INVOLUTE

Involute

In the differential geometry of curves, an involute is a curve obtained from another given curve by attaching an imaginary taut string to the given curve and tracing its free end as it is wound onto that given curve; or in reverse, unwound. It is a roulette wherein the rolling curve is a straight line containing the generating point. For example, an involute approximates the path followed by a tetherball as the connecting tether is wound around the center pole. If the center pole has a circular cross-section, then the curve is an involute of a circle.

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involute

Noun

  1. A curve that cuts all tangents of another curve at right angles; traced by a point on a string that unwinds from a curved object.

Verb

  1. To roll or curl inwards.

Adjective

  1. Difficult to understand; complicated.
  2. Having the edges rolled with the adaxial side outward.
  3. Having a complex pattern of coils.
  4. Turned inward at the margin, like the exterior lip of the Cyprea.
  5. Rolled inward spirally.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: involute
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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