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Unit Tangent Vector


The unit tangent vector to a differentiable regular curve r(t) is

 T^^(t)=(r^'(t))/(||r^'(t)||).

It points in the direction of increasing parameter and is independent of orientation-preserving reparameterizations. If the curve is parameterized by arc length s, then T^^=dr/ds. The derivative of T^^ with respect to arc length determines the curvature and principal normal direction.


See also

Frenet Formulas, Tangent Vector, Unit Normal Vector, Unit Vector

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References

Gray, A. Modern Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces with Mathematica, 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1998.

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Unit Tangent Vector." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/UnitTangentVector.html

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