MHB Find the curvature of the vector

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    Curvature Vector
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To find the curvature of the vector function r(t) = 3t i + 5t j + (6 + t^2) k, the first derivative r'(t) is calculated as 3i + 5j + 2t k. The next step involves computing the cross product of r'(t) and the second derivative r''(t), which is 0i + 0j + 2k. The curvature formula κ(t) is given by the magnitude of the cross product divided by the cube of the magnitude of r'(t). Clarification on how to properly compute the cross product using the k vector is sought, emphasizing the importance of matrix determinants in this calculation.
carl123
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Find the curvature.

r(t) = 3t i + 5t j + (6 + t2) k

κ(t) =

This is what i have so far:

derivative of r(t) = 3i + 5j + 2k

I know the next step is to find the cross product of r(t) and r'(t) but I'm not sure how to go about it, especially how to make use of the k vector of r(t)
 
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carl123 said:
Find the curvature.

r(t) = 3t i + 5t j + (6 + t2) k

κ(t) =

This is what i have so far:

derivative of r(t) = 3i + 5j + 2k

This should be $... + 2t \mathbf{k}$.

I know the next step is to find the cross product of r(t) and r'(t) but I'm not sure how to go about it, especially how to make use of the k vector of r(t)

I would do
$$\frac{|\dot{\mathbf{r}}(t) \times \ddot{\mathbf{r}}(t)|}{|\dot{\mathbf{r}}(t)|^3}.$$

In general,
$$\mathbf{A}\times\mathbf{B}=\left|\begin{matrix}
\mathbf{i} &\mathbf{j} &\mathbf{k} \\
A_x &A_y &A_z \\
B_x &B_y &B_z
\end{matrix} \right|.$$
Can you continue?
 

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