Introduction: Mobius Strip

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About: I like to make stuff and to make things work my way.

A Mobius strip is one of those interesting things for which there is little use other than starting an argument :-)

You need
- paper (ideally construction or other thick paper)
- scissors
- ruler

It should take about 10 minutes.

Step 1: Cut a Strip Off Paper

Cut a reasonably straight, parallel strip of paper. I cut about 3/4"(~1.5cm) off the long edge of a piece of letter size (~A4) bristol board paper, which worked well.
It isn't important how wide the piece is, but you want to get the long edges reasonable parallel, especially at the ends so the widths line up for the next step.

Step 2: Prep to Join the Narrow Edges Together

Hold the strip of paper with the two edges lining up with each other. Cut from about 1" (2.5cm) toward the opposite corner. The distance isn't important, but you want to have teh pieces held tightly together so they are cut the same, and you want to cut the line as straight as possible. This should leave you with a tapering end.

Cutting the end this way will
a) insure you tape the strip together right, and
b) make the connecting section stiffer, providing something similar to a "scarf joint" in woodworking.

Step 3: Tape the Ends Together

Put a piece of tape on one of the ends following the diagonal edge.
Hold the piece with the tape side up, and hold the other end on the other side of it. Flip over one end so the diagonal edges line up. Put the two ends as close together as possible and stick the loose end on the tape.
Add another piece of tape on the other side.

Step 4: Now What?

Well, your Mobius strip is done. Note how it only has one side. Yes, one, not two. (Unless you want to count the thickness of the paper, but that isn't really the point...)
To show it really only has one side, put a pencil on a spot anywhere along the strip and keep drawing in one direction. You will end up where you started. Now that couldn't be if it had two sides, right?
There is more fun to be had if you now cut along the line you just drew, because you will not end up with two strips.

For more info, check out the entry for Mobius Strip on Wikipedia.

Some of Escher's drawings are also based on this concept.