john689203 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 "If your a nerdy mathematician like me, a roller coaster is a buzz of all the geometry and calculus that has gone into constructing of a ride that pushes things to the limit. But there is 1 roller coaster in Europe that gets my blood racing more than any other, the Grand National at Blackpool. When you race round the track you are experiencing one of the most exciting shapes for mathematicians: The Mobius Strip / loop As the trains race for the finishing line / winning post something happens, the trains arrive on the opposite side of the station, the tracks never meet or seem to cross each other, how did the designers create this feat..? The effect is achieved at the infamous Becher's Brook jump (I thought they crossed before the lift hill - Ed) where one track races over the top of the other and from that point the tracks have swapped sides, this is the simple twist at Becher's Brook that is the key to Mobius Strip. the beautiful mathematical shape that underpins the design of this track. A Question: If I take a Mobius Strip and cut it lengthways down the middle, I get just 1 looped piece of paper. But what happens if I cut this new loop lengthways down the middle..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netdvn Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 ^ I believe you get two seperate rings. If I'm not mistaken, the rings are attatched to each other as well. Dan - I rememeber seeing this on TV, but I can't remember how it actually turned out - Nguyen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplepills Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 By the time you'd written all of that, you could've made one and cut it up yourself. I'd do it now but I'm at work. Do it, and make a photo trip report of your experiment? I'm really not sure why you're asking us either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Baynham Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Hi TPR I've done it before. You end up with one big loop of paper with a half twist in it. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Austin Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I don't see what how the question has anyhting to do with the Nash, but, mainly because I've too much time on my hand, I've decided to try it! My results where: After the first cut- One longer Moebius loop. After second cut- A small moebius loop with a long strip of paper no longer attached. Amazing stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not For Sale Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article5926440.ece MOD EDIT by larrygator: Bryan - Thank you, I was too busy cutting up paper trying to figure this out to lock this thread myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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