Abstract
Methods/Materials
Materials: turbinidae, angarridae, and naticae shells,camera, ruler, pencil, calculator
Methods:
1 Collect and photograph turbinidae, naticae, and angariidae species.
2 Measure the ratio between two consecutive radii of the spiral Repeat 10 times.
3 Calculate mean and sample standard deviation.
4 Calculate a 95% margin of error to determine whether the ratios are #the same# and the spiral is
logarithmic.
5 Use the equation for logarithmic spirals r=ae^b*theta to see how logarithmic growth changes the
variables a and b.
6 Solve for a and b, plug theta and r values.
Results
No shells contained the Fibonacci spiral. However, 1/3 of the sample did display logarithmic growth.
Conclusions/Discussion
Finding no Fibonacci spirals raises questions about whether mathematicians over-promote the Fibonacci spiral in shells. Shells do use logarithmic spirals as a biological growth pattern. Shells of the same family share aspects of spiral progression. The geometry of logarithmic spirals is applicable to other organisms and formations within the natural world.
This Mathematical project explores the frequency of the appearance of logarithmic or specifically Fibonacci spirals appear within mollusk families.
Science Fair Project done By Sasha Langholz