CAL-12
Plane curvature
κ = |x' y'' − y' x''| / (x'² + y'²)^{3/2}. Turning of a parametric curve.
Governing equation
where
- x'
- x' (—)
- y'
- y' (—)
- x''
- x'' (—)
- y''
- y'' (—)
- \kappa
- Curvature (—)
The figure, part by part
Each numbered marker wears the color of its card. Hover a card to light the marker. Tap a marker to jump to that card. The slider walks a red point along the curve; Animate drawing traces it like a pen.
Governing law — red
Domain of the variable — blue
Response curve — green
Rate of change — amber
Lecture brief
Historical brief
Newton and Leibniz (1670s), Taylor, the fundamental theorem and the trapezoid rule are how change became a number. The lab differentiates, integrates and linearises in one variable. This sheet (CAL-12 — Plane curvature) is the form associated with Curvature. Working symbols: , , , . κ = |dθ/ds|. The osculating circle has radius 1/κ.
Purpose
Live realistic example
In symbols
Calculator
Inputs
Outputs
- Curvature \kappa1.00000 —
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Free library
Full libraryFree PDF / open book
- Calculus Volume 1OpenStax · CC BY-NC-SA · Free PDF / open book
- Calculus Volume 2OpenStax · CC BY-NC-SA · Free PDF / open book
- Calculus Volume 3OpenStax · CC BY-NC-SA · Free PDF / open book
- LibreTexts MathematicsLibreTexts · CC · Free PDF / open book
YouTube channels
Narration of this film
First and second parametric derivatives at a point.
κ = |dθ/ds|. The osculating circle has radius 1/κ.
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