Bill Ames - Snowflake Formation - G4G14 Apr 2022

Summary

In this talk, the speaker and his son explore how snowflakes form by identifying three physical rules that guide their creation. Using a simulator, they demonstrate how snowflakes form hexagonal structures due to freezing, with temperature changes influencing branching patterns. The process also explains why some hexagons detach as snowflakes grow, based on weak connections and size mismatches. By adjusting temperature over time, the speaker shows how complex and diverse snowflake patterns emerge. Attendees are invited to explore the simulator during the break.

Takeaways

• 🌨️ The presenter discusses the natural process of snowflake formation and shares a collaboration with his son to understand it.
• 🔬 They identified three self-evident physical rules that govern the formation of snowflakes.
• ❄️ Rule one: Freezing water in clouds forms hexagonal shapes, as demonstrated by the structure of ice 11.
• 💻 A simulator was created to visualize the formation of snowflakes based on the identified rules.
• 🌡️ Rule two: Temperature fluctuations within clouds affect the growth of snowflakes, causing gaps and branches.
• 🔗 Rule three: The structural integrity of snowflakes is influenced by the connections between hexagons; weak connections can lead to the loss of hexagons.
• 📉 The simulator allows for the control of temperature during the snowflake formation process, demonstrating how rapid temperature drops can lead to branching.
• 🔄 The presenter shows how the simulator can be used to add generations of hexagons, each colder and smaller, leading to the characteristic snowflake shape.
• 📸 Historical photographs of snowflakes from 1910 are used to validate the simulator's accuracy in replicating natural snowflake patterns.
• 🎮 An interactive mode in the simulator allows users to manipulate the temperature sequence, creating different snowflake designs.
• 🤝 The presenter invites the audience to interact with the simulator during the break to explore snowflake formation further.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the discussion in the script?

The main topic of the discussion is the process by which snowflakes form and the physical rules that govern their unique shapes.

What is the first rule mentioned for snowflake formation?

The first rule is that freezing water in clouds forms hexagons, as demonstrated by the structure of ice 11.

How does the simulator demonstrate the first rule?

The simulator demonstrates the first rule by creating a hexagonal lattice pattern, which is a honeycomb structure, by adding hexagons to unpaired edges.

What is the second rule that influences snowflake formation?

The second rule is the control over temperature as the snowflake forms, which can cause gaps and branches to form due to rapid temperature changes.

How does the simulator represent the temperature changes?

The simulator represents temperature changes on a graph, with the vertical axis representing temperature and the horizontal axis representing generation number.

What is the third rule that affects how snowflakes form?

The third rule is about the structural integrity of the snowflake. Small hexagons cannot merge with larger ones due to edge length ratios, and connections at single vertices are weak and can break away.

Why do some hexagons fall off the snowflake in the simulation?

Some hexagons fall off the snowflake in the simulation because they cannot merge with others if the edge length ratios are too different, or because they are connected at only one vertex, making the connection weak and prone to breaking.

What additional feature was added to the simulator for user interaction?

An automatic mode was added to the simulator, allowing users to change the sequence of temperatures the snowflake goes through during formation, which affects the final shape of the snowflake.

What is the significance of the 1910 snowflake photographs mentioned in the script?

The 1910 snowflake photographs are significant as they provide historical evidence of snowflake shapes, including hexagonal structures and early stages of branching.

How does the speaker intend to make the simulator more engaging for users?

The speaker intends to make the simulator more engaging by allowing users to interact with it during breaks, offering the opportunity to experiment with different temperature sequences and observe the resulting snowflake shapes.

What is the ultimate goal of the simulation described in the script?

The ultimate goal of the simulation is to replicate and demonstrate the natural process of snowflake formation, illustrating how the three physical rules lead to the diverse and intricate shapes of snowflakes.