Questions tagged [curves-and-surfaces]
A surface is a generalization of a plane which needs not be flat, that is, the curvature is not necessarily zero. This is analogous to a curve generalizing a straight line
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Sphere with bounded curvature
Let $V$ be a body in $\mathbb{R}^3$ bounded by a smooth sphere with principal curvatures at most 1 (by absolute value).
Is it true that
$$\mathop{\rm vol} V\ge \mathop{\rm vol} B,$$
where $B$ denotes ...
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Wanted, dead or alive: Have you seen this curve? (circular variant of cardioid)
Let me start with the context. This is definitely not a "research level" question, but I'm hoping that the research community will be able to settle for me whether or not a particular construction ...
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If a triangle can be displaced without distortion, must the surface have constant curvature?
Suppose $S$ is a Riemannian 2-manifold (e.g. a surface in $\mathbb{R}^3$).
Let $T$ be a geodesic triangle on $S$: a triangle whose edges are geodesics.
If $T$ can be moved around arbitrarily on $S$ ...
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Conceptual proof of classification of surfaces?
Every compact surface is diffeomorphic to $S^2$, $\underbrace{T^2\#\ldots \#T^2}_n$, or $\underbrace{RP^2\#\ldots \#RP^2}_n$ for some $n\ge 1$.
Is there a conceptual proof of this classification ...
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Is every closed curve in 3D a geodesic on a genus-0 surface?
Let $\gamma$ be a smooth, closed, unknotted curve embedded in $\mathbb{R}^3$.
Q. Does there always exist a smooth, embedded, genus-zero surface
$S \subset \mathbb{R}^3$
such that $\gamma$ is a (...
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Surprising properties of closed planar curves
In https://arxiv.org/abs/2002.05422 I proved with elementary topological methods that a smooth planar curve with total turning number a non-zero integer multiple of $2\pi$ (the tangent fully turns a ...
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Disc bounded by a plane curve
Let $\Sigma$ be a sphere topologically embedded into $\mathbb{R}^3$.
Is it always possible to find a disc $\Delta\subset\Sigma$ which is bounded by a plane curve?
It is easy to find an open disc ...
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Why is it so hard to prove Toeplitz' conjecture?
I'm a layman in mathematics, so please excuse me in advance for anything in this question that may be inappropriate :D. Well: Four years ago, I was reading (and working to solve the puzzles on) ...
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A problem on Gauss--Bonnet formula
While teaching a course in differential geometry, I came up with the following problem, which I think is cool.
Assume $\gamma$ is a closed geodesic on a sphere $\Sigma$ with positive Gauss curvature.
...
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What is the analog of the "Fundamental Theorem of Space Curves," for surfaces, and beyond?
The "Fundamental Theorem of Space Curves"
(Wikipedia link; MathWorld link)
states that there is a unique (up to congruence)
curve in space that simultaneously realizes
given continuous curvature $\...
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What is the best way explain to undergraduates that all 1-dimensional manifolds are orientable?
Let's suppose that $M$ is a connected $1$-dimensional smooth manifold (Haussdorf and paracompact). We know that there are exactly two types, up to diffeomorphism (even up to homeomorphism), namely $\...
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I found a (probably new) family of real analytic closed Bezier-like curves; is it publishable?
Given $n$ distinct points $\mathbf{x} = (\mathbf{x}_1, \ldots, \mathbf{x}_n)$ in the plane $\mathbb{R}^2$, I associate a real analytic map:
$f_{\mathbf{x}}: S^1 \to \mathbb{R}^2$
with the following ...
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How to detect a simple closed curve from the element in the fundamental group?
(1) Given a fundamental group representation of a hyperbolic surface, i.e. $<a_j,b_j|\prod[a_j,b_j]=1>$, and given an element in this group, can we determine whether this element can be ...
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On closed simple curve with curvature at most 1
I am looking for the reference to the following theorem.
I have to apply a similar statement, and it would be nice to trace the source.
Please note, I know few proofs in fact it is Problem 3 in my ...
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How useful/pervasive are differential forms in surface theory?
Every year I teach an introductory class on the differential geometry of surfaces, including numerical aspects (e.g., how to solve PDEs on surfaces). Historically this class has included an ...
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