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Helices can be either right-handed or left-handed.

With the line of sight along the helix's axis, if a


clockwise screwing motion moves the helix away from the observer, then it is called a right-handed
helix; if towards the observer, then it is a left-handed helix. Handedness (or chirality) is a property of
the helix, not of the perspective: a right-handed helix cannot be turned to look like a left-handed one
unless it is viewed in a mirror, and vice versa.

Two types of helix shown in comparison. This shows the two chiralities of helices. One is left-handed and
the other is right-handed. Each row compares the two helices from a different perspective. The chirality is a
property of the object, not of the perspective (view-angle)

Most hardware screw threads are right-handed helices. The alpha helix in biology as well as
the A and B forms of DNA are also right-handed helices. The Z form of DNA is left-handed.
The pitch of a helix is the height of one complete helix turn, measured parallel to the axis of the
helix.
A double helix consists of two (typically congruent) helices with the same axis, differing by a
translation along the axis.[3]
A conic helix may be defined as a spiral on a conic surface, with the distance to the apex an
exponential function of the angle indicating direction from the axis. An example is
the Corkscrew roller coaster at Cedar Point amusement park.
A circular helix, (i.e. one with constant radius) has constant band curvature and constant torsion.
A curve is called a general helix or cylindrical helix[4] if its tangent makes a constant angle with a
fixed line in space. A curve is a general helix if and only if the ratio of curvature to torsion is
constant.[5]
A curve is called a slant helix if its principal normal makes a constant angle with a fixed line in
space.[6] It can be constructed by applying a transformation to the moving frame of a general helix.[7]
Some curves found in nature consist of multiple helices of different handedness joined together by
transitions known as tendril perversions.

Mathematical description[edit]
A helix composed of sinusoidal x and ycomponents

In mathematics, a helix is a curve in 3-dimensional space. The following parametrisation in Cartesian


coordinates defines a particular helix,[8] Perhaps the simplest equations for one is

As the parameter t increases, the point (x(t),y(t),z(t)) traces a right-handed helix of pitch
2π (or slope 1) and radius 1 about the z-axis, in a right-handed coordinate system.
In cylindrical coordinates (r, θ, h), the same helix is parametrised by:

A circular helix of radius a and slope b/a (or pitch 2πb) is described by the
following parametrisation:

Another way of mathematically constructing a helix is to plot


the complex-valued function exi as a function of the real
number x (see Euler's formula). The value of x and the real and
imaginary parts of the function value give this plot three real
dimensions.
Except for rotations, translations, and changes of scale, all
right-handed helices are equivalent to the helix defined above.
The equivalent left-handed helix can be constructed in a
number of ways, the simplest being to negate any one of
the x, y or z components.

Arc length, curvature and torsion[edit]


The length of a circular helix of radius a and slope b/a (or pitch
2πb) expressed in rectangular coordinates as

equals , its curvature is and its torsion is

Examples[edit]
In music, pitch space is often modeled with helices or
double helices, most often extending out of a circle such as
the circle of fifths, so as to represent octave equivalency.

Crystal structure of a folded molecular helix reported


by Lehn et al. in Helv. Chim. Acta., 2003, 86, 1598–1624.

A natural left-handed helix, made by a climber plant

A charged particle in a uniform magnetic field following a


helical path

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