3
$\begingroup$

Again I have a question, it's about a proof, if the torsion of a curve is zero, we have that

$ B(s) = v_0,$

a constant vector (where $B$ is the binormal), the proof ends concluding that the curve $ \alpha \left( t \right) $ is such that $ \alpha(t)\cdot v_0 = k $ and then the book says, "then the curve is contained in a plane orthogonal to $v_0$." It's a not so important detail but .... that angle might not be $0$, could be not perpendicular to it, anyway, geometrically I see it that $ V_0 $ "cuts" that plane with some angle.

My stupid question is why this constant $k$ must be $0$. Or just I can choose some $v_0 $ to get that "$k$"?

  • 0
    Daniel, I attem$p$ted to edit your post so it was readable, but I had di$f$ficulty understanding your writing in some $p$arts. You might want to check it - and make sure you communicate more clearly in the $f$uture. I'll leave figuring out a meaningful title up to you or someone else.2011-08-07

1 Answers 1

7

The constant $k$ need not be $0$; that would be the case where $\alpha$ lies in a plane through the origin. You have $k=\alpha(0)\cdot v_0$, so for all $t$, $(\alpha(t)-\alpha(0))\cdot v_0=0$. This means that $\alpha(t)-\alpha(0)$ lies in the plane through the origin perpendicular to $v_0$, so $\alpha(t)$ lies in the plane through $\alpha(0)$ perpendicular to $v_0$. (If $0$ is not in the domain, then $0$ could be replaced with any point in the domain of $\alpha$.)