Tangent, Normal and Binormal Vectors β€” Question 1

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Question 1

For the helix rβ†’(t)=⟨cost,sint,t⟩\vec r(t)=\left\langle\cos t,\sin t,t\right\rangle, find the unit tangent 𝑻\mathbf T, principal unit normal 𝑡\mathbf N, and binormal 𝑩\mathbf B for all tt. Evaluate the frame at t=0t=0.

Original worksheet page 1: question and worked solution for 6-8-001
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Question 1 – Solution

Strategy Normalize rβ†’β€²\vec r', normalize 𝑻′\mathbf T', then use 𝑩=𝑻×𝑡\mathbf B=\mathbf T\times\mathbf N.

See the diagram in the original worksheet below.

Frame Since βˆ₯rβ†’β€²βˆ₯=2\|\vec r'\|=\sqrt 2, 𝑻=12βŸ¨βˆ’sint,cost,1⟩,𝑡=βŸ¨βˆ’cost,βˆ’sint,0⟩,\mathbf T=\frac 1{\sqrt 2}\left\langle-\sin t,\cos t,1\right\rangle,\qquad \mathbf N=\left\langle-\cos t,-\sin t,0\right\rangle, and 𝑩=12⟨sint,βˆ’cost,1⟩.\mathbf B=\frac 1{\sqrt 2}\left\langle\sin t,-\cos t,1\right\rangle.

At t=0t=0 𝑻=12⟨0,1,1⟩,𝑡=βŸ¨βˆ’1,0,0⟩,𝑩=12⟨0,βˆ’1,1⟩\boxed{\mathbf T=\frac 1{\sqrt 2}\left\langle 0,1,1\right\rangle,\ \mathbf N=\left\langle-1,0,0\right\rangle,\ \mathbf B=\frac 1{\sqrt 2}\left\langle 0,-1,1\right\rangle}.

Verification The three vectors are unit, mutually orthogonal, and 𝑻×𝑡=𝑩\mathbf T\times\mathbf N=\mathbf B.

Original worksheet page 2: question and worked solution for 6-8-001

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