10/16/2010

Rhombicosidodecahedron Maze


What, you ask, is a rhombicosidodecahedron? It's a complex polyhedron that combines perfect triangles, squares, and pentagons, and has several interesting mathematical properties. This is actually a "small rhombicosidodecahedron", and I've decided it's my favorite polyhedron. It shares properties with the dodecahedron, the icosahedron, and the rhombic triacontahedron, among others. Here is the maze: 3D Warehouse model


To solve, use Google Sketchup to rotate the maze. Start at the top and try to get to the bottom. I'll upload the solution after someone attempts it. This is similar to my Cube Maze because you have to orbit it to follow the pathways, but doesn't have any tunnels or holes, so it should be more doable. All of the triangles, squares, and pentagons are made from the same three components, which keeps the file size small. These components can be moved or rotated, which changes the maze. This is actually the third version, and the only one to connect all the pathways with a challenging solution. A helpful tip for solving is to explode all the components (right click -> explode), and then use the paint bucket tool to mark the pathways as you go.