Actually, I believe a helix is a spiral, but a spiral is not a helix... Never
mind, though. You are correct.
So how do you call the shape where both the radius and the height increase?
Spiralling helix? Helical spiral? Just curious.

Margus

Nieminen Mika wrote:
> 
>   Maybe I'm wrong, but this is what I have understood:
>   AFAIK: A spiral is a line on a 2D plane which can be drawn this way:
> start drawing a circle but increase the radius constantly. When you have
> made a complete 360 degrees curve, you are a little bit farther away from
> the center. Continue drawing and you get a spiral curve.
>   A helix is a 3D line instead of 2D like the spiral. You can draw it this
> way: start drawing a circle in the xy-plane, but instead of changing the
> radius, keep it constant, but increase the z-coordinate, ie. the height.
> When you have done a complete 360 degrees curve, you are still at the same
> distance from the center axis, but a little bit higher from the plane.
> Continue this way and you get a helix curve.
>   A galaxy has typically a spiral shape, while a spring has a helix shape.
> 
> --
> main(i){char*_="BdsyFBThhHFBThhHFRz]NFTITQF|DJIFHQhhF";while(i=
> *_++)for(;i>1;printf("%s",i-70?i&1?"[]":" ":(i=0,"\n")),i/=2);} /*- Warp. -*/

Post a reply to this message