Symmetry in "Bubbles"?

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oldchris
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Symmetry in "Bubbles"?

Post by oldchris »

In the Gallery, "bubbles" by "apoc" has 4 symmetric arms. I would have guessed that the code would generate a single spiral (more or less) of hollow circles. What causes the other 3 arms?

TIA,
Chris

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MtnViewJohn
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Post by MtnViewJohn »

It is because the angle change, 95 degrees, is so large. You need small angle changes to generate a single spiral.

If you change the angle to 125 degrees then you get three arms. 185 degrees gets you two arms. 95 degrees generates four arms because 95 degrees is close to 90 degrees.

137.5078 degrees generates an evenly distributed spiral of circles that looks like it has three, four, or five arms depending on how you look at it. See Zinnia to see why.

oldchris
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Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:31 pm
Location: Great White North

Post by oldchris »

OK, thanks for the explanation. I can go through the motions and make different numbers of arms appear by changing the r value. Still have to get my head around why, though. :?

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