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🌀 Minimal Surface Cross-Sections: Catenoid & Helicoid (2D)

A 2D Canvas view of the real cross-sections of a catenoid and a helicoid: the catenary meridian curve r = a·cosh(v/a) and the straight-line rulings x = a·v, z = c·u that sweep out a helicoid. Adjust scale, pitch and cross-section position live.

Geometry2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

⚙ Under the hood

A 2D companion to the 3D minimal-surface simulation: it plots the catenoid's real meridian curve, the catenary r = a·cosh(v/a), and the helicoid's straight-line rulings x = a·v, z = c·u as genuine cross-sections rather than a flattened 3D view. Drag the scale, pitch and cross-section-position sliders to see how each curve is the exact mathematical shape a soap film or spiral ramp forms.

minimal surfacecatenoidhelicoidcatenarydifferential geometrycross-section

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install