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

In summary, the conversation discusses the property of a curve where the position vector is always perpendicular to the tangent vector. It is suggested that this indicates the curve lies on a sphere with the origin as its center. However, the group is struggling to prove this and is seeking assistance."
  • #1
sharpstones
25
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
 
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  • #2
If [itex]\vec r \cdot \frac {d \vec r}{dt} = 0[/itex] then [itex]\frac {d}{dt} r^2 = 0[/itex].
 
  • #3
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.
 

What is a spherical vector problem?

A spherical vector problem is a mathematical problem that involves calculating the magnitude and direction of a vector in three-dimensional space, using spherical coordinates.

How do you represent a vector in spherical coordinates?

In spherical coordinates, a vector is represented by three components: the radial component (r), the polar angle (θ), and the azimuthal angle (φ).

How do you convert a vector from Cartesian coordinates to spherical coordinates?

To convert a vector from Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z) to spherical coordinates (r, θ, φ), you can use the following formulas:
r = √(x² + y² + z²)
θ = arccos(z / r)
φ = arctan(y / x)

What is the relationship between spherical and Cartesian coordinates?

Spherical and Cartesian coordinates are two different systems used to represent points in three-dimensional space. The relationships between the coordinates in these systems are:
x = r sinθ cosφ
y = r sinθ sinφ
z = r cosθ
where r is the distance from the origin, θ is the polar angle, and φ is the azimuthal angle.

What are some real-life applications of spherical vector problems?

Spherical vector problems are commonly used in fields such as physics, engineering, and astronomy to calculate the forces and motion of objects in three-dimensional space. They can also be used in navigation systems, such as GPS, to determine the position and velocity of an object.

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