Result. Math. 52 (2008) 369-384
Angela Schwenk

Pedal curves

Part I: homogeneous differential equation

In the following are some illustrations referring to the article.

1 Introduction

Second Equivalence Theorem / 3. Examples

derived curves of a log. spiral If the curve is a logaritmic spiral and p0 is the center of the spiral, then each derived curve of c like the Evolute E(c), the pedal curve FP0(c), the co-pedal curve Gp0(c) and the caustic Kp0(c) all with respect to p0, is also a logarithmic spiral with the same progression as c and center p0.
Vice versa, the property that each of the derived curves can be obtained from c by a rotation togehter with a homothety wrt. p0 characterises logarithmic spirals.



2. Preliminaries

2.1. Spherical parametrization

Illustrations of the spherical parametrization

2.3. The pedal and co-pedal curve

For a given regular curve c and a given point p0 we consider the foot Fp0(c) of the perpendicular from p0 to the tangent of c and the foot Gp0(c) to the normal of c. The curve traced out by Fp0(c) is called pedal curve of c with respect to p0; we call the curve traced out by Gp0(c) co-pedal curve of c.
Pedal and co-pedal. Klick to get an animation.
Logarithmic spiral (red), the point p0 defining the pedal F and the co-pedal G is the center of the spiral.

It is a characteristic property of a logarithmic spiral, that all rectangles, built by both foot points, the curve point and by the center p0 of the spiral, moving along the curve are proportional.
[Animation].



The rectangles moving along the curve have changing shapes, choosing another point p0 or a another curve c.
Pedal and co-pedal. Klick to get an animation.
Logarithmic spiral (red), the point p0 defining the pedal F and the co-pedal G is not(!) the center of the spiral.
Pedal and co-pedal. Klick to get an animation.
Ellipse (red), here the point p0 defining the pedal F and the co-pedal G is the center of the ellipse.


2.5. The caustic

We consider a point p0 as a center of light and a regular curve c with p0 not beeing in the trace(c) as a shape of a mirror. The envelope of the reflected rays is called the caustic Kp0(c) of c with respect to p0.
light reflection by a logarithmic spiral
The center of light is the center of a logarithmic spiral. The caustic K is also a logarithmic spiral.
light reflection by an ellipse
Special situation: The center of light is one focus of an ellipse (red), the caustic K is degenerated to the second focus. The pedal F wrt a focus is a circle.


light reflection by an ellipse
Reflection by an ellipse, the center of light is outside the ellipse.
p0 outside of an ellipse
An ellipse and its caustic K, its pedal F and its co-pedal G all wrt p0 outside the ellipse.

Last update by Angela Schwenk: 01.04.2009