Live Cycloide

This device for drawing spiral like patterns (in separated window) shows the trajectory of blue point (left panel), which is fixed on distance R2 (the magenta cyrcle) from center of the yellow cyrcle (R1), which rolls over the red cyrcle R0. The trajectory is given by the following equations:


   x = (R0+R1)*cos(t) + R2*cos(((R0+R1)/R0)*t)

   y = (R0+R1)*sin(t) + R2*sin(((R0+R1)/R0)*t)

Only discrete points of trajectory are shown, which correspond t = Segment*PI*n. And this in particular help to create beautifull patterns. Parameters may be adjusted naturally by mouse on right panel or by typing in corresponding text field. Almost everything may be animated pressing corresponding animate button. Good result gives random button.

Dont forget to close the Cycloide window (and door too), when you will leave this page. Netscape will not bother to do it for you.

For those, who likes soures (I am one of them :) here they are.
Comments, opinions, suggestions, questions are welcome.
Have a look on my visualization gallery, VRML corner or polyhedra collection.

If you don't see any usefull device on this page, that probably means, that your browser doesn't understand Java.

e-mail:V.Bulatov@ic.ac.uk