LEARNING LOG 2: Observe, Connect and Reflect on Your Learning

PART III Symmetry in Crystals

The most striking examples of symmetryare crystals.

Herman Weyl

Study Period

Focus
Image

Image 5

Week 5

Question
What observations
can you make
about these
octahedra of cubic
cristobalite,
another
polymorph of
quartz, frozen in
volcanic glass?
What is your
personal favourite
gemstone and
what is its space
group.

Week 6

Image 6

Cavansite and
vandinite are both
oxide minerals,
and as their
names suggest,
contain the
element
vanadium. Browse
the internet and
make some
observations
about their
colour? You might
even comment on

Your Observations
The cubic octahedral units is twinned with Spinel
twinning and is rather globular in its structure.

It is Tanzanite, and its space group is Pnmc, with

common forms of {100}, {111}, {001}.

Cavansite has a deep blue hydrous colour, while

Vanadinites colour is usually orange-red or orangebrown.

the vanadium coordination to

oxygen.
You probably agree
with Herman Weyl
that crystals can be
strikingly beautiful.
Describe the
external form of
your favorite
crystal?

Tanzanites colour is blue, surrounded with a fine hint of

purple. It can appear differently when view under
alternate lighting conditions. Blue is more evident when
viewed under fluorescent light, and violet hues are
observed under incandescent light.

PART IV Symmetry and Technology

MAY: Oh! Have the crystals faults like us?

LECTURER: Certainly May. Their best virtues are shown in fighting their
faults. And some have a great many faults; and some are very naughty
crystals indeed. John Ruskin

Study Period

Focus
Image

Question
The Art Tower in
Mito, Japan is
constructed from
face-sharing
tetrahedra.
Describe an
extreme example
of symmetry in art
or architecture
that excites you.

Week 7

Your Observations
It is fascinating how each geometrical unit comes
together to form a tall and solid tower. Cubic,
rectangular and cylindrical shapes, domes, pyramid and
arches (for the base) is used, but it is interesting how the
center of gravity is relatively stable despite differences
in each unit shapes.

Image 7

Complete
Learning Log 2
by the end of

Week 7

Write a short, reflective essay, comparing your knowledge of symmetry at the

beginning of this MOOC with what you now understand. In this way, articulate your
personal exploration of symmetry in the past 7 weeks. (around 200 words)
(4 marks)

Before I attempted this module, my idea of symmetry and its applications was rather shallow. To
me, reflection symmetry is the one that stands out to me, however the application of its use was
rather narrow to me. After attempting this course, my idea of symmetry goes beyond just
reflection symmetry. I get to know rotational symmetry, how glide lines apply in symmetry, how
each unit cell comes together to give a symmetrical piece of design that is pleasing to the idea.
Most importantly, I learnt the application of symmetry in crystals, which is something that I never
came across prior to this module. Important learning points include learning the different space
groups of crystals, and the hands-on experience of using the ATOMS and SHAPES application to
analyze each crystal and its structures.
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