e
pi
cyc
loid
Plural
epicycloids
1
a curve created by tracing the path of a point on a small rolling circle as it revolves around the edge of a larger circle
- Planetary astronomers once thought the apparent motions of Mars could be explained by a combination of deferents and epicycloids modeled after circular trajectories.
- Mathematicians study epicycloids as a subclass of roulettes arising from the roll and trace combinations of circular motions.