MathGroup Archive 2005

[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]

Search the Archive

Re: Surface Normal

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg55173] Re: Surface Normal
  • From: dh <dh at metrohm.ch>
  • Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 05:35:49 -0500 (EST)
  • References: <d15s2g$9k2$1@smc.vnet.net>
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Hi Rick,
here is how you get the normal to a parametrized surface:

x = (10 + 5Cos[v])Cos[u]  (* your surface *)
y = (10 + 5Cos[v])Sin[u]
z = 5Sin[v]

r = {x, y, z}; (*3D position vecto of your surface*)
ru = D[r, u]; (*Tangential vector in direction u*)
rv = D[r, v];(*Tangential vector in direction v*)
n = Cross[ru, rv]; (* normal *)
nn = n/Sqrt[n.n]; (* normalized normal *)

Daniel

gouqizi.lvcha at gmail.com wrote:
> Hi, All:
> 
> If I have a surface in parametric form
> 
> For example,
> x = (10 + 5cosv)cosu
> y = (10 + 5cosv)sinu
> z = 5sinv
> 
> How can I quickly calculate its normal for any (u,v) by mathematica
> 
> Rick
> 


  • Prev by Date: Re: Weird behavior of NumberForm in ver 5.1
  • Next by Date: Re: Question to the world: Do you want an computer algebra program with a true GUI?
  • Previous by thread: Re: Surface Normal
  • Next by thread: Re: Surface Normal