CodalSearch this book — or all of Codal…⌘K
nydus/On Growth and FormPublic
Page 541 of 959
Table of Contents

CHAPTER XI THE LOGARITHMIC SPIRAL

was drawn across its whorls, and their widths were measured upon it in succession, beginning with the last but one. The measurements were, as before, made with a fine pair of compasses and a diagonal scale. The sight was assisted by a magnifying glass. In a parallel column to the following admeasurements are the terms of a geometric progression, whose first term is the width of the widest whorl measured, and whose common ratio is 1ôñ1804.

A mathematical diagram showing a logarithmic spiral with points along its curve connected by radial lines to the center.
Widths of successive whorls measured in inches and parts of an inchTerms of a geometrical progression, whose first term is the width of the widest whorl, and whose common ratio is 1ôñ1804
1ôñ311ôñ31〇〇〇
1ôñ121ôñ1098〇
〇ôñ94〇ôñ94018
〇ôñ80〇ôñ79651
〇ôñ67〇ôñ67476
〇ôñ57〇ôñ57164
〇ôñ48〇ôñ48427
〇ôñ41〇ôñ41026

The close coincidence between the observed and the calculated figures is very remarkable, and is amply sufficient to justify the conclusion that we are here dealing with a true logarithmic spiral.

Nevertheless, in order to verify his conclusion still further, and to get partially rid of the inaccuracies due to successive small {520} measurements, Moseley proceeded to inôÙvesôÙtiôÙgate the same shell, measuring not single whorls, but groups of whorls, taken several at

541