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The Moving Trihedral

1. The document defines key terms related to the geometry of smooth curves, including the unit tangent vector T(t), unit normal vector N(t), and unit binormal vector B(t). 2. It provides exercises to calculate these vectors for specific curves defined by vector functions R(t), and to find equations of associated planes like the normal and rectifying planes. 3. The exercises involve calculating tangent, normal, and binormal vectors at given values of t, and determining equations of planes based on information given about the curve at those points.

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Angelica Sta Ana
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976 views1 page

The Moving Trihedral

1. The document defines key terms related to the geometry of smooth curves, including the unit tangent vector T(t), unit normal vector N(t), and unit binormal vector B(t). 2. It provides exercises to calculate these vectors for specific curves defined by vector functions R(t), and to find equations of associated planes like the normal and rectifying planes. 3. The exercises involve calculating tangent, normal, and binormal vectors at given values of t, and determining equations of planes based on information given about the curve at those points.

Uploaded by

Angelica Sta Ana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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26 The Moving Trihedral Mathematics 22

→
−
Let C be a smooth curve defined by a vector function R (t).

1. Unit Tangent Vector to C : 3. Unit Binormal Vector to C :


→
−0 →
− →
− →
−
→
− R (t) B (t) = T (t) × N (t)
T (t) = →−0 →
−0
|| R (t)|| T (t)
= → −0
|| T (t)||
Notes:
→
− →
− →
− →
−
(a) If || R 0 (t)|| is constant, then 4. Moving Trihedral of C: T (t), N (t), and B
→
− →
− 5. Frenet Frame: space created by T , N , B.
R (t) · R 0 (t) = 0,
→
− →
−
that is, R and R 0 are perpendicular.
→
− →
−
(b) T points in the same direction as R 0 .

2. Unit Normal Vector to C :


→
−0
→
− T (t)
N (t) = →−0
|| T (t)||

Notes:
→
−
(a) N points towards the concave side of
the curve.
→
− →
−
(b) N is always perpendicular to T .

Exercises: Do as indicated.
*√ √ +
→
− →
− 3 1 3 →
−
1. Let R be a vector function such that T (t) = cos 2t, , sin 2t and R (0) = h1, 0, −1i.
2 2 2
Find:
→
−
(a) the unit tangent, unit normal, and unit binormal vectors to the graph of R at t = 0.
→
−
(b) an equation of the osculating, rectifying, and normal planes to the graph of R at t = 0.
* √ √ √ +
→
− →
−0 →
− 6 6 6
2. Given R (π) = h1, 4, 3i, T (π) = h−1, −1, 0i, and B (π) = − , , . Find:
6 6 3
→
−
(a) the unit tangent vector T at t = π.
(b) the equation of the rectifying plane at t = π.
→
− →
−
3. Let the smooth curve C be the graph of the vector function R such that R (0) = h3, 1, 2i,
→
−0 →
−
R (0) = h2, 2, 1i, and R 00 (0) = h1, 1, −1i. At the point on C corresponding to t = 0, give the
following:

(a) equation of normal plane


(b) unit binormal vector

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