matematicas visuales visual math
The equiangular spiral

The polar equation of the equiangular spiral is:

It receives the name of equiangular because the angle formed by the radius vector and the tangent is constant.

If is that angle, the equiangular spiral can be expressed with the equation

It is the locus of the transform of (a,0) by a dilative rotation (Coxeter).

In the applet different equiangular spirals can be seen. For example, dragging the indicated points.

The property that gives name to the equiangular spiral can be verified pressing the bottons "Step +" or "Step -".

This spiral was called "spiral mirabilis" by Jacob Bernouilli.

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We can see that the angle formed by the radius vector and the tangent is constant.
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This example is the golden equiangular spiral.

REFERENCES

Coxeter - Introduction to Geometry (John Whiley and sons)
Steinhaus - Mathematical Snapshots.
D'Arcy Thompson - On Growth and Form. (Cambridge University Press)

LINKS

Dilative rotation
Dilative rotation
A Dilative Rotation is a combination of a rotation an a dilatation from the same point.
Dilation and rotation in an equiangular spiral
Dilation and rotation in an equiangular spiral
Two transformations of an equiangular spiral with the same general efect.
The golden spiral
The golden spiral
The golden spiral is a good approximation of an equiangular spiral.
The golden rectangle and two equiangular spirals
The golden rectangle and two equiangular spirals
Two equiangular spirals contains all vertices of golden rectangles.
The golden ratio
The golden ratio
From Euclid's definition of the division of a segment into its extreme and mean ratio we introduce a property of golden rectangles and we deduce the equation and the value of the golden ratio.
The golden rectangle
The golden rectangle
A golden rectangle is made of an square and another golden rectangle.
The golden rectangle and the dilative rotation
The golden rectangle and the dilative rotation
A golden rectangle is made of an square an another golden rectangle. These rectangles are related through an dilative rotation.
Regular dodecahedron
Regular dodecahedron
One eighth of a regular dodecahedon of edge 2 has the same volume as a dodecahedron of edge 1.
The icosahedron and its volume
The icosahedron and its volume
The twelve vertices of an icosahedron lie in three golden rectangles. Then we can calculate the volume of an icosahedron
Leonardo da Vinci: Drawing of a dodecahedron made to Luca Pacioli's De divina proportione.
Leonardo da Vinci: Drawing of a dodecahedron made to Luca Pacioli's De divina proportione.
Leonardo da Vinci made several drawings of polyhedra for Luca Pacioli's book 'De divina proportione'. Here we can see an adaptation of the dodecahedron.
Multiplying two complex numbers
Multiplying two complex numbers
We can see it as a dilatative rotation.