A Universe of One Word | cycloid | Brachistochrone curve

"cycloid". In Japanese, it is sometimes referred to by its katakana reading as "cycloid", and sometimes called the "brachistochrone curve".

Simply put, a cycloid is the "locus" created when you mark a spot on a bicycle tire and ride it.

This curve is also called the "brachistochrone curve" because, among all curves connecting two points, it is the one that allows for the fastest travel.

If you remember it as the curve created by a bicycle wheel, the name of this curve is easy to remember.

The word "cycle" is hidden within the spelling of "cycloid".

In English, "cyclo-" is read as "cyclo", but in chemistry textbooks (in Japanese), it is read as "shikuro". It means "ring" or "circle".

If you have ever studied chemistry, especially "organic chemistry", many of you have probably heard of "cycloalkane".

Back in high school, I regretted taking chemistry despite being a humanities student, but I think if I had learned it through English textbooks, I might have enjoyed learning things like nomenclature more.

I only found out that the spelling of "shikuro" was "cyclo-" after I finished my entrance exams and said goodbye to chemistry.

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