Let γ(t):[a,b]→R3 denote a regular curve.
(a) Show that there exists a parametrization of γ by arc length.
(b) Under the assumption that the curvature is non-zero, define the torsion of γ. Give an example of two curves γ1 and γ2 in R3 whose curvature (as a function of arc length s ) coincides and is non-vanishing, but for which the curves are not related by a rigid motion, i.e. such that γ1(s) is not identically ρ(R,T)(γ2(s)) where R∈SO(3),T∈R3 and
ρ(R,T)(v):=T+Rv
(c) Give an example of a simple closed curve γ, other than a circle, which is preserved by a non-trivial rigid motion, i.e. which satisfies
ρ(R,T)(v)∈γ([a,b]) for all v∈γ([a,b])
for some choice of R∈SO(3),T∈R3 with (R,T)=(Id,0). Justify your answer.
(d) Now show that a simple closed curve γ which is preserved by a nontrivial smooth 1-parameter family of rigid motions is necessarily a circle, i.e. show the following:
Let (R,T):(−ϵ,ϵ)→SO(3)×R3 be a regular curve. If for all t~∈(−ϵ,ϵ),
ρ(R(t~),T(t~))(v)∈γ([a,b]) for all v∈γ([a,b]),
then γ([a,b]) is a circle. [You may use the fact that the set of fixed points of a non-trivial rigid motion is either ∅ or a line L⊂R3.]