1. Introduction

All spirals look alike at first glance: a curve that winds around a center while gradually moving away from it. Yet the way the radius grows with the angle defines mathematically distinct families, with radically different geometric properties and applications.

In polar coordinates, a spiral is defined by a relation r = f(θ). The nature of this function — linear, exponential, square root, inverse — determines the entire behavior of the curve.

2. The Archimedean Spiral

The Archimedean spiral is defined by r = aθ, where a is a positive constant. The radius grows linearly with the angle: each full turn adds exactly the same distance to the radius. The coils are therefore equidistant.

r = aθ(Archimède)

This constant-spacing property makes it useful in clockwork mechanisms, flat springs, vinyl records and read heads. It also models the unwinding of a roll of paper or fabric.

3. The Logarithmic Spiral

The logarithmic spiral is defined by r = ae^(bθ), where a and b are constants. The radius grows exponentially with the angle. Its most remarkable property is self-similarity: enlarged or reduced, it superimposes on itself. The angle between the tangent and the radius vector is constant, earning it the name equiangular spiral.

r = ae^{bθ}(Logarithmique)

It appears in nautilus shells, galaxy arms, the flight paths of insects toward a light source, and phyllotaxis patterns. Jacob Bernoulli, fascinated by its properties, asked that it be engraved on his tombstone with the motto "Eadem mutata resurgo" (I shall arise the same, though changed).

4. Fermat's Spiral

Fermat's spiral is defined by r² = a²θ, i.e. r = a√θ. The radius grows as the square root of the angle. Unlike the previous two, it has two symmetric branches (for θ > 0 and θ < 0) and the coils tighten toward the outside.

This is the spiral that best describes the arrangement of seeds in a sunflower or the scales of a pine cone, where the golden angle generates an optimal density distribution. It is also used in the design of certain turbines and heat exchangers.

5. The Hyperbolic Spiral

The hyperbolic spiral is defined by r = a/θ. The radius decreases as the angle increases: the curve winds toward the center without ever reaching it, and extends to infinity as θ approaches zero. It is the inverse of the Archimedean spiral in a precise sense.

It appears in certain optics problems and in modeling particle trajectories in force fields inversely proportional to distance.

6. Comparing the Families

  • Archimedean (r = aθ): equidistant coils, linear growth
  • Logarithmic (r = ae^bθ): self-similar, constant angle, exponential growth
  • Fermat (r = a√θ): two branches, increasing density outward
  • Hyperbolic (r = a/θ): decreasing radius, asymptote at origin

These four families are not exhaustive. There are also the Cotes spiral, the lituus, the Poinsot spiral and many parametric variants. But these four cover the vast majority of spirals encountered in science and engineering.

7. Conclusion

Classifying spirals by their radial growth law reveals that their visual similarity hides fundamentally different mechanisms. Identifying which spiral is present in a natural phenomenon or technical system is an essential step before any modeling.

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