Pi in Nature (Not Just Math!)

March 14 is a day to celebrate a famous mathematical constant - pi (π).  Pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, known approximately as 3.14. 

While pi is commonly associated with math, it can also be seen in nature.

Pi appears as circles, such as water ripples, tree rings, and sunflower disks.

Pi appears in river bends.  The bendiness of a river, or sinuosity, is determined by its meandering ratio, which is the river's length along its winding path to the distance from the source to the oceans.  While rivers bend in all sorts of ways, the average ratio, according to a study, is approximately 3.14.

So in honour and awe of pi, on March 14, Pi Day, I will be celebrating with a piece of pie.

For more on pi in nature:

• Pi Day Pictures: Nature's Near-Perfect Circles
• The World is Full of Circles
• A person's take on pi:  A meandering tale: the truth about pi and rivers

Happy Pi Day!