Paper 2, Section II, H

Differential Geometry
Part II, 2013

Let α:[0,L]R3\alpha:[0, L] \rightarrow \mathbf{R}^{3} be a regular curve parametrized by arc length having nowherevanishing curvature. State the Frenet relations between the tangent, normal and binormal vectors at a point, and their derivatives.

Let SR3S \subset \mathbf{R}^{3} be a smooth oriented surface. Define the Gauss map N:SS2N: S \rightarrow S^{2}, and show that its derivative at PS,dNP:TPSTPSP \in S, d N_{P}: T_{P} S \rightarrow T_{P} S, is self-adjoint. Define the Gaussian curvature of SS at PP.

Now suppose that α:[0,L]R3\alpha:[0, L] \rightarrow \mathbf{R}^{3} has image in SS and that its normal curvature is zero for all s[0,L]s \in[0, L]. Show that the Gaussian curvature of SS at a point P=α(s)P=\alpha(s) of the curve is K(P)=τ(s)2K(P)=-\tau(s)^{2}, where τ(s)\tau(s) denotes the torsion of the curve.

If SR3S \subset \mathbf{R}^{3} is a standard embedded torus, show that there is a curve on SS for which the normal curvature vanishes and the Gaussian curvature of SS is zero at all points of the curve.