English

Noun

arithmetic spiral ‎(plural arithmetic spirals)

1. (mathematics) A spiral that increases in distance from the point of origin at a constant rate.

   The Parker spiral is the shape of the Sun's magnetic field as it extends through the solar system. Unlike the familiar shape of the field from a bar magnet, the Sun's extended field is twisted into an arithmetic spiral by the magnetohydrodynamic influence of the solar wind.‎

Synonyms

• Archimedean spiral
• spiral of Archimedes

Translations