Fractals in Nature Growing and Measuring Random Fractals

Abstract

On the following two pages are several pictures of scraggly structures. What do they have in common? Answer the following questions and be prepared to discuss them.

• (1) How are these objects similar to each other in appearance? In what ways do these objects look different?

• (2) There are many ways to rank objects. For example, you can rank different students according to weight. You can also rank the same group of students by height or shoe size or age or hair color. Look at the photographs above and figure out different ways to rank these images. Rank the images them according to as many different criteria as you can think of. How inventive can you be?

• (3) The pictures show very different objects, yet their images look rather similar. Why do you think these objects look so much alike? Do you think it is a coincidence? If it is not a coincidence, what are possible ways that their similarity might come from a common cause?