Math 150B, Homework Assignment #1, due April 12, 2018

From the textbook, do problems 5.2.2 (use the F=0 version of the geodesic equations
given just above the problem), 5.2.4 (use everything given in the hint, even if we never
proved it in 150A), and 6.2.3 (wait until we define covariant derivatives. An “orthogonal
patch” means that F=0).
Note: problem 5.2.2 seems not to be strictly correct for all geodesics. You may need to
assume that neither u' nor v' vanishes along the curve.

In addition:

1. Let M be the cone with equation z2 = 3(x2+y2).

The opening angle at the vertex (0,0,0) of this cone is p/3 (check this and the other
assertions I’m about to make). The plane z=Ö3/2 intersects the cone in a circle C of
diameter 1. Let P and Q be points on this circle located diametrically opposite each
other. They are each 1 unit from the cone’s vertex, and the distance from P to Q along
the circle C is p/2.
(a) What is the distance from P to Q along the geodesic of M joining them?
(b) How close to the vertex does this geodesic get?

2. Again using the F=0 geodesic equations:

(a) If all the u-coordinate curves are geodesics, show that E depends only on u and
not on v. (Surfaces of revolution have this property, for example.)
(b) If in addition all the v-coordinate curves are geodesics, show that the surface
is flat.

3. Consider the standard spherical coordinate parametrization of the unit sphere,

x(θ,ϕ ) = (sin θ cos ϕ,sin θ sin ϕ,cos θ ) . Then xq and xj are tangent vector fields
(except at the poles). At an arbitrary point (q,j), compute the covariant
derivatives Ñxq xq and Ñxj xq . (Each of them should be a tangent vector itself.)