2006-09-26 06:59:29 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Snowflakes come in a huge variety of shapes, but most of them probably start out as hexagonal prisms of ice. From there they can develop into a bewildering array of forms from simple to complex. Snowflakes are classified by shape, and there are internationally recognized systems for categorizing them. Probably most snowflakes are iregular, although many are symmetrical. The shape and complexity of snowflakes depends on a variety of factors, such as temperature and humidity. Nano-flakes will be often nearly identical, since crystal geometry constrains the shape of very small crystals during formation (see links on group theory below). A side-by-side microscopic comparison of every single snowflake ever made (or at least, a huge number of them) is the only way to know if there are identical forms. It is likely that no two large flakes are exactly identical.
To learn more about snowflakes, how they form, and their shapes, visit http://www.snowcrystals.com/ from the Physics Dept at the California Institute of Technology
Group Theory and Snowflakes:
Why is group theory important? http://www.math.uconn.edu/~kconrad/math216/whygroups.html
Symmetry arguments in chemistry- http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=34471
2006-09-26 07:17:07 · answer #1 · answered by Mr D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At some level, they are most likely not symmetrical, but they are all different because snowflakes form under conditions that are wildly variable. It depends on temperature, wind intensity and duration, humidity, particulate content in the air as well as types of particulates (some are better nuclei for crystallization than others), atmospheric gas levels, altitude, and a lot of other intangibles. Given how much variety is possible, it IS possible that two snowflakes might be identical, at least as far as a human being could tell, but chances are astronomically huge that you'll never actually see them side-by-side.
2006-09-26 07:06:01 · answer #2 · answered by theyuks 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Colorado and I've been watching the snowflakes around here for years and I'm pretty sure I've seen some identical twins.
2006-09-26 16:03:18 · answer #3 · answered by scifuntubes 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each one is like us, perfect in His image but different looking!
2006-09-26 13:59:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because nature is a wonderous thing.
2006-09-26 07:11:25 · answer #5 · answered by honey lugs 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
nothing is perfect in nature
2006-09-26 07:01:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can't be real if they're fakes....
2006-09-26 07:09:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol
2006-09-26 07:03:31 · answer #8 · answered by § gαввαηα § 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋