Why is there a particular spiral (the logarithmic spiral) occuring so often in nature? It is in shells, galax

Question

ies, hawks circling their prey, insects going towards light sources, hurricanes... could it be because of the path that the earth takes though space??

Answer 1

your ear canal, ive heard that one

Answer 2

Fibonacci Numbers and Nature

It is a cool phenomenon. It isn't just in shells, if you are into music at all, they correspond to the major chord structures and octaves etc.

It works like this:

You start by adding 0+1=1 then you go to add the new number plus the last number so, the new number is 1+1=2

0+1=1
1+1=2
1+2=3
2+3=5
3+5=8
5+8=13 etc

Check out the website below.

Answer 3

Spirals in nature are often the sign that a vortex was present early in the formation of the object of study. Rotational vortices in hurricanes and tornadoes is due to a "couple" (in this case, a physics term) with the rotation of the earth.

But spirals in flight are merely mechanism for flying predators to locate their prey more accurately and at the same time confuse the prey by not always being in sight.

Answer 4

The Earth does not move in a spiral. It moves in an ellipse (stable orbit) around the Sun, which moves in an ellipse around our galaxy. The spiral shape is naturally occurring - sometimes because of gravity, other times for other natural reasons.

Answer 5

Your question and many other similar ones were thoroughly considered in the book "On Growth and Form" by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, first published in 1917 and much revised in 1942. There is a good modern abridged edition available.

Answer 6

Spirals occur in galaxies because it is believed that there is a huge super massive black hole at the center of every galaxy that keeps it together . Note all galaxies don't have spirals this is just a theory there is no proof

Answer 7

Because things are affected by that which immediately precedes.