#steiner chain

[shonk]

👀

(source code)

[doctorghoti]

Thanks to Anders Sandberg, I think I found something that best reflects my visualization about cycles in life. Now if I can find a way to make a point move along the lines with consistent direction but the ability to move to smaller or bigger circles, then it’d be perfect.

[mmmlib]

Combination of the pumping thing principle and a Steiner 4-chain (with a few bugs).

[mucholderthen]

STEINER CHAINS

In geometry, a Steiner chain is a set of n circles, all of which are tangent to two given non-intersecting circles (blue and red in the top three images), where n is finite and each circle in the chain is tangent to the previous and next circles in the chain.

The 7 circles of this Steiner chain (black) are externally tangent to the inner given circle (red) but internally tangent to the outer given circle (blue). 

The 7 circles of this Steiner chain (black) are externally tangent to both given circles (red and blue), which lie outside one another.

Seven of the 8 circles of this Steiner chain (black) are externally tangent to both given circles (red and blue); the 8th circle is internally tangent to both.

Soddy’s hexlet is a three-dimensional analog of the Steiner chain.

(Steiner chain - Wikipedia)