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I encountered a problem in determining the gradient in cartesian coordinates (x,y) of a logarithmic spiral (or equi-angular spiral) profile. The
log-spiral definintion is as shown below (similar to a previous question of mine):

I have also generated several points in accordance to the profile using the equation `r=a*e^(tan m):
Point x y

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equation solving - Finding gradient of equiangular (logarithmic) spiral - Mathematica Stack Exchange http://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/79745/finding-gradient-of-equiangular-logarith...

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0 9.9999997 2.700000258
1 9.805274245 2.030963458
2 9.452271678 1.338905277
3 8.921115486 0.654692774
4 8.196483978 0.016283107
5 7.269524783 -0.531552828
6 6.139893897 -0.937932945
7 4.817842108 -1.147059284
8 3.326250384 -1.099962912
9 1.702494595 -0.736840057
10 0 0
with (xc,yc) = (7.699656589, 4.680792423); a = 2.013727242; and m = 30 degrees
The plot of the points:

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equation solving - Finding gradient of equiangular (logarithmic) spiral - Mathematica Stack Exchange http://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/79745/finding-gradient-of-equiangular-logarith...

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Using cartesian equation from the book: https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=YlLpO8Sv8RMC&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&

dq=log+spiral+cartesian+equation&source=bl&ots=FsW4lA8Y_K&sig=KRAOE42VVGMeTLHiCRlVNhnK6dY&hl=en&
sa=X&ei=rjErVdWWLYaKuASO6oCYBw&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=log%20spiral%20cartesian%20equation&f=false
The cartesian equation of a log spiral is (excerpt of the book):

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equation solving - Finding gradient of equiangular (logarithmic) spiral - Mathematica Stack Exchange http://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/79745/finding-gradient-of-equiangular-logarith...

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What I then did next was to bring the term

y/x

to the left hand side of the equation so that the cartesian equation equates to zero.

To find the gradient at any point of the log spiral profile, I used the following code in Mathematica:
D[

, x]

The output is (note that s = tan (m) ):

However, when I evaluate the gradient based on the equation above, it yielded only positive values at those points I generated. This does not
make sense as I expect that the gradient at point no. 8 (for example) to be negative.
Anyone knows what I'm doing wrong?
Thank you.
Regards Corse
equation-solving

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equation solving - Finding gradient of equiangular (logarithmic) spiral - Mathematica Stack Exchange http://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/79745/finding-gradient-of-equiangular-logarith...

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edited Apr 13 '15 at 3:30

asked Apr 13 '15 at 3:24

Corse
123

1 Answer

I may have misunderstood the intent but post this in case it is helpful.
Note:
I have tried to mimic the spiral, clockwise rotation with displaced centre of spiral
I have displayed tangent to curve, the slope and angle.
Parametrization seems the most useful approach:
sp[t_,m_,a_,v_]:=
v+a{Exp[Tan[m]t]Cos[t],Exp[Tan[m]t]Sin[t]}
der[t_,m_,a_,v_]:=D[sp[u,m,a,v],u]/.u>t
arrow[t_,m_,a_,v_]:=
With[{b=sp[t,m,a,v],ar=5Normalize@der[t,m,a,v]},{Red,
PointSize[0.02],Point[b],Black,Arrow[{b,bar}]}]

where sp is parametrization of logarithmic spiral,

visualization purposes.

der

is tangent,

arrow

is just for

Visualizing:
Manipulate[
ParametricPlot[
sp[t,30Degree,2.013727242,{7.699656589,4.680792423}],{t,0,
Pi},Epilog>
arrow[angle,30Degree,2.013727242,{7.699656589,4.680792423}],
Frame>True,PlotRange>{{10,20},{10,10}},
PlotLabel>
Row[{"slopeoftangent:",
slope=Divide@@
Reverse[N@
der[angle,30Degree,
2.013727242,{7.699656589,4.680792423}]],"(",
180ArcTan[slope]/Pi,,Degree,")"}]],{angle,Pi,0}]

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equation solving - Finding gradient of equiangular (logarithmic) spiral - Mathematica Stack Exchange http://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/79745/finding-gradient-of-equiangular-logarith...

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Post script: I have not aimed to correct angle but hope this promotes your own solution.
answered Apr 13 '15 at 7:36

ubpdqn
31.3k

16

57

thanks for the advice, is there a way to obtain the equation of gradient based on the parameterization? Corse Apr
17 '15 at 7:26

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