spiral of Archimedes

American  

noun

Geometry.

1. a curve that is the locus of a point that moves outward with uniform speed along a vector, beginning at the origin, while the vector rotates about the origin with uniform angular velocity. Equation (in polar coordinates): r = aθ.

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spiral of Archimedes British  

noun

1. maths a spiral having the equation r = a θ, where a is a constant. It is the locus of a point moving to or from the origin at a constant speed along a line rotating around that origin at a constant speed

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Etymology

Origin of spiral of Archimedes

First recorded in 1650–60; named after Archimedes

Example Sentences

Many plane curves in mathematics are named after the people who first investigated them, like the folium of Descartes or the spiral of Archimedes.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016