The spiral is apopular pattern for those who like to draw and design and it is also one of nature’s most common configurations. In fact, it’s difficult to think of all the things that have a spiral pattern. Snail shells, flower petals, pine cones, snakes, storms, DNA, curly hair, even galaxies are spirals—and that’s not even nearly all!
Why are spirals so abundant in nature? No one can say for certain, but a possible answer is, because spirals are the smart way to grow!
The Golden Ratio:
The Golden Ratio refers to a simple equation that translates to mean, “two quantities are in the golden ratio if the ratio between them is the same as the ratio of their sum to the larger of the two quantities" or a/b = (a+b)/a.
In visual art like painting and photography, the golden ratio is used in composition because it is considered aesthetically pleasing.
The Fibonacci Spiral
In nature, the golden ratio can be observed in how things grow or form.
This can best be explained by looking at the Fibonacci sequence, which is a number pattern that you can create by beginning with 1,1 theneach new number in the sequence forms by adding the two previous numbers together, which results ina sequence of numbers like this: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 and on and on, forever.
The further along the Fibonacci sequence you go, the closer the ratio between successive numbers in the sequence gets to Phi, or 1.618, which is the Golden Ratio.
To see a Fibonacci spiral, draw a series of squares with sides the length of the numbers in the sequence: a 1x1 square, a 2x2 square, a 3x3 square, 5x5 and so on until you get something that looks like this:
Once you have your squares, you can use them to trace a perfect spiral by drawing a curve from corner to corner.
When this is applied to nature, say something like a flower, each petal would develop a factor of the Golden Ratio away from the last petal, allowing a spiral to form.
While we can’t be entirely sure why something grows in a spiral, it could be a matter of efficiency. A spiral is an excellent way to maximize space! If you consider the arrangement of seeds on a sunflower, the spiral is the best way to house the most seeds on the face of the flower. The more seeds you are able to house, the more future sunflowers are possible.
You will also find that the leaves on the stalk follow a spiral pattern, this could be to maximize the amount of sun they can collect by spreading themselves strategically around the stalk. Who knew flowers were so smart?
How to Spot Fibonacci Spirals
You can actually see the Fibonacci sequence in action in some natural spirals. Take this pinecone for instance. Count the spirals going in one direction.
Now, try counting the spirals going in the other direction.
What numbers did you get? We counted 8 going one way and 13 going the other way. The numbers 8 and 13 are both Fibonacci numbers!
You can even do this with a sunflower, although it will take longer. Do you still come up with a Fibonacci number?
We counted 21 and 34, which are Fibonacci numbers. Did you count the same? This doesn’t happen all the time, but frequently you will find Fibonacci numbers occurring in nature. What are some interesting places that you’ve observed spirals in nature, or even in art and architecture?
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Spirals are common in plants, with Fibonacci spirals making up over 90% of the spirals. Sunflower heads, pinecones, pineapples and succulent houseplants all include these distinctive spirals in their flower petals, leaves or seeds.
Spirals are common in plants, with Fibonacci spirals making up over 90% of the spirals. Sunflower heads, pinecones, pineapples and succulent houseplants all include these distinctive spirals in their flower petals, leaves or seeds.
Snail shells, flower petals, pine cones, snakes, storms, DNA, curly hair, even galaxies are spirals—and that's not even nearly all! Why are spirals so abundant in nature?
It's seen in the face of many mammals, the petals of flowers, and even in the arrangement of leaves on a stem. Spirals: From the galaxies in the night sky to the DNA structure within us, spirals are omnipresent. On Earth, the sunflower head and the nautilus shell are testament to this mesmerizing pattern.
Fibonacci numbers do appear in nature often enough to prove they reflect some naturally occurring patterns. You can commonly spot these by studying the manner in which various plants grow. Many seed heads, pinecones, fruits and vegetables display spiral patterns that when counted express Fibonacci numbers.
It is argued by many that logarithmic spirals are so common in biological organisms because it is the most efficient way for something to grow. By maintaining the same shape through each successive turn of the spiral, it is argued, the least amount of energy needs to be used.
Types of patterns found everywhere in nature include symmetry, branching, spirals, cracks, spots, stripes, chaos, flows, meanders, waves, dunes, bubbles, foam, arrays, crystals, and tilings.
The sunflower seed pattern used by the National Museum of Mathematics contains many spirals. If you count the spirals in a consistent manner, you will always find a Fibonacci number (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, …). Below are the three most natural ways to find spirals in this pattern.
Natural patterns include symmetries, trees, spirals, meanders, waves, foams, tessellations, cracks and stripes. Early Greek philosophers studied pattern, with Plato, Pythagoras and Empedocles attempting to explain order in nature. The modern understanding of visible patterns developed gradually over time.
Some famous spiral galaxy examples are the Milky Way Galaxy, Andromeda Galaxy, Sunflower Galaxy, Messier 101/Pinwheel Galaxy, and the Triangulum Galaxy.
The spirals arise when these single-celled amoebae aggregate into a body made up of many cells, which then produces spores that develop into individual amoebae again. Spiral waves in dictyostelium. Image from Regulation of Spatiotemporal Patterns by Biological Variability by Miriam Grace and Marc-Thorsten Hütt.
1. : the path of a point in a plane moving around a central point while continuously receding from or approaching it. 2. : a three-dimensional curve (as a helix) with one or more turns about an axis. the double spiral of DNA.
A spiral pattern would be described as a circular pattern beginning at a center point and circling around the center point as the pattern moves outward. Examples of spirals would be a chameleon's tail, an aloe plant, or a nautilus shell.
The pattern of this pineapple is a physical representation of how the Fibonacci Sequence works. Each number in the sequence is determined by the two numbers before it. So, 0+1=1, 1+1=2, 1+2=3, 2+3=5, 3+5=8, 5+8=13, and on and on to numbers that can't even be counted to!
The Fibonacci sequence is a set of integers (the Fibonacci numbers) that starts with a zero, followed by a one, then by another one, and then by a series of steadily increasing numbers. The sequence follows the rule that each number is equal to the sum of the preceding two numbers.
The beautiful spiral patterns that occur in disk galaxies are now understood to be primarily a result of gravitational forces between stars and gas in a shearing, rotating disk.
The Golden Spiral is a geometric way to represent the Fibonacci series and is represented in nature, if not always perfectly, in pine cones, nautilus and snail shells, pineapples, and more. To draw the golden spiral, all you need is a compass and some graph paper or a ruler.
Spiral patterns occur in certain plants such as sunflower heads, pineapples and artichokes. Simply by counting the spirals, we see that the number of spirals with a given pitch (slope) is a Fibonacci number. Typically, two families of spirals will be visible--one clockwise and one counterclockwise.
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Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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