## 17Calculus Vector Functions - Curvature

For the following discussion, we will consider a parameterized curve defined by the vector function $$\displaystyle{ \vec{r}(t) = \langle x(t), y(t), z(t) \rangle }$$ which is traversed once on the continuous interval $$a \leq t \leq b$$.
Some books use the Greek letter $$\kappa$$ (kappa) for curvature. We use a capital K.

The curvature of a smooth curve is a measure of how 'tight' or 'sharp' the curve is. If we have a smooth curve $$\vec{r}$$ and we have a function s which is the arc length function, the curvature is defined to be
$$\displaystyle{ K(s) = \left\| \frac{d\vec{T}}{ds} \right\|}$$.

This equation for the curvature is not particularly useful for calculations. So we have several other ways to write the equation of the curvature. But first notice, that the curvature is a scalar function, not a vector function. And since it is the norm of a vector, the curvature will always be positive.

Curvature Formula #1

For our first equation to use when calculating the curvature, we will use the chain rule to write $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d\vec{T}}{dt} = \frac{d\vec{T}}{ds} \cdot \frac{ds}{dt} }$$. We can solve for $$d\vec{T}/ds$$ to get

$$\displaystyle{ K = \left\| \frac{d\vec{T}}{ds} \right\| = \frac{\| d\vec{T}/dt \|}{ \| ds/dt \| } = \frac{1}{\| \vec{v} \|} \left\| \frac{d\vec{T}}{dt} \right\| }$$

Notice in the previous equation, we used $$ds/dt = \|\vec{v}\|$$ to simplify the equation somewhat.
Now we can write the first curvature formula in a form that we can use for calculations.

$$\displaystyle{ K(t) = \frac{1}{\|\vec{v}\|} \left\| \frac{d\vec{T}}{dt} \right\| = \frac{\| \vec{T}'(t) \|}{\|\vec{r}'(t)\|} }$$

Curvature Formula #2

If we define a vector $$\vec{a} = d\vec{v}/dt$$ as an acceleration vector, a second curvature formula is
$$\displaystyle{ K=\frac{\|\vec{v} \times \vec{a} \|}{\|\vec{v}\|^3} }$$

Before working some practice problems, here is a quick video clip for you that should help you understand curvature a bit better.

video by MIP4U

### Practice

Instructions - - Unless otherwise instructed, calculate the curvature of these vector functions. Give your answers in exact, completely factored form.

$$\vec{r}(t) = 3t\vhat{i} + 4\sin t\vhat{j} +$$ $$4\cos t\vhat{k}$$

Problem Statement

$$\vec{r}(t) = 3t\vhat{i} + 4\sin t\vhat{j} +$$ $$4\cos t\vhat{k}$$

$$K(t) = 4/25$$

Problem Statement

$$\vec{r}(t) = 3t\vhat{i} + 4\sin t\vhat{j} +$$ $$4\cos t\vhat{k}$$

Solution

### 2073 video

video by Krista King Math

$$K(t) = 4/25$$

$$\vec{r}(t) = \langle 2\cos(t), 2\sin(t) \rangle$$

Problem Statement

$$\vec{r}(t) = \langle 2\cos(t), 2\sin(t) \rangle$$

$$K(t) = 1/2$$

Problem Statement

$$\vec{r}(t) = \langle 2\cos(t), 2\sin(t) \rangle$$

Solution

### 2074 video

video by MIP4U

$$K(t) = 1/2$$

Find the curvature at $$t=1$$ for $$\vec{r}(t) = \langle t, t^2/2, t^3/3 \rangle$$.

Problem Statement

Find the curvature at $$t=1$$ for $$\vec{r}(t) = \langle t, t^2/2, t^3/3 \rangle$$.

$$K(1) = \sqrt{2}/3$$

Problem Statement

Find the curvature at $$t=1$$ for $$\vec{r}(t) = \langle t, t^2/2, t^3/3 \rangle$$.

Solution

### 2075 video

video by MIP4U

$$K(1) = \sqrt{2}/3$$

Find the curvature of $$\vec{r}(t) = \langle -5t, 2t^3, 3t^4 \rangle$$ at $$t = 2$$.

Problem Statement

Find the curvature of $$\vec{r}(t) = \langle -5t, 2t^3, 3t^4 \rangle$$ at $$t = 2$$.

$$K(t) = 24\sqrt{3229}/(9817)^{3/2}$$

Problem Statement

Find the curvature of $$\vec{r}(t) = \langle -5t, 2t^3, 3t^4 \rangle$$ at $$t = 2$$.

Solution

### 2076 video

video by MIP4U

$$K(t) = 24\sqrt{3229}/(9817)^{3/2}$$

Find the curvature of $$\vec{r}(t) = \langle 2\cos(3t),2\sin(3t),$$ $$4t \rangle$$ at $$t = 0$$.

Problem Statement

Find the curvature of $$\vec{r}(t) = \langle 2\cos(3t),2\sin(3t),$$ $$4t \rangle$$ at $$t = 0$$.

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Problem Statement

Find the curvature of $$\vec{r}(t) = \langle 2\cos(3t),2\sin(3t),$$ $$4t \rangle$$ at $$t = 0$$.

Solution

This problem is solved in each of these videos. The first video uses the cross product version of the curvature formula, the second video does not use the cross product.

video by MIP4U

video by MIP4U

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