Abstract
A new classification scheme for spiral galaxies (Block & Puerari 1999) has been developed which classifies galaxies on the basis of their near-IR arm morphology. This `dust-penetrated class' predicts a correlation between spiral arm pitch angle and rotation curve type (or shear rate A/ omega , where A is the first Oort constant and omega is rotational velocity - Block et al. 1999; Fuchs 2000). If such a correlation exists, it would provide a physical basis for this classification scheme.
