Sinusoidal Spirals

Polar equation: r^p = a^p cos(ptheta)

Click below to see one of the Associated curves.

Definitions of the Associated curves

Evolute       Involute 1       Involute 2

 Inverse curve wrt origin      Inverse wrt another circle

Pedal curve wrt origin      Pedal wrt another point

Negative pedal curve wrt origin      Negative pedal wrt another point

   Caustic wrt horizontal rays      Caustic curve wrt another point

Sinusoidal spirals can have any rational number p in the formula above. Many standard curves occur as sinusoidal spirals.

If p = -1 we have a line.

If p = 1 we have a circle.

If p = 1/2 we have a cardioid.

If p = -1/2 we have a parabola.

If p = -2 we have a hyperbola.

If p = 2 we have a lemniscate of Bernoulli (Jacob Bernoulli).

Sinusoidal spirals were first studied by Maclaurin.

They are not, of course, true spirals.

The pedal curve of sinusoidal spirals, when the pedal point is the pole, is another sinusoidal spiral.

The sinusoidal spiral r^p = a^p cos(ptheta) inverts to r^p = a^p/cos(ptheta) if the centre of inversion is taken at the pole.


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JOC/EFR February 1996