Become a mathematician and discover patterns with fractals in this experiment about Sierpinski’s Card!
Materials:
Paper, Scissors, Ruler (optional), and Tape or glue
Time Estimated:
15 min
Directions:
Fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise. Then cut halfway across the center starting from the creased edge. You can use a ruler to measure the exact halfway point, but it is not necessary.
Now when you open the card, you can fold the part you cut the opposite way the card is folded. In other words, “pop-out” the part that you cut.
Now close the card and imagine two small rectangles at the top and bottom. Cut halfway across the center of those rectangles.
Open the card and fold-out those pieces as well.
Continue this process as many times as you want or are able to!
You can glue this fold-out card to another colorful piece of paper to make a pretty card.
Think Like A Mathematician:
There are lots of patterns to discover within fractals! See if you can figure out:
The number of rectangles you cut through the middle of each step
The number of layers you cut through at each step
Are you cutting through the same number of layers for each rectangle?
The number of new pieces to “pop-out” at each step
The total number of pieces that have been “popped out” at each step
How It Works:
In this experiment, you learned about the Sierpinski Triangle!
The Sierpinski Triangle is an example of a fractal because you can find smaller versions of the same shape inside the triangle, the larger shape.
Beyond being patterns that we can enjoy just for the sake of their beauty, the formulas we can find with fractals help us understand and study other topics in science such as how bacteria grow, patterns in freezing water like snowflakes, brain waves, and cell phone signals!
Looking for more fun at home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities!
