Chapter 2: Space Curves
Section 2.7: Frenet-Serret Formalism
Example 2.7.13
If C is the curve given by Rp=p i+3 p2 j+p3 k in Example 2.6.2,
Obtain its Darboux vector d.
Verify the three identities in Table 2.7.3.
Show that T′×T″=κ2d, where primes denote differentiation with respect to arc length s.
Solution
Mathematical Solution
Part (a)
By the usual techniques, obtain the items in Table 2.7.13(a).
T=19⁢p4+36⁢p2+16⁢p9⁢p4+36⁢p2+13⁢p29⁢p4+36⁢p2+1
N=−3⁢p⁢p2+29⁢p4+36⁢p2+1⁢9⁢p4+p2+1−9⁢p4−19⁢p4+36⁢p2+1⁢9⁢p4+p2+1p⁢18⁢p2+19⁢p4+36⁢p2+1⁢9⁢p4+p2+1
B=3⁢p29⁢p4+p2+1−p9⁢p4+p2+119⁢p4+p2+1
ρ=9⁢p4+36⁢p2+1
κ=6⁢9⁢p4+p2+19⁢p4+36⁢p2+13/2
τ=19⁢p4+p2+1
Table 2.7.13(a) Frenet formalism
The Darboux vector is then
d=τ T+κ B
=19⁢p4+p2+119⁢p4+36⁢p2+16⁢p9⁢p4+36⁢p2+13⁢p29⁢p4+36⁢p2+1+6⁢9⁢p4+p2+19⁢p4+36⁢p2+13/23⁢p29⁢p4+p2+1−p9⁢p4+p2+119⁢p4+p2+1
=162⁢p6+27⁢p4+54⁢p2+19⁢p4+p2+1⁢9⁢p4+36⁢p2+13/2210⁢p39⁢p4+p2+1⁢9⁢p4+36⁢p2+13/23⁢9⁢p6+54⁢p4+3⁢p2+29⁢p4+p2+1⁢9⁢p4+36⁢p2+13/2
Part (b)
The derivatives of the vectors in the TNB-frame must be taken with respect to the arc length s. Since R is given in terms of the parameter p, the chain rule must be invoked. Hence, dds=1ρ ddp. Note that the results below hold for p>0.
dTdp1ρ=69⁢p4+36⁢p2+1−3 p (p2+2)1−9 p4p (18 p2+1) = d×T
dNdp1ρ = 3⁢81⁢p10+486⁢p8+1278⁢p6+34⁢p4−3⁢p2−29⁢p4+36⁢p2+12⁢9⁢p4+p2+13/2−p⁢2997⁢p8+1296⁢p6+1998⁢p4+144⁢p2+379⁢p4+36⁢p2+12⁢9⁢p4+p2+13/2−1458⁢p10+243⁢p8−306⁢p6−1278⁢p4−54⁢p2−19⁢p4+36⁢p2+12⁢9⁢p4+p2+13/2 = d×N
dBdp1ρ = 19⁢p4+36⁢p2+1⁢9⁢p4+p2+13/23 p (p2+2)9 p4−1−p (18 p2+1) = d×B
Part (c)
The derivatives of the vectors in the TNB-frame must be taken with respect to the arc length s. Since R is given in terms of the parameter p, the chain rule must be invoked. Hence, dds=1ρ ddp.
dTdp1ρ×d2Tdp21ρ2= 369⁢p4+36⁢p2+19/2162 p6+27⁢p4+54⁢p2+1210 p33⁢9⁢p6+54⁢p4+3⁢p2+2 = κ2 d
Maple Solution - Interactive
Initialize
Tools≻Load Package: Student Vector Calculus
Loading Student:-VectorCalculus
Execute the BasisFormat command at the right, or use the task template to set the display of vectors as columns.
BasisFormatfalse:
Frenet formalism: ρ,κ,τ,T,N,B
Context Panel: Assign Name
R=p,3 p2,p3→assign
Keyboard the norm bars.
Calculus palette: Differentiation operator
Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻rho
ⅆⅆ p R = 9⁢p4+36⁢p2+1→assign to a nameρ
Write R. Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
Context Panel: Student Vector Calculus≻Frenet Formalism≻Curvature≻p
Context Panel: Simplify≻Assuming Positive
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻kappa
R = →curvature12⁢36⁢p3+72⁢p29⁢p4+36⁢p2+13+4⁢−3⁢p⁢36⁢p3+72⁢p9⁢p4+36⁢p2+13/2+69⁢p4+36⁢p2+12+4⁢−32⁢p2⁢36⁢p3+72⁢p9⁢p4+36⁢p2+13/2+6⁢p9⁢p4+36⁢p2+129⁢p4+36⁢p2+1→assuming positive6⁢9⁢p4+p2+19⁢p4+36⁢p2+13/2→assign to a nameκ
Context Panel: Student Vector Calculus≻Frenet Formalism≻Torsion≻p
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻tau
R = →torsion19⁢p4+p2+19⁢p4+36⁢p2+12⁢9⁢p4+36⁢p2+13/2⁢9⁢p4+p2+19⁢p4+36⁢p2+1→assuming positive19⁢p4+p2+1→assign to a nameτ
Context Panel: Student Vector Calculus≻Frenet Formalism≻TNB Frame≻p
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻Q
R
→TNB frame
→assuming positive
→assign to a name
Q
T=Q1→assign
N=Q2→assign
B=Q3→assign
Obtain the Darboux vector
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻d
τ T+κ B = →assuming positive →assign to a named
Calculus palette: Differentiation operator or cross-product operator
T′=d×T
ⅆⅆ p T/ρ = →assuming positive
d×T = →assuming positive
N′=d×N
ⅆⅆ p N/ρ = →assuming positive
d×N = →assuming positive
B′=d×B
ⅆⅆ p B/ρ = →assuming positive
d×B = →assuming positive
Calculus palette: Differentiation operators
Common Symbols palette: Cross product operator Press the Enter key.
ⅆⅆ p Tρ×ⅆ2ⅆp2 Tρ2
κ2 d = 36⁢162⁢p6+27⁢p4+54⁢p2+19⁢p4+36⁢p2+19/27560⁢p39⁢p4+36⁢p2+19/2108⁢9⁢p6+54⁢p4+3⁢p2+29⁢p4+36⁢p2+19/2
Maple Solution - Coded
Install the Student VectorCalculus package.
withStudent:-VectorCalculus:
Execute the BasisFormat command.
Define the position vector R and obtain ρ,k,τ
Define R as per Table 1.1.1.
R≔p,3 p2,p3:
Apply the Norm command to the result of the diff command.
ρ≔NormdiffR,p = 9⁢p4+36⁢p2+1
Apply the simplify and Curvature commands.
κ≔simplifyCurvatureR assuming p>0
6⁢9⁢p4+p2+19⁢p4+36⁢p2+13/2
Apply the simplify and Torsion commands.
τ≔simplifyTorsionR assuming p>0
19⁢p4+p2+1
Obtain and display the vectors of the TNB-frame
Apply the TNBFrame command to R, assigning the result to a temporary name.
Use the map command to simplify the three vectors of the TNB-frame. (This two-step process for obtaining the TNB-frame overcomes a deep-seated problem with simplifying a rooted vector carrying assumptions.)
Extract and display the individual vectors of the TNB-frame.
Temp≔TNBFrameR:Q≔mapsimplify,Temp assuming p>0:T,N,B≔Q1,Q2,Q3
Implement the definition of the Darboux vector, assigning it to a temporary name. To this temporary vector, apply the simplify command and call the result the Darboux vector. (This two-step process for obtaining the Darboux vector overcomes a deep-seated problem with simplifying a rooted vector carrying assumptions.)
Temp≔τ T+κ B: d≔simplifyTemp assuming p>0
In the following calculations, use the diff, the CrossProduct, and simplify commands as needed.
simplifydiffT,p/ρ assuming p>0
simplifyCrossProductd,T assuming p>0
simplifydiffN,pρ assuming p>0
simplifyCrossProductd,N assuming p>0
simplifydiffB,p/ρ assuming p>0
simplifyCrossProductd,B assuming p>0
simplifyCrossProductdiffT,pρ,diffT,p,pρ2
κ2 d
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