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Patterns in Nature

Patterns in nature can be found on both living and non-living organisms and sometimes can be modeled mathematically. Examples of patterns in nature include symmetry, spirals, fractals, tessellations, waves, cracks, and spots/stripes. Studies of patterns in nature date back to early philosophers and scholars, and these patterns often serve important functions and are aesthetically pleasing.

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7K views

Patterns in Nature

Patterns in nature can be found on both living and non-living organisms and sometimes can be modeled mathematically. Examples of patterns in nature include symmetry, spirals, fractals, tessellations, waves, cracks, and spots/stripes. Studies of patterns in nature date back to early philosophers and scholars, and these patterns often serve important functions and are aesthetically pleasing.

Uploaded by

NeveRed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Patterns in Nature

Patterns in nature are form found in natural world. Patterns in nature can be found on both living
and non-living organism in this world an sometimes can be modelled mathematically. Studies in
nature pattern have already conducted in the early times by famous philosophers and scholars.
Nothing in nature happens without a reason, all of these patterns have an important
reason to exist and they also happen to be beautiful to watch.
Here are some exammples of different types of pattern in nature:
1. Symmetry- we can find symmetry in leaves, flowers, insects and animals.

Bilateral Symmetry found in Animals Five Fold Symmetry found in Snowflakes

Radial Symmetry found in Water Splash

2. Spirals- Spirals are common in plants and in some animals, notably mollusks. In plants, spirals
can be seen on the arrangements on leaves on stem, flowers petals and also in seed heads
like in sunflower. We can also see some spiral horns found in animals and on shells of
mollusks. Phyllotaxis spirals can be generated mathematically from Fibonacci ratios (each
subsequent number being the sum of the two preceding ones).
Fibonacci Spiral Spiral found on Animal Horns

Phyllotaxis Spiral on Plants Logarithmic Spiral on Shells

3. Fractals- Some plants have fractal patterns, a never ending pattern that repeats itself at
different scales.

Fractal Spiral found in Broccoli Fractals found in Ferns

4. Tessellations- repeating pattern of polygons that covers a flat surface with no gaps or
overlaps.
Tessellation on Honeycomb Tessellation on Turtle Shell

5. Waves and Dunes- Waves are disturbances that carry energy as they move, maybe in water
and air. Dunes are created by strong wind blows on sand that creates different patterns.

Sea Waves Sand Dunes


6. Cracks- linear openings that form in materials to relieve stress. Cracks may exist on both
elastic and inelastic material, the patterns of cracks may tell is the material is elastic or
inelastic.

Crack patterns of Drying Elastic Mud Crack patterns of Drying Inelastic Mud

7. Spots and Strips- these patterns are mostly in animals and has many functions like
camouflage, signaling and protection from some prey because this patterns on their skin
maybe distastefully bitter or poisonous.
Strips pattern on Butterflies Spots pattern on Leopards

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patterns_in_nature#Cracks
https://www.slideshare.net/esmemc/fibonacci-presentation
https://www.fi.edu/math-patterns-nature

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