have six-fold symmetry although there is evidence of three-fold symmetry as well. That is, they have six sides or branches and they are very similar in almost EVERY single snowflake. By very similar, I mean that they either have this symmetry in an obvious manner or they were growing in a manner that shows it with some poorly formed branches. But they were forming in the direction of symmetry. I know there are exceptions, but I believe they are comparatively fewer. And yes, I have personally examined many snowflakes. Most of they were indeed symmetrical in a six-fold manner, usually with more or fewer defects. Some snowflakes actually have a dual three-fold symmetry. They have two similar, but different shaped arms which alternate. That is, #s 1, 3, and 5 are one shape and 2, 4, and 6 are another. Wow! Think about that one.
I can understand the “six” or “three”. That is almost dead simple. Round objects will tend to line up in equilateral triangles (three-fold symmetry), that is, they line up like cells in a honeycomb. After you have more than a few of these triangles, they show a hexagonal structure and that is six-fold symmetry. This is simply a minimal packing situation.
But, what makes each of these six sides build up in the same manner, tending toward the same shape. And the branches themselves will demonstrate two fold symmetry. That is not simple. That is really hard to understand. I mean, lets say that side one is forming a bit faster than the other five sides. Now, how does side two or three or four “KNOW” how side one is forming so they can copy it? How do they know what shape is taking form on side one? Or is there some internal (electrical, atomic, sub-atomic?) process going on inside the forming snow flake that makes all six sides tend to grow the same shape?
I know that the dimensions here are only a mm or two, but on an atomic scale, that is a vast distance. I could accept that a force could easily repeat itseld on opposite sides of a single atom, but how could it travel across millions of atoms while maintaining this symmetry.
And why are these six sides all in a single plane? I mean, why not have a arm at an angle to that plane? Why is this symmetry two dimensional, and not three-dimensional? Those same round shapes can build three-dimensional shapes. A four-sided solid with triangular faces would be just one such three dimensional shape.
And yes, I have attempted web searches on this. No luck yet.
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