FrenetSerretSystem

FrenetSerretSystem[{x1,,xn},t]

gives the generalized curvatures and FrenetSerret basis for the parametric curve xi[t].

FrenetSerretSystem[{x1,,xn},t,chart]

interprets the xi as coordinates in the specified coordinate chart.

Details

  • FrenetSerretSystem returns {{k1,,kn-1},{e1,,en}}, where ki are generalized curvatures and ei are the FrenetSerret basis vectors.
  • The first basis vector e1 is the unit tangent to the curve. Each successive vector is the orthonormalized derivative of the previous one. The last vector is chosen to complete a right-handed orthonormal basis.
  • If one of the vector derivatives is zero, then the remaining vectors are also taken to be zero.
  • Common names in dimension two and three are:
  • {{k1},{e1,e2}}signed curvature, tangent, and normal
    {{k1,k2},{e1,e2,e3}}curvature, torsion, tangent, normal, and binormal
  • In FrenetSerretSystem[x,t], if x is a scalar expression, FrenetSerretSystem gives the curvature of the parametric curve {t,x}.
  • If a chart is specified, the basis vectors ei are expressed in the orthonormal basis associated to it.
  • Coordinate charts in the third argument of FrenetSerretSystem can be specified as triples {coordsys,metric,dim} in the same way as in the first argument of CoordinateChartData. The short form in which dim is omitted may be used.

Examples

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Basic Examples  (2)

The curvature, tangent, and normal for a circle in two dimensions:

The curvature, torsion, and associated basis for a helix expressed in cylindrical coordinates:

Scope  (6)

A straight line is degenerate, and so the basis is padded with zero vectors:

Curvature, torsion, and associated basis of a spiral restricted to a plane:

Construct the unit normal and tangent to the parabola :

The FrenetSerret system specifying metric, coordinate system, and parameters:

A curve with nonzero tangent, normal, binormal, and trinormal:

FrenetSerretSystem works in curved spaces:

Applications  (3)

Determine if two space curves intersect in a plane by checking the equality of their binormals:

Two curves in Euclidean space can be overlaid by rigid motion if and only if their curvatures are equal as functions of arc length:

As parameterized, the curves appear to have different curvatures:

But re-expressing the curvatures in terms of arc length shows that the curves are related by a rigid motion:

Construct an osculating circle, which is the circle that best approximates the curve at a point:

The radius of the osculating circle is inverse to the curvature:

The center of the circle lies along the normal to the curve at the contact point:

Plot the curve with two osculating circles and points of contact:

Properties & Relations  (7)

In dimension , the first curvatures are always non-negative, but the last can be negative:

In two dimensions, the curvature is signed:

In dimensions three and higher, the ArcCurvature is the first generalized curvature:

In dimension two, the ArcCurvature is the absolute value of the single generalized curvature:

In two dimensions, the normal is always rotated counterclockwise relative to the tangent:

When the curve is embedded in three-space, the normal can be rotated in either direction:

The change in direction happens when the curvature crosses zero:

The normal and binormal are undefined at the crossing, then reverse direction:

In Euclidean space, if only the last curvature is identically 0, the curve lies in a hyperplane:

That hyperplane is perpendicular to the last basis vector, in this case the binormal:

Plot the plane containing the curve, using a point on the curve and the tangent and normal at that point:

The curve, hyperplane, and binormal:

For a curve embedded in nonplanar surface, no basis vector other than the tangent needs to maintain a constant angle to the surface:

Interactive Examples  (1)

The plot of a function with the unit tangent and normal is shown. Click a point to see the unit and tangent at that point:

Neat Examples  (1)

The trefoil knot with an animation of the tangent, normal, and binormal moves along the curve:

Wolfram Research (2014), FrenetSerretSystem, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/FrenetSerretSystem.html.

Text

Wolfram Research (2014), FrenetSerretSystem, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/FrenetSerretSystem.html.

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2014. "FrenetSerretSystem." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/FrenetSerretSystem.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2014). FrenetSerretSystem. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/FrenetSerretSystem.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2023_frenetserretsystem, author="Wolfram Research", title="{FrenetSerretSystem}", year="2014", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/FrenetSerretSystem.html}", note=[Accessed: 18-March-2024 ]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2023_frenetserretsystem, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={FrenetSerretSystem}, year={2014}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/FrenetSerretSystem.html}, note=[Accessed: 18-March-2024 ]}