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Fractal Image: Whirlpool
Half-Size Images:
![[Half-size image of the fractal: Whirlpool]](../images-full-size/whirlpool.jpg)
Full-Size Images:
About the Fractal Image (Artistic):
Everyone who has ever watched water drain out of a bathtub or from a sink has been fascinated by the spontaneous formation of a tiny whirlpool. This miniature vortex is not caused by shape of the sink or by the angle of the drainpipe. Rather, the spinning is caused by the very rotation of the Earth, itself. As the water moves radially towards the drain, it is deflected from its direct path as the Earth turns under it, imparting a slight rotation to the flow. This rotation is slow at first, but like a spinning figure skater retracting her outstretched arms, the rotation becomes ever faster as the distance becomes shorter. Eventually the centrifugal force becomes so great a hole is formed in the water. This is "Coriolis" acceleration, and is the same natural force that powers hurricanes, typhoons, and tornadoes. While the "Whirlpool" fractal bears a striking similarity to those weather phenomena, I choose to name it after the more benign manifestation.
About the Fractal Image (Technical):
The "Whirlpool" fractal is one of the Mandelbrot type or Type M example fractals. Type M fractals are infinitely detailed (literally) and are interesting for the patterns formed by the filaments, especially at high magnification. The Whirlpool fractal is a portion of the Mandelbrot fractal shown at a magnification of 10,000X – which is only a mid-level magnification for Type M fractals. Even so, at this magnification, the original fractals' size (6.5" x 9" at magnification = 1X) has been increased to be 1.4 miles wide and 1.0 mile tall!
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