Cycloid plates of golden age violins are closely modeled by curtate cycloid curves. Later work indicates that curtate cycloids do not serve as general models for these curves, which vary considerably. Cycloid A cycloid is the curve traced by a point on the rim of a circular wheel as the wheel rolls along a straight line without slipping. A cycloid is a specific form of trochoid and is an example of a roulette, a curve generated by a curve rolling on another curve. The cycloid, with the cusps pointing upward, is the curve of fastest descent under constant gravity, and is
Wheel of Death (Space Wheel) the Space Wheel. Some early versions were performed by a single artist and incorporated a counterbalance on the other end. Following fatal accidents, the apparatus fell out of favour for a time until it was re-introduced in the 1970s under the name "Wheel of Death". For its 2007 touring edition, Ringling Bros. started using the name Wheel of Steel, as the word "death" was not seen as family friendly from a public relations perspective. Noted artists who have performed on the wheel include Nik Wallenda, Elvin Bale and Bello Nock. The Wheel Of Death is also used on modern cruise