The curve is the involute of a circle 1).
Some authors add the points (-y, x) to the curve as shown on the page.
Sometimes the curve is called the evolute.
For large angles (>>1), the curve approximates the Archimedes'
spiral, this curve also being the pedal of
the involute of a circle.
When the curve is rolling over a line, then the path of the center is a parabola. And
its pedal is an Archimedes' spiral.
The curvature of the curve is equal to the
reciprocal root of the arc length s: dφ/ds = 1/√s.
Therefore the Cesaró equation - which gives the relation between the radius of curvature R and the arc length s - has the elegant form R2 = s.
When the path of the curve is followed in a linear way (in time), the
rotation speed is constant. While this is the reverse definition as for the clothoid,
the involute of a circle is also called the anti-clothoid.
Huygens used the curve in his experiments to have a cycloid
swing in his pendulum clocks.
In mechanical engineering the curve is used for the profile of a gear-wheel, in the
situation of non-parallel axes.
notes
1) In French: développante du cercle; in German:
Kreisevolvente; in Dutch: cirkelevolvente.
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