Arc Length around Helical Torus

In summary, the conversation is about seeking an analytical expression for the path length of a point following a helical path on a torus. The arc path length of a helix is easy to calculate, but when formed into a torus, there is a further modification. The conversation references a paper by R.A. Speciale on toroidal helices, which does not provide the arc path length. The conversation also mentions Dirac's suggestion that elementary particles are localized EM energy following a path much longer than the torus circumference. The equation for the length of a helix is also mentioned, with variables for the radius of the circular solid axis and the surface, as well as the number of turns wound through the torus hole.
  • #1
BasicWill
2
0
Can anybody help?
Mathematical Physics.

I'm seeking an analytical expression for the path length of a point that follows a helical path with the helix wound about an axis to form a torus. The arc path length of a helix is simple to compute, but when its formed into a torus there is a further modification. And my math is not up to this type of analysis.

A paper on toroidal helices was given by R.A. Speciale at the "Progress in Electromagnetics Research" Symposium in Cambridge MA, March 26-29 2006
It's published in Vol2. No.5 Pages 470-474. It decribes the type of system I'm interested in, but does not give the arc path length which depends on the torus radii and the pitch angle of the helix.

Why am I interested in this?
Sometime around 1928 Dirac suggested elementary particles are no more than spatially localized EM energy. An EM wave following such a path has a total path length much longer than the torus circumference, so a localized EM wave could form a quantized system of one wavelength and form a particle such as the electron with a (classical) radius much smaller than its Compton wavelength.

Toroidal/Helical path lengths anybody?
 
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  • #2
Avoid specification of a pitch angle.
r, is the radius of the circular solid axis from the straight torus axis, and
s, is the radius of the surface from the circular solid axis,
n, is the number of turns wound through the hole in the torus; requires s < r.
Length of helix = 2 ⋅ π ⋅ n ⋅ √( r2 / n2 + s2 )
 

Related to Arc Length around Helical Torus

What is the definition of "Arc Length around Helical Torus"?

The arc length around helical torus refers to the distance along the curved path of a helical torus, which is a three-dimensional shape formed by rotating a circle around a central axis while also moving along that axis.

How is the arc length around helical torus calculated?

The arc length around helical torus is calculated using the formula L = 2π²r, where r is the radius of the circle that forms the helical torus. This formula takes into account the curvature of the torus and its total circumference.

What factors affect the arc length around helical torus?

The arc length around helical torus is affected by the radius of the circle that forms the torus, the angle of rotation, and the total number of rotations. The larger the radius and the more rotations, the longer the arc length will be.

Why is the arc length around helical torus important in science?

The arc length around helical torus is important in science as it is used to calculate the distance traveled along a curved path, which is essential in understanding motion and forces in various fields such as physics, engineering, and astronomy.

How is the concept of arc length around helical torus applied in real-life situations?

The concept of arc length around helical torus is applied in real-life situations such as the design of roller coasters and other amusement park rides, the construction of roads and highways, and the analysis of the motion of planets and other celestial bodies.

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