That is because there is an integral relationship between the periods of the small and large circles. For each time around the large circle it is 6 times around the smaller ones. It doesn't have to be like that. The smaller ones could be going faster or slower or at different rates. They follow the same paths because they are exactly a third of the circle apart, so they are two cycles exactly apart.
Fantastic how each dot follows the exact one and only path.
ReplyDeleteThat is because there is an integral relationship between the periods of the small and large circles. For each time around the large circle it is 6 times around the smaller ones. It doesn't have to be like that. The smaller ones could be going faster or slower or at different rates. They follow the same paths because they are exactly a third of the circle apart, so they are two cycles exactly apart.
ReplyDeleteThe epicycles... superb!
ReplyDelete