The Lituus curve is studied by Roger Cotes in 1722 [Robert C Yates 1952].
The word lituus means a curved staff used by the augurs in quartering the heavens. (see crosier), or A kind of trumpet of a somewhat curved form and shrill note.
Lituus is a spiral described by the polar equation r == 1/Sqrt[θ].
The curve is asymptotic to the positive x-axis, and the other end spiral in towards the pole. The above image is a plot from 0.1 to 20*π. As θ approachs infinity, the curve approaches the origin.
Polar equation: r == 1/Sqrt[θ].
It has the property that a circular sector produces the same area. That is, suppose P is a point on the curve, and X a point on the asymptote OP distance from the origin O. Suppose the area of the circular sector OPX is A. As P moves towards the center on the curve, the area remains the same.
The inverse of Lituus with respect to the center is the parabolic spiral.
Lituus (blue) and parabolic spiral (red).
The lituus spiral is a recurring shape in art called Volute.
The Scroll of a unfinished violin.
Archimedes' spiral, equiangular spiral, Mathematics of Seashell Shapes.
See: Websites on Plane Curves, Printed References On Plane Curves.
Robert Yates: Curves and Their Properties.
Wikipedia: Lituus.
The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive.
Carving the scroll in making the violin: http://www.violins.demon.co.uk/making/carvescroll.htm.
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