Platonic Solids

Since I have been writing about geometry and the specific qualities that determine a figures shape, I will now touch on the Platonic Solids. The Platonic Solids are the most recognizable three dimensional objects that we encounter in our world. There are exactly five Platonic Solids that possess the unique properties to set them apart from all other three dimensional shapes. In order to be classified as a Platonic Solid, the faces, edges, and angles must all be congruent. Their perfect symmetry has given them the aesthetic beauty that has attracted geometers for thousands of years. Greek philosopher Plato, for whom the solids are named after, first made the relationship between the solids and the four classical elements (earth, air, water, and fire). His argument was primarily philosophical, and was mostly based off of intuition. However, scientists have found that these solids due in fact manifest themselves in nature. At the microscopic scale, many viruses and bacteria take on the shape of Platonic Solids, and multiply by building off of the repeating patterns. The image below shows the five Platonic Solids associated with their respected elements. This topic can go very in depth and anyone interested can find further information by clicking the title that is linked to an excellent web-site.