Handbook

This unit will explore the metric structure of curves and surfaces, primarily in 3-dimensional Euclidean space. The major focus is on the various concepts of curvature and related notions, and the relationships between them. Curvature and torsion of a curve. First and second fundamental forms of a surface. Geodesic and normal curvatures of a curve on a surface. Gaussian, mean and principal curvatures of a surface. Important theorems relating these concepts. Links will be drawn with many other areas of mathematics, including real and complex analysis, linear algebra, differential equations, and general relativity.