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This is a normal strip of paper. Nothing too special. Standard issue, pretty much. But
if we were to further analyze this piece of paper, we would say it has two sides, one
and two, and four edges, one, two, three, and four. However, if we were to get rid of
two of the edges, we would end up with something completely different. The strip has been transformed
into a loop, and a loop has two sides, one and two, and two edges, one and two. A loop
is a curve that bends around until it crosses itself. We make loops all the time when we're
tying our shoes or even riding roller coasters.
Still not impressed? How 'bout this time, in addition to getting rid of one more edge,
we also get rid of one side. Once we do that, we're left with only one side and one edge,
known as a Mobius Band.
Mobius Bands appear to look like ordinary loops. The only difference between the two
is the presence of a half twist in the Mobius Band. This half twist is what combines the
would be two sides into one. Mobius Bands are a fun way to explore topology, a branch
of mathematics that studies space, dimension, and transformation.
In the past, the Be of Good Rich Company patented a Mobius strip conveyor belt with the idea
that combining both surfaces would increase the durability of the belt. Today, modern
conveyor belts features several layers of different material to increase durability
without the Mobius twist. Mobius Bands are also in style. The trendy infinity scarf has
an inconspicuous Mobius twist to it. Jewelry designers also incorporate Mobius twists into
their pieces as well. It's math you can accessorize with.
Thanks for watching our episode on Mobius Bands. If you have a question or a comment,
please leave them below. Also, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe. I'm Alyssa.
Thanks for watching Explainer TV.