Paper 3, Section II, G

Geometry
Part IB, 2012

Define the first and second fundamental forms of a smooth surface ΣR3\Sigma \subset \mathbb{R}^{3}, and explain their geometrical significance.

Write down the geodesic equations for a smooth curve γ:[0,1]Σ\gamma:[0,1] \rightarrow \Sigma. Prove that γ\gamma is a geodesic if and only if the derivative of the tangent vector to γ\gamma is always orthogonal to Σ\Sigma.

A plane ΠR3\Pi \subset \mathbb{R}^{3} cuts Σ\Sigma in a smooth curve CΣC \subset \Sigma, in such a way that reflection in the plane Π\Pi is an isometry of Σ\Sigma (in particular, preserves Σ\Sigma ). Prove that CC is a geodesic.