Paper 2, Section II, H
(a) Let be a smooth regular curve parametrised by arclength. For , define the curvature and (where defined) the torsion of . What condition must be satisfied in order for the torsion to be defined? Derive the Frenet equations.
(b) If is defined and equal to 0 for all , show that lies in a plane.
(c) State the fundamental theorem for regular curves in , giving necessary and sufficient conditions for when curves and are related by a proper Euclidean motion.
(d) Now suppose that is another smooth regular curve parametrised by arclength, and that and are its curvature and torsion. Determine whether the following statements are true or false. Justify your answer in each case.
(i) If whenever it is defined, then lies in a plane.
(ii) If is defined and equal to 0 for all but one value of in , then lies in a plane.
(iii) If for all and are defined for all , and for all , then and are related by a rigid motion.