# Thread: surface is regular if curvature is non zero

1. ## surface is regular if curvature is non zero

alpha(u) is a unit speed space curve, the chart (x,U) where

x(u,v) = alpha(u) + v*(alpha'(u)), (u,v) in U

i want to show that this surface is regular if the curvature k(u): = || alpha''(u)|| of the unit speed curve alpha(u) is non zero

2. Originally Posted by dopi
alpha(u) is a unit speed space curve, the chart (x,U) where

x(u,v) = alpha(u) + v*(alpha'(u)), (u,v) in U

i want to show that this surface is regular if the curvature k(u): = || alpha''(u)|| of the unit speed curve alpha(u) is non zero

Is it really alpha' (and not alpha'') in the equation? And could you please precise what U is? Thank you.

3. Originally Posted by Laurent
Is it really alpha' (and not alpha'') in the equation? And could you please precise what U is? Thank you.

alpha(u) is a unit speed space curve, and use this curve to construct a tangent developable surface with $chart (x,U)$where

$x(u,v) = alpha(u) + v*(alpha'(u)), (u,v) in U$

where $U = {(u,v) in R^2 : -infinity < u < infinity, v>0}$

i want to show that this surface is regular if the curvature k(u): = || alpha''(u)|| of the unit speed curve alpha(u) is non zero

so it is really alpha' in the equation. And i have re-written the question to specify what U is. Thank you.

the solution i got was
$Xu (cross-product)Xv = v*alpha''(u) (cross-product)t,$where i used $t$as $t = alpha(u)'$from the frenet serret equations.

i replaced $alpha''(u)$with the $k$ curvature, wasnt too sure how else to do it

and so as $v>o, k$ must be non zero for the chart to be regular.

4. Originally Posted by dopi
the solution i got was
$Xu (cross-product)Xv = v*alpha''(u) (cross-product)t,$where i used $t$as $t = alpha(u)'$from the frenet serret equations.

i replaced $alpha''(u)$with the $k$ curvature, wasnt too sure how else to do it

and so as $v>o, k$ must be non zero for the chart to be regular.
In the Serret-Frenet system, there are three vectors, $(T,N,B)$. We have $T=\alpha'(u)$, and $\alpha''(u)=\kappa N$. Therefore, $X_u\times X_v=(T+v\kappa N)\times T=v\kappa N\times T=v\kappa B$ and $\|X_u\times X_v\|=v\kappa\neq 0$.