"The Perplexing Mystery Of The Möbius Band"

 

This is a self-working trick that appears to defy logic! Prepare a loop of newspaper. Cut the loop in half lengthwise into what appears to be two identical loops. In turn, cut each loop in half lengthwise again. The results are wildly different. Even you will be amazed!

A Möbius band (or strip) is an intriguing surface with only one side and one edge. It  was discovered in September 1858 by the German astronomer and mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius (1790-1868).

 

REQUIREMENTS:   4 inch wide strip of newspaper and scotch tape.


Prepare the trick:  At one end of the strip cut a slit about 3 inches long down the middle. At the other end cut a slit about 1 inch long down the middle  (Figure 1)
Bring the ends of the paper together to make a loop. Before you tape the ends, give one of the 3 inch slits a half twist (Figure 2), and the other 3 inch slit a full twist (Figure 3).
Perform the trick: Take the prepared loop and cut it down the middle into two separate loops (Figure 4). You now have one loop with a half twist and one loop with a full twist.
Now, for the showmanship. Take the loop with the full twist in it and cut it down the middle. The result is two complete loops linked together (Figure 5).

Take the loop with the half twist and cut it down the middle. You now get one big loop (Figure 6).

Nobody will be able to figure out how you did this amazing trick!