Where is the Gaussian curvature zero, maximum, and minimum on a torus?

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SUMMARY

The Gaussian curvature \( K \) of a torus generated by revolving a circle of radius 1 in the \( xz \)-plane around the \( x \)-axis exhibits specific characteristics. The curvature is zero along the central circle of the torus, which corresponds to the points where the surface is flat. The maximum Gaussian curvature occurs at the points on the torus where the circle is closest to the \( x \)-axis, while the minimum curvature is found at the outermost points of the torus. These findings are essential for understanding the geometric properties of the torus.

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  • Understanding of Gaussian curvature in differential geometry
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Chris L T521
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Here's this week's problem.

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Problem: Let $T$ be the torus generated by taking the circle of radius 1 in the $xz$-plane centered at (0,0,2) and revolving it about the $x$-axis. Find the points (or curves) on $T$ where the Gaussian curvature $K$ is zero, at a maximum, and at a minimum.

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No one answered this week's question. You can find my solution below:

The torus $T$ has the parameterization $f: (s,t)\mapsto(\cos t,(2+\sin t)\cos s,(2+\sin t)\sin s)$, where $t$ is the parameter used to define the circle in the $xz$ plane and $s$ is the parameter used to define the circle of revolution in the $yz$ plane. We now compute the first fundamental form $I$ and the second fundamental form $II$; but first, we need to know the derivatives of our parameterized function. We see that
\[\begin{aligned}\frac{\partial f}{\partial s} &= (0,-(2+\sin t)\sin s,(2+\sin t)\cos s)\\\frac{\partial f}{\partial t} &= (-\sin t,\cos t\cos s, \cos t\sin s)\ \\ \frac{\partial^2f}{\partial s^2} &= (0,-(2+\sin t)\cos s,-(2+\sin t)\sin s)\\ \frac{\partial^2f}{\partial t^2} &= (-\cos t,-\sin t\cos s,-\sin t\sin s)\\ \frac{\partial^2f}{\partial t\partial s} &= (0,-\cos t\sin s,\cos t\cos s)\end{aligned}\]
To compute $II$, we also need to compute the normal vector $\eta$:
\[\eta = \frac{\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial s}\times\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial t}}{\left\|\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial s}\times\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial t}\right\|}=(-\cos t,-\sin t\cos s,-\sin t\sin s).\]
With this, we now see that
\[I= \begin{bmatrix} \left\langle\frac{\partial f}{\partial s},\frac{\partial f}{\partial s} \right\rangle& \left\langle\frac{\partial f}{\partial s},\frac{\partial f}{\partial t}\right\rangle \\ \left\langle\frac{\partial f}{\partial t},\frac{\partial f}{\partial s}\right\rangle & \left\langle\frac{\partial f}{\partial t},\frac{\partial f}{\partial t}\right\rangle \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix}(2+\sin t)^2 & 0 \\ 0 & 1\end{bmatrix}\]
and
\[II= \begin{bmatrix} \left\langle\frac{\partial^2 f}{\partial s^2},\eta \right\rangle& \left\langle\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial t\partial s},\eta\right\rangle \\ \left\langle\frac{\partial f^2}{\partial s\partial t},\eta\right\rangle & \left\langle\frac{\partial^2 f}{\partial^2 t},\eta\right\rangle \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix}(2+\sin t)\sin t & 0 \\ 0 & 1\end{bmatrix}\]
where $\langle\cdot,\cdot\rangle$ is the Euclidean inner product in $\mathbb{R}^3$. Now that we know $I$ and $II$, we can now compute the Gaussian curvature $K$:
\[\begin{aligned}K &= \frac{\det II}{\det I}\\ &= \frac{(2+\sin t)\sin t}{(2+\sin t)^2}\\ &= \frac{\sin t}{2+\sin t}\end{aligned}.\]

We now observe that if $t\in[0,2\pi)$, $K=0$ whenever $t=0$ or $t=\pi$.

Note that $K$ is independent of the parameter $s$! This implies that $K=0$ on the two circles $(\pm 1, 2\cos s,2\sin s)$ (i.e. on the circle $y^2+z^2=4$ in the $x=-1$ and $x=1$ planes).

Finally, we note that if $K(t)=\dfrac{\sin t}{2+\sin t}$, then $\dot{K}(t) = \dfrac{2\cos t}{(2+\sin t)^2}$ and $\ddot{K}(t) = \dfrac{-2(2+\sin t)^2\sin t- 4\cos^2t(2+\sin t)}{(2+\sin t)^4}$. Now, for $t\in[0,2\pi)$, $\dot{K}(t)=0$ when $t=\frac{\pi}{2}$ or $t=\frac{3\pi}{2}$; we now see that $\ddot{K}\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right)=-\frac{2}{9}<0\implies K$ is maximized at this value and $\ddot{K}\left(\frac{3\pi}{2}\right)=2>0\implies K$ is minimized at this value. Therefore, the maximum Gaussian curvature is $K\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right) = \frac{1}{3}$ and the miniminum Gaussian curvature is $K\left(\frac{3\pi}{2}\right)=-1$.
 

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