Mathematics 317 Solutions to Midterm #1 Fall 2009

 dr  ds 
1. (a) v (t ) = r& =    = vT.
 ds  dt 
(b) Differentiating (a) with respect to t, one obtains
 dT  ds  2  dT 
a = v& = v&T + vT& = v&T + v   = v&T + v   = v&T + κ (t )v N,
2

 ds  dt   ds 
from the first Frenet-Serret formula.

(c) r ⋅ A (t ) = r ⋅ r& × r = 0. Suppose A (t ) = a (t )α, for some constant vector α, then the
particle’s path satisfies r ⋅ α = 0. Hence the motion is planar.

2. (a) r& = cos t i − sin t j + 2t k. Hence v = s& = r& = cos 2 t + sin 2 t + 4t 2 = 1 + 4t 2 .

Thus the distance travelled by the particle over the time interval 0 ≤ t ≤ π is given by
π
the integral ∫ 1 + 4t 2 dt.
0

(b) &r& = − sin t i − cos t j + 2k. Then r& (0) = i, &r&(0) = − j + 2k ; &r&(0) × r& (0) = k + 2 j.
&r&(0) × r& (0)
Hence the curvature κ (0) = 3
= 1 + 2 2 = 5.
r& (0)
(c) From 1(b), the tangential component of acceleration is given by
d 4t
( 1 + 4t 2 ) = = 0 at t = 0, and the normal component of acceleration
dt 1 + 4t 2
at t = 0 is given by κ (0)v 2 (0) = 5.

3. (a) Note that the first equation describes a circle. Hence, use the parametrization
x(t ) = cos t , y (t ) = sin t , and then from the second equation one obtains
z (t ) = 2 − x(t ) − y (t ) = 2 − cos t − sin t. This yields
r (t ) = cos t i + sin t j + (2 − cos t − sin t ) k.

(b) r& = − sin t i + cos t j + (sin t − cos t ) k ; &r& = − cot i − sin t j + (cos t + sin t ) k. At the
point (0,1,1). t = π / 2, and hence r& (π / 2) = −i + k , &r&(π / 2) = − j + k. Consequently,
&r&(π / 2) × r& (π / 2) = −k − i − j. Hence the curvature at the given point is
&r&(π / 2) × r& (π / 2) 3 31 / 2
κ (π / 2) = = = 3/ 2 .
r& (π / 2)
3
( 2)3 2
(c) Note that x + y + z = 2 defines a plane and hence the curve is planar. The curve is
an ellipse since the intersection of a plane and a circular cylinder yields an ellipse
(which could be a circle—not the case here).