What
is it? |
This project
illustrates how bees create honeycombs. Each bee moves around randomly,
dropping a chemical behind itself as it moves. The amount of chemical present
on the bee's current patch determines how far the bee turns and moves. |
How
to Use It |
Select
the number of bees you wish to create by adjusting the number slider. Click
on setup to set the bees up. Then click on go to run the simulation. |
 |
|
Things
to Notice |
The bees begin in the center of the screen and gradually spread out.
As the simulation runs you will notice shapes appearing -- first circular
and then hexagonal honeycombs appear. The honeycomb shape emerges out of
the interactions between bees and the chemical trails the bees leave behind.
|
Explorations |
-
Whether or not the honeycombs are formed depends on the number of bees.
Try changing the number of bees to see what happens to the honeycombs.
- As the simulation runs, try changing the number to see how bee "birth" or
"death" effects the honeycomb formation.
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