# gst: how to create a helix from a straight rod, “twist” or “bend” approaches.

<< There are two independent ways of creating a helix from a straight rod: curl the rod into a circle and then twist the rod all along its length to convert the ring into a helix (“twist” method), or deform the rod into a sine wave and then bend it with a sinusoidal distortion that curls at right angles to the first sine wave (“bend” method). Both procedures produce the same shape, but they generate different internal stresses within the rod, and their implementations require different amounts of energy. >>️

AA << say that their experiments could serve as a model for many physical systems that undergo handedness transitions, including the tendrils of plants, the flagella of microorganisms, and the strands of DNA molecules.  >>

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David Ehrenstein. Two Experimental Observations of Helix Reversals. Physics 16, s158. Oct 24, 2023.  

https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/Physics.16.s158

Paul M. Ryan, Joshua W. Shaevitz,  Charles W. Wolgemuth. Bend or Twist? What Plectonemes Reveal about the Mysterious Motility of Spiroplasma. Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 178401. Oct 24, 2023. 

https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.178401

Emilien Dilly, Sebastien Neukirch, Julien Derr, Drazen Zanchi. Traveling Perversion as Constant Torque Actuator. Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 177201. Oct 24, 2023. 

https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.177201

Also: elastic, swim, in https://www.inkgmr.net/kwrds.html

Keywords: gst, elastic, elastic deformation, swimming