Comp. Membranes & Shells Ex.

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Prof. Roger A. Sauer, 27.04.2016
1. Problem
Consider a vector v lying in the tangent plane of a surface S at some point x, such that
v = v a = v a . Show that the tensor i = a a a = a a a is the identity tensor
for surface vectors, i.e. iv = v. Further show that 1 = i + n n is the regular identity tensor
for general vectors.
2. Problem
Show that the contra-variant tangent vectors, defined from the relation a a = , where
is the Kronecker symbol, are given by a = a a . Further show that the contra-variant
components of the tangent plane vector v = v a are given by v = a v . Consider the
tensor = a a lying in the tangent plane. Show that the contra-variant components
are given by = a a , while the mixed components are given by = a and
= a .
3. Problem
Consider the surface defined by the mapping

r cos sin
x(, ) = r sin sin .
r cos

(1)

Determine:
(a) The name of this surface.
(b) The range of parameters and .
(c) The co-variant tangent vectors a , = 1, 2.
(d) The co-variant components of the metric tensor, a .
(e) The contra-variant components of the metric tensor, a .
(f) The contra-variant tangent vectors a .
(g) The normal vector n.
(h) The co-variant and contra-variant components of the curvature tensor, b and b .
(i) The mean curvature H and Gaussian curvature .
(j) The two principal curvatures 1 and 2 .
(k) The Christoffel symbols of the second kind .
(l) The co-variant derivative a; . Confirm that n a; = n a, .
4. Problem
Repeat problem 3 for the surface defined by the mapping

(R + r cos ) cos
x(, ) = (R + r cos ) sin , for R > r .
r sin

(2)

Further, identify surface regions in terms of the surface coordinates that are elliptic, parabolic
or hyperbolic. Are there any umbilical points, where the principal curvature are equal?
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