What is Spiral: Definition and 192 Discussions

In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving farther away as it revolves around the point.

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  1. T

    Finding the spiral sinks and spiral sources of a linear system

    Homework Statement Basically, the problem involves a linear system dx/dt = ax + by and dy/dt = -x - y, with a and b being parameters that can take on any real value. Basically, you go through this system for several values of a and b (I did -12 to 12) to find the state at various points...
  2. C

    Analyzing Bee's Spiral Path: Velocity & Acceleration

    1.) A bee goes from its hive in a spiral path given in plane polar coordinates by r = b*ekt , θ = ct, where b, k, c are positive constants. Show that the angle between the velocity vector and the acceleration vector remains constant as the bee moves...
  3. L

    How Can I Solve for the Temperature of a Spiral Inductor in Comsol Multiphysics?

    Hi, this is my first post. I'm new in using comsol multiphysics and I'm trying to model a spiral inductor which is placed in an another material (glass) which is over a substrate. The pads of the inductor are outside the material. What I'm trying to find out is, the temperature of the surface...
  4. H

    Exploring the Prime Spiral: Is It a Quirk or an Intriguing Study?

    I've was reading about it [http://mathworld.wolfram.com/PrimeSpiral.htm] and found it intriguing, has there been a great deal of study devoted to it or is it thought of as some kind of quark? [P.S. I don't really know much about number theory, just curious]
  5. R

    Earth/solar position vs spiral arms

    in a post on global warming linking to a PDF http://www.spacecenter.dk/research/sun-climate/Scientific%20work%20and%20publications/svensmark_2007cosmoClimatology.pdf there is a figure #9 showing the earth+ solar position over the last 200 million years as our sun moves in and out of the...
  6. V

    Solving a Particle's Spiral Orbit under Central Force

    Homework Statement A particle moves under the action of a central force in a spiral orbit given by r=a*theta. Show that the force is f(r) = (-L^2/mr^3)*[1 + (a^2)/(r^2)] Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I know how to do the problem, but I keep ending up with a...
  7. G

    Luminosity-Metallicity Relations in Spiral Galaxies.

    It's not often I'm shocked in a positive way, but could this be true? I forum where science "discussions" are at least consistantly of higher caliber then "evolution sukz because bible says so, lol"? I'm sorry if my shock confuses and annoys others on this board but imagine traveling through...
  8. jim mcnamara

    Spiral Galaxies: Axes Alignment with Cosmic Voids

    Sprial galaxies - Are the axes of rotation of the purely random? This article: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005astro.ph.11680T suggests the axes are preferentially aligned with cosmic voids. precis: Disk galaxies' axes should be highly inclined relative to the plane boundary of...
  9. P

    How to Design a Spiral Spring for Controlled Unwinding?

    does anyone know how to design a spiral spring. i need to design a spiral spring for my project but can't find the theory to design it. i am more concerned with the no of revolutions that a spring can give. Also i need to have a controlled unwinding ie it should release its energy slowly...
  10. A

    Analyzing Acceleration in a Particle's Spiral Motion

    Homework Statement A particle moves outward along a spiral. Its trajectory is given by r=Aθ, where A is a constant. A=1/π m/rad. θ increases in time according to θ=αt^2/2, where α is a constant. Show that the radial acceleration is zero when θ=1/√2 rad. At what angles do the radial and...
  11. K

    Graphing Euler Relationship as exponential spiral

    Hi everyone, I am trying to get an intuitive grasp of the Euler Relationship e^i(theta)=cos(theta)+i sin(theta) and also understand how to graph the exponential spiral, as demonstrated on this web page: http://www-math.mit.edu/daimp/ComplexExponential.html" Ok, first the neuron...
  12. wolram

    Exploring Theories of Spiral Galaxy Formation

    So far i have found two theorise of how they form, the SSPSF shock wave model ,and the Density wave model, or they may form by a combination of the two. As i am not sure how old these theories are, i wonder if there are any new insights on the subject?
  13. R

    Two identcal spiral galaxies A and B w/ equal & opposite momenta merge

    Two identcal spiral galaxies A and B with equal but opposite momenta a and b are merged to form a resultant galaxy C with a net linear momentum c. Which is true? a) c>b b) 0<c<b c)c= abs(b)+abs(a) d) c=0
  14. L

    Sierpinski Spiral: An Intriguing Pattern of Prime Numbers

    Prime "spiral"?.. Sorry i don't know the name of this "Phenomenon" i heard (due to Sierpinski perhaps?) that if you distributed the prime numbers into an square in some manner there was an spiral that..run over all primes or something similar...i think it was called "Sierpinski spiral" or...
  15. B

    Exploring a Spiral Tracer - What to Know?

    Spiral Tracer?? Hello. Has anyone ever heard of a spiral tracer? and what characteristics they have?? any good link on the topic would also be appreciated thank you
  16. N

    Structure of the Milkyway Spiral Redifined

    Astronomers have made the most detailed map ever of our galaxy's overall shape, showing that its spiral arms extend much further than expected. Evan Levine, Leo Blitz and Carl Heiles of the University of California at Berkeley analysed the distribution of atomic hydrogen in the Milky Way at...
  17. N

    The Spiral in our Ears - Maths solves inner ear mystery

    This topic could well be in a section related to biology, but more people visit the GD area. So... http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/10/3/8/1
  18. J

    Do All Spiral Galaxies Rotate in the Same Direction from Earth's Perspective?

    Obivously, the direction of the rotation of a Spiral Galaxy depends on the vantage point from which you look at it. From Earth, do all Spiral Galaxies rotate in the same direction? Or, because the universe is so vast, the rotation direction is irrelevant and has morre to do with prior collisions?
  19. B

    Face on Surface Brightness Profile For Spiral Galaxies

    Why does the face on surface brightness profile of spiral galaxies follow an exponential decrease with incresing distance from the center? Why is it exponential as opposed to linear or some power law? seems like 'e' shows up a lot. I know it is an obervational fact that they exhibit this...
  20. E

    Why galaxies have spiral shape?

    how can this be explained?
  21. Astronuc

    Some spiral galaxies larger than previously reported

    from http://stardate.org/radio/program.php?f=detail&id=2005-12-08
  22. P

    Why electron circulating in an orbit must spiral inwards?

    Orbiting electrons have a constant acceleration towards the centre but why must it radiate photons as it accelerate? Thanks
  23. M

    Cornu Spiral: Definition & Uses

    What is cornu spiral?
  24. recon

    What sort of spiral is traced out by each of the ants?

    Four ants are situated at each vertex of a unit square. Suddenly, each ant begins to chase its counterclockwise neighbor. All the ants travel at the same speed and eventually,they all meet at the centre of the square. What sort of spiral is traced out by each of the ants? :confused:
  25. C

    The Milky Way is Not a Spiral?

    I thought this Slashdot story might be appropriate for here.
  26. vincentm

    Is the Milky Way a Resonance-Ring Galaxy?

    I hope this is the right section. But, can anyone here tell me how is it that we know the our galaxy is a spiral one, i don't doubt what I've read, but i need an explanation. I read something about density waves and how they power the rotation of our galaxy andor other galaxies. But how do we...
  27. A

    Solve Bug Spiral Problem with Parametric Equations

    Hello, Can anyone please help me with this question? I need to get it done VERY soon. If someone could post a full solution I would be extremely grateful. It's probably very easy for someone who understands parametric equations and polar coordinates and such. I don't at the moment! I...
  28. M

    Mysteries of a simple spiral (coil).

    Let we have a piece of wire, copper, for example. Let we have the generator of alternating current with changing frequency. We connect the ends of a wire to clips of generator of an alternating current and then turn it “ON”. Resistance of a piece of wire does not depend on frequency of a...
  29. Z

    Spiral Galaxies: 3 Distinguishing Characteristics

    What are three distinguishing characteristics that can differ among spiral galaxies?
  30. D

    How Do You Find a Matrix A Such That Y(t) Spirals Toward a Plane?

    I am having trouble getting started with this problem.. I guess I'll explain it first. Find one possible matrix A for which the solution to Y'=AY with initial condition Y(0)=(6,13,9) has the following property. As time progresses, the solution Y(t) spirals toward the plane 2x+3y+4z=0 where...
  31. G

    B-field produced by a spiral coil

    Howdy I'm having a ton of trouble with this question Basically I have a spiral coil running around the z-axis with radius 'a' height '2b' and pitch 'c'. The point (x,y,z) = (a,0,0) is on the spiral and n = 2b/c (that's the number of turns on the spiral). There's a steady current running...
  32. M

    Length of a spiral (parametric)

    given the parametric eqns for a spiral x=kt cos t y=kt sin t where k is a constant give a function of 't' that calculates the length of the spiral.
  33. G

    Differential Equations diameter of a spiral

    how can I calculate the "diameter" of a spiral ? someone told me i need to use Differential or Integral Equations to solve this, but I'm not sure how. If there is a spiral that it's radius increases by 1 cm for every radian until the radius reaches the size R . how can I calculate the...
  34. S

    Integrate Spiral on YZ Plane | Location X | Need Help with Problem

    There is a spiral but it is just on the yz plane (no length to it) I need to integrate it. And I'm at a location x on the axis if it matters. Thanks
  35. F

    Sine Wave or Spiral: Exploring the 3-Dimensional Nature of Electromagnetic Waves

    Perhaps this has already been brought up, but is an electromagnetic wave 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional? The current "up-and-down" concept does not have me convinced. If you look at a standard spring, you can see that it is a spiral/helix. You can also see that the side of the spring...
  36. I

    Why doesn't the orbit increase in radius?

    The following site shows that when a sail is orientated so that it faces away from the sun, the net force is pushing outwards from the sun and is also opposing the orbit. http://solarsail.jpl.nasa.gov/introduction/how-sails-work.html It makes sense that the craft should slow down, but why...
  37. M

    Find Length of Spiral Given by r(t) Equation

    a spiral given by r(t) = (e^-t cos t, e^-t sin t) , t is greater than or equal to 0, how would i find the length of the spiral? thanks anyone!
  38. H

    Star formation and distribution in spiral galaxies

    In the nucleus of a spiral galaxy the most stars are old population II stars, and there is no star formation (which occurs in the spiral arms). Why? Thanks.
  39. O

    What patterns can be observed in the electron affinity of chemical elements?

    During orbital’s filling with electrons, power areas form inside atom - with superfluous quantity of electrons and insufficient quantity. It causes overjumpings of electrons. My theory about such overjumpings see on www.genevo.org. I nead your comments
  40. J

    Tangent lines on the Golden Spiral

    Hello all, I'm working on a diagramming program that uses the golden spiral to make templates for something I'm working on. I'm wondering if someone can tell me how to get the equation of the tangent line at point (x,y) on the spiral. My program graphs the spiral parametrically and I use these...
  41. T

    Body's kundalini spiral bands are DNA of The Universe

    http://www.Givnology.com/wholy.htm Sure, that's simple. Focus on bringing in lunar nose, then solar nose, and be the DNA microcosm of the universe, surrounded by spiraling energy bands (not snakes!), and finally consumated in the crown where they're "making out." Well at least there is a...
  42. J

    The Golden Spiral - Calculating intersections with circles.

    The "Golden Spiral" - Calculating intersections with circles. Hello all, I am working on a program that graphs the Golden Spiral and then lays a set of circles on top of it. I was curious to know if there is a formula I can use to figure out the x, y coordinates where a circle of a given radius...
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