Circles around a Circle | Draw a Circle
Plotter and Calculator: Circles around a Circle
Calculates the size of circles around a central circle and plots a draft. With a gap of 0, the outer circles touch each other, with a negative gap they overlie. A large number of outer circles together with a negative gap between the ouer vircles generates interference patterns. Example generates a typical interference pattern. Small circles with a positive gap around a large circle you can find e.g. in a ball bearing.
| Radius central circle: | |
| Number of outer circles: | |
| Gap between outer circles: | |
| | |
| Radius outer circles: | |
Image size:
Plot of the proportions, without scale:
Gaps, where they shouldn't be, are due to rounding.
Save image with right-click. Images generated with this tool can be used without restrictions.
The entire image always has the set image size as an absolute value, while the sizes for the center circle, outer circles, and gaps are to be understood relative to each other. The inner circle or center circle therefore appears the smaller the larger the outer circles are in relation to it.
The central circle is the one around which the outer circles are arranged and to which they are adjacent. The size of the outer circles is determined by their number, their distance, and the size of the central circle. There can be any number of outer circles, but there must be at least three. If the distance is negative, the outer circles overlap.
Interference means that the lines overlap in such a way that they interfere with each other. This is a phenomenon from physics, where wave crests and troughs can reinforce or cancel each other out, depending on the phase in which they meet. This effect is simulated here, creating unforeseen patterns that are not physical in this case. Rather, they arise due to the limited display capabilities of the screen. Beyond a certain number of circles and the associated required accuracy, the display can no longer be exact. The interference patterns seen here are therefore purely virtual artifacts and do not represent real-life shapes.
Last updated on 10/07/2025. Author: Jürgen Kummer
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