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Line of Curvature

A curve on a surface whose tangents are always in the direction of Principal Curvature. The equation of the lines of curvature can be written

\begin{displaymath}
\left\vert\matrix{g_{11} & g_{12} & g_{22}\cr
b_{11} & b_{12} & b_{22}\cr
du^2 & -du\,dv & dv^2\cr}\right\vert=0,
\end{displaymath}

where $g$ and $b$ are the Coefficients of the first and second Fundamental Forms.

See also Dupin's Theorem, Fundamental Forms, Principal Curvatures




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-25