# Name for a progressive curve

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-a-progressive-curve/709564>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 11, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-a-progressive-curve/709564 "2015-01-11T19:54:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-a-progressive-curve/709564/1 "2015-01-11T19:54:22Z")

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I am trying to write something on drawing a progressive curve but I have no idea what to call it. An example would be that I attach a 14" string with a pencil in the end to a 12" diameter circle, as I start drawing my radius the string wraps around the circle shortening my radius.

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-a-progressive-curve/709564/2 "2015-01-11T19:56:23Z")

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Spiral?

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-a-progressive-curve/709564/3 "2015-01-11T20:25:16Z")

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Here you go: [Involute - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Involute)

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**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-a-progressive-curve/709564/4 "2015-01-11T20:50:28Z")

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> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> Here you go: [Involute - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Involute)

Thats it, this place never fails me!

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-a-progressive-curve/709564/5 "2015-01-11T20:53:07Z")

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> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#):
>
> Thats it, this place never fails me!

Sorry it took us over half an hour. We’re usually more on the ball. 😉