CYCLOID

ROLLING CIRCLES CYCLOIDS APPLICATION TASKS

There is a collection of different loci that are traced by points that lie on the
2
circumference of a rolling circle as the circle roll without sliping along either a Ø6
base line or around a base curve. P
0
Ø6 O
CYCLOID
A cycloid is the locus of a point that is situated on the circumference of a circle
that rolls, without slipping, along a straight base line. O Q
FEATURES OF A CYCLOID
1. The formula: pie * ( diameter of the rolling circle) determines the P A B
length of the base line for one full revolution of the rolling circle.
2. The base line, drawn as a continuous outline with a circle at the
A B
beginning and at the end of the movement.
3. The base line is divided into 12 equal segments for one full
revolution. C
4.
5.
All construction must be shown as a continuous feint lines.
Numbers make tracing the path of the locus easier. Make the
TASK 1 TASK 3
starting position of the locus 0. FIGURE 1 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls without slipping along a FIGURE 3 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls without slipping along a
6. Locus must be added to the drawing and the calculations is base line AB. The circle carries point P and Q with it as it roll. base line AB for 34 of a revolution. The circle pivots at B then continues to
always included. 1. Trace the locus generated by points P and Q as the circle roll along line BC for a further 21 a revolution carrying point P as it rolls..
7. Centre line are always added to the circle, and to show the rolls from A towards B for one full revolution. 1. Trace the locus generated by point P as the circle rolls from
movement of the circle. 2. Show all the necessary constructions and the calculations . A to B, pivots at B then rolls towards C.
8. Add the direction of rotation to the first rolling circle to complete 3. Add the direction of rotation and all the labels. 2. Show all the necessary constructions and the calculations .
the drawing. 4. Name the curve generated. 3. Add the direction of rotation and all the labels.
4. Name the curve generated.
DRAWING METHOD A B
· Step one: Determine how far the rolling circle will travel in one full
revolution by applying the formula: 2
Ø6
PIE * DIAMETER = CIRCUMFERENCE C
· Step two: Draw the base line equal in length to the circumference.
Divide the base line into 12 equal divisions. P O
O
· Step three: Draw a circle at the beginning and the end of the
movement. Project the divisions onto the centre line that joins the Ø5
two circles. 8
· Step four: Divide the first circle into 12 equal divisions and project
P
them across to the second circle. Number the divisions. A B
· Step five: With a compass set to a radius of the rolling circle, strike
arcs from the divisions along the centre line to cut the horizontal
TASK 2 TASK 4
division lines projected from the circle.
FIGURE 2 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls without slipping along a FIGURE 4 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls without slipping along a
· Step six: Draw a smooth curve through the points.
base line AB. The circle carries point P with it as it roll. base line AB for 34 of a revolution. The circle stops then continues to roll
· Step seven: finish off the drawing by inserting all the labels.
1. Trace the locus generated by point P as the circle rolls from along line BC for a further 21 a revolution carrying point P as it rolls..
MOVING THE POSITION OF THE POINT A towards B for 34 of a revolution. 1. Trace the locus generated by point P as the circle rolls from
There are some points to remember when the position of the point is moved 2. Show all the necessary constructions and the calculations . A to B, stops, then move from B towards C.
on the circumference of the rolling circle 3. Add the direction of rotation and all the labels. 2. Show all the necessary constructions and the calculations .
· The locus is always generated from the designated position of the 4. Name the curve generated. 3. Add the direction of rotation and all the labels.
point on the circumference of the circle. 4. Name the curve generated.
· Start numbering from where the point is located on the
circumference of the circle.
EPICYCLOID
THE EPICYCLOID
An epicycloid is the locus of a point that is situated on the circumference of a Ø
60
0

A
R5

90
circle that rolls, without slipping, along the outside of a base curve.

R
FEATURES OF AN EPICYCLOID 0
Ø5
1. The formula r/R * 30° determines the size of one division for the
movement of the rolling circle around the base curve. O
2. The base curve must be drawn as a continuous outline with O Q
P
circles drawn at the beginning and at the end of the movement.

°
60
A B
3. The centre line runs through the circles then joins the centre of
the first circle to the centre of the last circle.
4. All construction must be shown as continuous feint lines.
5. Numbers make tracing the path of the locus easier. Make the P
starting position of the locus 0.
6. Labels must be added to the drawing and the calculation to
determine how far the circle will roll in one division is always
7.
included.
Add the direction of rotation to the first rolling circle to complete
TASK 5
FIGURE 5 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls without slipping along a
the drawing.
DRAWING METHOD base curve AB. The circle carries point P with it as it roll. TASK 7 B
1. Trace the locus generated by point P as the circle rolls from FIGURE 7 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls without slipping along a
· Step one: Determine how far the rolling circle will roll during one 30°
A towards B for one full revolution. base curve AB. The circle carries point P with it as it roll.
division by applying the formula r/R * 30° where r = the radius of the
rolling circle and R= the radius of the base curve. 2. Show all the necessary constructions and the calculations . 1. Trace the locus generated by point P as the circle rolls from
3. Add the direction of rotation and all the labels. A towards B for 1 41 revolution.
· Step two: Determine how many divisions the circle has to roll
4. Name the curve generated. 2. Show all the necessary constructions and the calculations .
through to get from A to B.
· Step three: Draw the base curve then add a circle to the beginning B 3. Add the direction of rotation and all the labels.
and the end of the movement. R7 4. Name the curve generated.
· Step four: Divide the first circle into 12 equal divisions. Number the 5
P 0
divisions, then draw the divisions from the back of the first circle to 30° Ø5
the front of the of the last circle.
· Step five: Draw the centre line that starts at the centre of the first
O
circle and ends on the last circle.
0
· Step six: With a compass set to a radius of the rolling circle, strike Ø5
arcs to cut the curved projection lines. Note: The centre line is not a
division line so it must not be cut.
A O P
TASK 8
· Step seven: Draw a smooth curve through the points. A
FIGURE 8 shows a circle, centre O, that
· Step eight: Finish off the drawing by inserting all labels and the

2
R6
rolls without slipping along a base curve
direction of rotation of the rolling circle.
AB. The circle carries point P with it as it
roll.
THE HYPOCYCLOID
1. Trace the locus generated

Ø5
A hypocycloid is the locus of a point that is situated on the circumference of a

0
by point P as the circle rolls
circlet hat rolls, without slipping, along the inside of a base curve. TASK 6 from A towards B for 34
FIGURE 6 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls without slipping along a revolution.
DRAWING METHOD base curve AB. The circle carries point P with it as it roll. B
2. Show all the necessary
The method of drawing a hypocycloid is the same as the method used to draw 1. Trace the locus generated by point P as the circle rolls from constructions and the
an epicycloid. The first step is to determine how far the rolling circle will roll A towards B for one full revolution. calculations .
during one 30° division. Even though the circle now rolls on the inside of a 2. Show all the necessary constructions and the calculations . 3. Add the direction of rotation
base curve the same formula is used as for the epicycloid. 3. Add the direction of rotation and all the labels. and all the labels.
r/R * 30° where r = the radius of the rolling circle and R= the radius of the 4. Name the curve generated. 4. Name the curve generated.
base curve.
 ROLLING CIRCLE COMBINATIONS
When a rolling circle task requires that a circle rolls along a combination of paths, and the locus of the point, must be seen as continuous. However, it is usually easier
to draw the locus of the first motion and the second to it, rather than drawing the complete path all at once.
The starting position of the second locus is determine by where the circle stops at the end of the first path.
O P
P 8
A
Ø5
30°
TASK 10
FIGURE 10 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls without slipping
O
along a base line AB for 32 of a revolution, pivots at B, then rolls a
Ø4

further 21 a revolution around the base curve BC, towards end C.

8

The circle carries point P with it as it roll.

96
R

1. Trace the locus generated by point P

A B 2. Show all the necessary constructions and the
calculation.
3. Add the direction of rotation and all the labels.
4. Name the curve generated.

87
R
B
TASK 9
FIGURE 9 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls without slipping along a
base curve AB. The circle carries point P with it as it roll. C
1. Trace the locus generated by point P as the circle rolls from
A towards B for two revolutions. C R9
0
2. Show all the necessary constructions and the calculations .
3. Add the direction of rotation and all the labels.
4. Name the curve generated.
0
Ø6
Ø5
6 TASK 11
FIGURE 11 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls
O
without slipping along a base curve AB for 90°, it
P O P
then rolls a further 43 of a revolution along a base
line BC, towards end C.The circle carries point P
with it as it roll.
1. Trace the locus generated by point P A B
2. Show all the necessary constructions
A
and the calculation.
3. Add the direction of rotation and all TASK 12
the labels. FIGURE 12 shows a circle, centre O, that rolls without slipping along a
4. Name the curve generated. base line AB for 21 revolution, it then rolls a further 43 of a revolution
around a base curve BC, towards end C.The circle carries point P with it
as it roll.
1. Trace the locus generated by point P
2. Show all the necessary constructions and the calculation.

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3. Add the direction of rotation and all the labels.
4. Name the curve generated.
B
C