Patterns and Fingerprints
Students apply several methods developed to identify and interpret patterns to the identification of fingerprints. They look at their classmates' fingerprints, snowflakes, and "spectral fingerprints" of elements. They learn to identify each image as unique, yet part of a group containing recognizable similarities.
Patterns help engineers understand the world around them and solve many challenges.Copyright (left) City of Rockville, MD, and (right) Marty Silva, Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation http://www.rockvillemd.gov/events/lunar-new-year
Understanding patterns is crucial to any engineer, whether it be an electrical engineer who must understand patterns involved in circuitry or an aerospace engineer fitting pieces of a spacecraft together. In the context of these activities, however, engineers need to understand the patterns in the physical world that help them build the tools to expand our knowledge of that world.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe the differences and similarities between patterns and fingerprints.
- Extend a numerical and alpha-numerical pattern.
- Recognize patterns present in the natural world.
- Understand why pattern recognition is an important skill for engineers.