Paper-folding growth
Explore ideal thickness doubling and find how many folds reach a chosen distance. Drag the graph handles to change inputs and explore the result.
Your inputs
These editable values illustrate the calculation. Replace them with your own inputs. Results update as you edit.
Calculations run in your browser. Inputs are not saved or sent to analytics.
How it works
- Idealized stack thickness = ( / 1,000) × 2^; Exact layer count = 2^
- Folds to reach the target = max(0, ceil(log₂( × 1,000,000 / )))
- Worked example: 0.1 mm × 2^42 = 439,804,651.1104 m = 439,804.6511104 km; 2^42 = 4,398,046,511,104
Input and formula key
Your result
Complete the inputs to see your result.
Assumptions and limitations
An educational exponential-growth model, not a physically achievable folding plan. Each fold doubles layers without compression, gaps, bending or loss of area. Enter 0–200 folds and positive initial thickness. The default target is the rounded mean Earth–Moon distance, not a live lunar distance. Layer counts remain exact; thickness is a floating-point approximation.
Sources
- OpenStax — exponential growth Sources reviewed: 2026-10-08
- NASA — mean lunar distance Sources reviewed: 2026-10-08
