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Frenet frame
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(Definition)
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Let $I\subset \reals$ be an interval and let $\gamma:I\to\reals^3$ be a parameterized space curve, assumed to be regular and free of points of inflection. We interpret $\gamma(t)$ as the trajectory of a particle moving through 3-dimensional space. The moving trihedron (also known as the Frenet frame, the Frenet trihedron, the repère mobile, and the moving frame) is an orthonormal basis of 3-vectors $T(t),N(t),B(t),$ defined and named as follows:
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the unit tangent; |
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the unit normal; |
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the unit binormal. |
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A straightforward application of the chain rule shows that these definitions are covariant with respect to reparameterizations. Hence, the above three vectors should be conceived as being attached to the point $\gamma(t)$ of the oriented space curve, rather than being functions of the parameter $t$ .
Corresponding to the above vectors are 3 planes, passing through each point $\gamma(t)$ of the space curve. The osculating plane at the point $\gamma(t)$ is the plane spanned by $T(t)$ and $N(t)$ ; the normal plane at $\gamma(t)$ is the plane spanned by $N(t)$ and $B(t)$ ; the rectifying plane at $\gamma(t)$ is the plane spanned by $T(t)$ and $B(t)$ .
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"Frenet frame" is owned by rmilson. [ full author list (2) | owner history (1) ]
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See Also: space curve
| Other names: |
moving trihedron, moving frame, repère mobile, Frenet trihedron |
| Also defines: |
osculating plane, normal plane, rectifying plane, unit normal, unit tangent, binormal |
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Cross-references: spanned by, passing through, planes, parameter, functions, point, vectors, reparameterizations, definitions, chain rule, application, orthonormal basis, trajectory, points of inflection, parameterized space curve, interval
There are 20 references to this entry.
This is version 12 of Frenet frame, born on 2002-02-02, modified 2006-12-09.
Object id is 1660, canonical name is TNBFrame.
Accessed 35113 times total.
Classification:
| AMS MSC: | 53A04 (Differential geometry :: Classical differential geometry :: Curves in Euclidean space) |
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Pending Errata and Addenda
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