FIBONACCI SEQUENCE EXAMPLES IN NATURE FULL

If you measure a Nautilus shell with a golden mean gauge, you may find that the gauge isn’t far off the distance from the inner spiral on one side of the center point to the outer spirals on the other side.ĭoes this explain its association with the golden ratio? Let’s explore a little further.

A golden mean gauge seems to match the spirals of some Nautilus shells, so is that the answer? This Golden Spiral based on a 180 degree rotation is a much better fit to the Nautilus Spiral. And so the pattern of expansion continues.

FIBONACCI SEQUENCE EXAMPLES IN NATURE FULL

The golden ratio lines in red indicate how another full rotation expands the length from the vortex by phi squared, from phi to phi cubed. The width of the spiral from the center is now 2.618, which is the golden ratio (phi) squared. Continue another half turn of 180 degrees to point C to complete the full rotation of 360 degrees. The half rotation of 180 degrees to point B expands the width of the spiral to 1.618, the golden ratio. The center/vortex of the above spiral increases to a width of 1 at point A. The golden ratio proportions are indicated by the red and blue golden ratio grid lines provided by PhiMatrix software. Below, however, is another golden spiral that expands with golden ratio proportions with every full 180 degree rotation. The traditional golden spiral (aka Fibonacci spiral) expands the width of each section by the golden ratio with every quarter (90 degree) turn. There is, however, more than one way to create spirals with golden ratio proportions of 1.618 in their dimensions. Is there more than one way to create a golden spiral? This had led many to say that the Nautilus shell has nothing to do with the golden ratio. You can find images of nautilus shells and spirals all over the Internet that are labeled as golden ratios and golden spirals, but this golden spiral constructed from a golden rectangle is nothing at all like the spiral of the nautilus shell, as shown below. The golden spiral is then constructed by creating an arc that touches the points at which each of these golden rectangles are divided into a square and a smaller golden rectangle. This process is repeated to arrive at a center point, as shown below: The rectangle is then divided to create a square and a smaller golden rectangle. This can be constructed by starting with a golden rectangle with a height to width ratio of 1.618. This resulting Golden Spiral is often associated with the Nautilus spiral, but incorrectly because the two spirals are clearly very different.Ī Golden Spiral created from a Golden Rectangle expands in dimension by the Golden Ratio with every quarter, or 90 degree, turn of the spiral. The Golden Spiral constructed from a Golden Rectangle is NOT a Nautilus Spiral.Ī traditional Golden Spiral is formed by the nesting of Golden Rectangles with a Golden Rectangle. Let’s look at this objectively and solve this mystery and debate. Another university professor says no, but only measured height and width of the entire shell.

Several university math professors say no, but they only compared the nautilus spiral to the spiral created from a golden rectangle. Some show examples of spirals, but incorrectly assume that every equi-angular spiral in nature is a golden spiral.

There is a fair amount of confusion, misinformation and controversy though over whether the graceful spiral curve of the nautilus shell is based on this golden proportion. The Nautilus shell if often associated with the golden ratio. See bibliography.Nautilus shell spirals may have phi proportions, but not as you may have heard. Sources: three starfish image pink starfish image.

Fibonacci sequence examples in nature