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LEGO and chirality
Chirality is the property of an object that can not be superimposed on its
mirror image. Examples includes both natural (biological) object such hands and
cultural (technical) object such screws.
A non-chiral (achiral) object can be superimposed on its mirror image, that
means it has one or more plane of symmetry.
One chiral object and its counterpart are called enantiomers.
Chirality is common studied property in science (chemistry, mathematics) but
also in arts (M.C. Escher)
1) Most of the LEGO parts are symmetric.
Plates, Bricks, Slopes, Beams, Axles, Gears, are all achiral parts
2) Some are chiral and both enantiomers are produced by TLC (they are called
left and right enantiomer) :
Doors, wings, wedges, minifig arms
3) A few are chiral and only one enantiomer is produced by TLC
Technic worm screw, some minifig accessories (camera), patterned parts
When both enantiomeric part are produced, they are generally intended to be used
at the same time to create a symmetric structure : Cars with both right and left
doors, planes with both right and left wings. But it exists some creative ways
to use only right or left enantiomeric part for example by creating a chiral
superstructure as spiral staircase.
Any thoughts ?
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Message has 4 Replies:
 | | Re: Chirality
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| (...) Good stuff. Seems BrickWiki fodder! I would footnote that many paired parts are not TRULY enantiomers since the logos on the studs are not reversed. But that is a very unimportant footnote since they are functionally mirrored. (19 years ago, 8-Sep-05, to lugnet.build.schleim, lugnet.parts)
| | | Re: Chirality
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| (...) snip (...) Your post reminds me of my painful memories of organic chemistry from university... Never thought it could be applicable to things other than molecules! :) -Bryan (19 years ago, 8-Sep-05, to lugnet.build.schleim, lugnet.parts)
| | | Re: Chirality
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| (...) I will never look at my bricks the same.... what a great idea for a lesson plan, I have written it down to tell my sister (a secondary science teacher), I am a training early childhood so chirality isn't on the curriculum :(. Is there nothing (...) (19 years ago, 8-Sep-05, to lugnet.build.schleim, lugnet.parts)
| | | Re: Chirality
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| Hey, Awesome post! Larry has a point with the text on the studs, but when I teach symmetry and chirality and talk about everyday objects I always put in the caveat "this baseball has such-and-such symmetry properties, igoring all imperfections and (...) (19 years ago, 9-Sep-05, to lugnet.build.schleim, lugnet.parts, FTX)
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