II) The regular Polyhedra 

1)   1)   The  Platon's Solids

.

Tetrahedral

4 faces (equilateral  triangles)

4 vertex

6 edges

 

 

Cube

6 faces (squares)

8 vertex

12 edges

 

Octahedral

8 faces (equilateral  triangles)

6 vertex

12 edges

  

Dodecahedra

12 faces (regular pentagons)

20 vertex

30 edges

 

  

Icosahedra

20 faces (equilateral  triangles)

12 vertex

30 edges

 

III) The non convexes regular polyhedrons 

 

Johannes Kepler, discovers in 1619 two others regular polyhedrons non convexes: the small star dodecahedra and the big star dodecahedra (Kepler's star). Two centuries later, in 1809 Louis Poinsot discovers, two more regular polyhedrons non convexes: the star dodecahedra and the star icosahedra.

.

 small star dodecahedra

 big star dodecahedra

 

the star dodecahedra

 

big star icosahedra

 

 

 

 

IV) Realization of regular polyhedrons by paper folding (ORIGAMI)

 

1)   1)   The dodecahedra

 

In order to construct the  dodecahedra, we need 12 pieces similar  to the  elementary piece (2).

We remark that each piece is composed of a regular pentagon and two  languet's.

 

(1)

Make a knot with a strip of paper  of dimensions 41,7 cm by 5,5 cm.

(2)

 

 

2)   2)   The regular polyhedrons with  triangular faces

 

In order to construct these solids, we will use the  elementary piece (A) or  its symmetric (B). We remark that each piece is composed by two equilateral triangles in the middle of the piece and two others languet's. All these languet's must be used in the construction

                                            

Pièce A

Pièce B

  

Production of the  piece A

(1)

Take a shit of paper, of rectangular shape and  dimensions L andL.

(2)

 

the vertex on the left down must go over the vertex on the right top. Fold it

(3)

Open and fold from the bottom following the line of the previous folding (2).

(4)

 

fold from the top following the line of the previous folding (2).

(5)

Fold the two corners and hide them.

(6)

 

 

 Turn the piece.

(7)

Fold it in order to have four equilateral triangles.

(8)

 

Here is the elementary piece A.

 

 

Réalisation de la pièce B

 

Take a shit of paper, of rectangular shape and  dimensions L andL

(2)

the vertex on the right down must go over the vertex on the left  top. Fold it

(3)

Open and fold from the bottom following the line of the previous folding (2).

(4)

 

fold from the top following the line of the previous folding (2).

(5)

Fold the two corners and hide them..

(6)

 

 

 Turn the piece.

(7)

Fold it in order to have four equilateral triangles.

(8)

 

Here is the elementary piece  B.

 

3)   3)   The cube

In order to construct the cube, we need six elementary pieces identicals, starting with a square.  Remark that this piece is composed by a square and two triangles. These two triangles will be used during the construction of the cube

 

(1)

fold the square by the mediane line

(2)

folding again in the middle each half part of the piece  (1) .

(3)

fold the opposite small triangles  rectangles.

(4)

 

fold the piece.

(5)

 

fold two triangles in order to have a parallelogram

(6)

put the two triangles obtained in  (5) in the interior of the parallelogram

      (7)=>

Turn the piece. Fold two triangles rectangles,  in order to get a square and two triangles rectangles

Take care in the step (3) , since you can obtains a symmetrical piece (7’) the cube need 6 pieces identicals.

 

                               

          (3’)                                                    (7’)

 

4)   4)   Number of pieces needed to construct the regular polyhedra with triangular faces

 

Tetrahedron

2 symmetrical pieces (A+B)

Octahedron

4 pieces identical

Icosahedra

10 pieces (5A+5B)

Small star dodecahedron

30 pieces identical

Big star dodecahedron

30 pieces identical

 Star Dodecahedron

35 pieces identical

Star Icosahedra

120 pieces identical