Chapter 2: Space Curves
Section 2.3: Tangent Vectors
Example 2.3.3
Let be the position-vector representation of the parametric curve , , and let be the reparametrization obtained in Example 2.2.6. (Recall that is the arc length along the curve.)
Obtain .
Obtain the unit tangent vector .
Show that , thus verifying that is automatically a unit tangent vector.
Solution
Mathematical Solution
Part (a)
Part (b)
Part (c)
Maple Solution - Interactive
In the Student MultivariateCalculus package, differentiation maps onto the components of a vector and the Norm command defaults to the Euclidean norm.
Initialize
Tools≻Load Package: Student Multivariate Calculus
Loading Student:-MultivariateCalculus
Write as per Table 1.1.1.
Context Panel: Assign Name
Calculus palette: Differentiation operator Keyboard the norm-bars: two vertical strokes.
Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
Context Panel: Simplify≻Assuming Positive
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻rho
=
Calculus palette: Differentiation operator
To display the vector T: Write T Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
Expression palette: Evaluation template Context Panel: Simplify≻Assuming Positive
Context Panel: Student Multivariate Calculus≻Differentiate≻With Respect To≻
Context Panel: Evaluate at a Point≻ Context Panel: Simplify≻Assuming Positive
Maple Solution - Coded
In the Student VectorCalculus package, the diff command maps onto the components of vectors, the TangentVector command returns a tangent vector, and the Norm command defaults to the Euclidean norm. Unfortunately, within this package the default display of vectors is not the column vector; hence the need for the BasisFormat command to override this default.
Install the Student VectorCalculus package.
Apply the BasisFormat command.
Define as the position vector R.
Apply the diff, Norm, and simplify commands.
Apply the diff command.
As an alternative, apply the TangentVector and simplify commands.
Use the eval command to make the substitution in , thereby obtaining .
Apply the diff and simplify commands.
Use the eval command to make the substitution in , then apply the simplify command to show equivalence with T obtained in Part (b).
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