Wheels on Wheels on Wheels-Surprising Symmetry

Authors

Frank A. Farris, Santa Clara UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1996

Publisher

Mathematical Association of America (MAA)

Abstract

While designing a computer laboratory exercise for my calculus students, I happened to sketch the curve defined by this vector equation: (x, y) = (cos(t), sin(t)) + 1/2(cos(7t), sin(7t)) + 1/3(sin(17t), cos(17t)). I was thinking of the curve traced by a particle on a wheel mounted on a wheel mounted on a wheel, each turning at a different rate. The first term represents the largest wheel, of radius 1, turning counter-clockwise at one radian per second. The second term represents a smaller wheel centered at the edge of the first, turning 7 times as fast. The third term is for the smallest wheel centered at the edge of the second, turning 17 times as fast as the first, clockwise and out of phase.

Comments

Copyright 1996 Mathematical Association of America. All Rights Reserved.

Recommended Citation

FARRIS, Frank A. "Wheels on Wheels on Wheels-Surprising Symmetry."Mathematics Magazine 69, No. 3 (1996): 185-189.