Paper Trick - Möbius Strip

The Möbius Strip paper trick is an activity that turns a paper strip into a BIG circle! First you make a ring with one paper strip and cut it in half...you get two small paper rings. NOW...make another paper circle BUT this time twist one end of the paper strip, by flipping top to bottom, before you join the ends together with tape. When you cut this paper ring in half, you get ONE BIG paper circle. Really!

 

You will need:

* 2 paper strips

* tape

* pencil or pen

* scissors

What to do:

PART 1

* Join the two ends of the paper strip and tape them together.

* Draw a line around the middle of the paper strip, halfway between the two long edges.

* Cut along the line.

* You will get two paper rings.

PART 2

* Join the two ends of another paper strip BUT this time, twist one end of the paper strip, by flipping top to bottom, before you join the ends together with tape.

* Draw a line down the middle of the paper strip.

* Cut along the line.

* You will get ONE BIG paper ring!

When you make the second paper ring, with the half-twist, you are creating a paper ring with only ONE side! This was discovered in 1858 by August Möbius (1790-1868) who was a mathematician and astronomer from Germany.

If you try this, please send me some photos. I really like to see your projects !