How Can We Prove that a Curve with Perpendicular Derivative Lies on a Sphere?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sharpstones
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Spherical Vector
AI Thread Summary
A curve with a position vector r(t) that is always perpendicular to its tangent vector r'(t) indicates that the curve maintains a constant length. This is established through the relationship that if the dot product r(t) · r'(t) equals zero, then the derivative of the squared magnitude of r(t) is zero, implying constant distance from the origin. Consequently, the curve must lie on the surface of a sphere centered at the origin. The discussion highlights the challenge of proving this property mathematically, emphasizing the importance of understanding vector derivatives and their geometric implications. The conclusion drawn is that the curve's perpendicularity to its derivative confirms its spherical nature.
sharpstones
Messages
25
Reaction score
3
My friends and I have been trying to work this one out all night, but to no avail.
If a curve has the property that the position vector r(t) is always perpendicular to the tangent vector r'(t), show that the curve lies on a sphere with center the origin.

We know the dot product of r(t) and r'(t) = 0 or that r(t) cross r'(t) equals the multiplication of their magnitudes but to go about showing that it is a sphere because of this is causing a great deal of difficulty. Any help would be appreciated
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If \vec r \cdot \frac {d \vec r}{dt} = 0 then \frac {d}{dt} r^2 = 0.
 
Or, to put what Tide said in different words, if the derivative of a vector is always perpendicular to the vector, the vector has constant length.
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Thread 'A bead-mass oscillatory system problem'
I can't figure out how to find the velocity of the particle at 37 degrees. Basically the bead moves with velocity towards right let's call it v1. The particle moves with some velocity v2. In frame of the bead, the particle is performing circular motion. So v of particle wrt bead would be perpendicular to the string. But how would I find the velocity of particle in ground frame? I tried using vectors to figure it out and the angle is coming out to be extremely long. One equation is by work...
Back
Top