what is the cause of the hexagon shape in nature?
what is the cause of the hexagon shape in nature?
Hexagon shapes are often seen in nature in a variety of forms, from beehives to snowflakes, and have long been the subject of scientific inquiry. The hexagon shape is nature's way of achieving efficient use of space while minimising stress on each structural component. This is achieved through the use of structural mechanics, which describes the phenomenon of how forces are distributed and responded to throughout a stable structure. This phenomenon leads to the formation of the hexagon shape throughout nature, as it is the shape that maximises stability and minimises cost for many different constructions in nature.
The first scientific explanation for the hexagon shape in nature was developed by Leonhard Euler, a Swiss Mathematician, which described that the hexagon shape maximises the sum of internal angles at the vertices while minimising the total number of sides. This concept of minimising the total number of sides while maximising the internal angles became known as ‘Euler’s Law of Polygons’ and was documented in his work titled ‘The Lettres Naturelles’, published in 1750.
This law explains why the hexagon shape is so prevalent in nature. The hexagon shape is the most efficient shape to cover the largest area with the smallest perimeter to minimise stress at each vertex. This is demonstrated in beehives, as bees build their hives in hexagonal shapes which help bees to reduce the amount of wax needed to construct the hive and shifts the weight of the structure to external walls, using inner walls only for honeycomb storage efficiency.
The hexagon shape can also be seen in snowflakes. Snowflakes are comprised of empty spaces (holes) and solid ice crystals that come together in a variety of shapes and sizes. The unique hexagonal shape is most commonly observed, particularly through the macro images from digital photography. This is because the shapes of snowflakes are largely impacted by the amount of water present during the freezing process. The hexagon shape has the highest number of vertices on its edges which makes it the most effective shape for snowflakes to adopt in order to maximise the amount of space required to hold a large amount of water - a hexagonal shape requires the least amount of space compared to all the other shapes, giving the snowflake the most secure structure to freeze in.
The hexagon shape is also found in the arrangement of neurons in the brain, as the hexagonal structure is thought to assist with the efficient transmission of nerve signals. The hexagon structure provides a network of connected nodes, as each vertex connects with other vertices and allows signals to flow from one node to another. This structure also allows neurons to receive information from an equal number of other neurons, allowing for equal distribution of signals and a higher level of coordination.
The first scientific explanation for the hexagon shape in nature was developed by Leonhard Euler, a Swiss Mathematician, which described that the hexagon shape maximises the sum of internal angles at the vertices while minimising the total number of sides. This concept of minimising the total number of sides while maximising the internal angles became known as ‘Euler’s Law of Polygons’ and was documented in his work titled ‘The Lettres Naturelles’, published in 1750.
This law explains why the hexagon shape is so prevalent in nature. The hexagon shape is the most efficient shape to cover the largest area with the smallest perimeter to minimise stress at each vertex. This is demonstrated in beehives, as bees build their hives in hexagonal shapes which help bees to reduce the amount of wax needed to construct the hive and shifts the weight of the structure to external walls, using inner walls only for honeycomb storage efficiency.
The hexagon shape can also be seen in snowflakes. Snowflakes are comprised of empty spaces (holes) and solid ice crystals that come together in a variety of shapes and sizes. The unique hexagonal shape is most commonly observed, particularly through the macro images from digital photography. This is because the shapes of snowflakes are largely impacted by the amount of water present during the freezing process. The hexagon shape has the highest number of vertices on its edges which makes it the most effective shape for snowflakes to adopt in order to maximise the amount of space required to hold a large amount of water - a hexagonal shape requires the least amount of space compared to all the other shapes, giving the snowflake the most secure structure to freeze in.
The hexagon shape is also found in the arrangement of neurons in the brain, as the hexagonal structure is thought to assist with the efficient transmission of nerve signals. The hexagon structure provides a network of connected nodes, as each vertex connects with other vertices and allows signals to flow from one node to another. This structure also allows neurons to receive information from an equal number of other neurons, allowing for equal distribution of signals and a higher level of coordination.
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