Math Trek Math

Pursuing Pursuit Curves

By Ivars Peterson

- More than 2 years ago

A pursuit curve is the path an object takes when chasing another object. Such a path might result from a fox pursuing a rabbit or a missile seeking a moving target.

This set of superimposed “snapshots” shows the lines of sight at regular intervals of four “bugs” chasing one another, all moving at the same speed after starting at the corners of a square.