Paper 2, Section II, H

Differential Geometry
Part II, 2019

(a) Let α:(a,b)R3\alpha:(a, b) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{3} be a smooth regular curve parametrised by arclength. For s(a,b)s \in(a, b), define the curvature k(s)k(s) and (where defined) the torsion τ(s)\tau(s) of α\alpha. What condition must be satisfied in order for the torsion to be defined? Derive the Frenet equations.

(b) If τ(s)\tau(s) is defined and equal to 0 for all s(a,b)s \in(a, b), show that α\alpha lies in a plane.

(c) State the fundamental theorem for regular curves in R3\mathbb{R}^{3}, giving necessary and sufficient conditions for when curves α(s)\alpha(s) and α~(s)\widetilde{\alpha}(s) are related by a proper Euclidean motion.

(d) Now suppose that α~:(a,b)R3\widetilde{\alpha}:(a, b) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{3} is another smooth regular curve parametrised by arclength, and that k~(s)\widetilde{k}(s) and τ~(s)\tilde{\tau}(s) are its curvature and torsion. Determine whether the following statements are true or false. Justify your answer in each case.

(i) If τ(s)=0\tau(s)=0 whenever it is defined, then α\alpha lies in a plane.

(ii) If τ(s)\tau(s) is defined and equal to 0 for all but one value of ss in (a,b)(a, b), then α\alpha lies in a plane.

(iii) If k(s)=k~(s)k(s)=\tilde{k}(s) for all s,τ(s)s, \tau(s) and τ~(s)\tilde{\tau}(s) are defined for all ss0s \neq s_{0}, and τ(s)=τ~(s)\tau(s)=\tilde{\tau}(s) for all ss0s \neq s_{0}, then α\alpha and α~\widetilde{\alpha}are related by a rigid motion.