Geodesics

Geodesic is the shortest

on a
surface curve
of
length connecting 2
points on the
surface
Geodesic on a
plane
y 1
·
B

O
> ze

Let A lu , y3
i
and Blue Ye) ,
be 2
points in the
xy plane of joining A
the
Then
length a curve

and B is
=
J ds =SV2 Hly' -

The
geodesic on the
my plane is the crae
y =

y(z)
which is least
for s

!
The
integrand f = 1 +
(y1)" is
dependent only on
y
Hence the Euler's becomes
eq

d
=
c

=1 p = =

y = c .
H(y)) = (y)) =
c 4 + y'Y)

(y) (1)
I
-
c
2y =
c

(y') <27
I

[i -
= C

m
(y) = c =

(say)
1 - c
 y = m

dy du
dete grating
= =
m

we get y
= mx + c
,

Geodesics
.: on a
plane are
straight lines
.

Geodesic on a right circular cylinder

12

B
&

A des

i
&

Fr
> Y

ze

Right circular
cylinde is characterized by the

i y a
equations + =

,
z = z

The parametric equations of right circular

cylinder
all acoso asino z z where is constant
y
n = : = a
, ,

The element distance

of the on the
surface of the
dx
cylinder becomes d = +
dy + dz
ds = a do + dz >
-

D
total
The
length of the crome on the
surface of
cylinder is
given by Oz

o
FSBds
+2) do =) I do
2

where
↓ =
 z > dependent variable
,
o >
-

independent variable

For curve to be shortest path I should be minimum

-
- (b)
=> = 0

Et = 0
,
E
= +
erz
/+ 2))
>
-
d
:
· 0- ) =

ie

Frigating constant
2

2
a

z"(l-2)
1
2(a 212)
ca
-

:
+

2 extremal of functional

a
is 2
C 0 + C2
=
=

,
Z
For
point and
any
on the
path ,
2 o

at rate
change same .

:. The Geodesics on
right circular
helix
cylinder is a .

Geodesics on a sphere
z
, 6)
(2, 0
x

·
O

·
.

ds
·
In
oI r-
y

radial distance
O >
-
polar angle
· azimuthal angle

The
spherical polar coordinates (2 ,
0
, 4) are
defined by
x =
2 sino corp rsinosing , y :
,
z = ecoso

dx =
cos0 cord do - esino sindd0 dy ,
= ecososimodo + rsino cord do
 dz = -
sino do

lies radius centered

#
the arc on a
sphere of a at

then
origin w = a

The elemental arc

length is
ds = (dx) + (dy)
"
+ (dz)= (dr)" + Gedo) + (rsinodo)
(do)
"
ds = a +
Kinodd)

(sino) o
31 (b) 23
ds =
a +

: :

a100
& It sino
(d)2yk do o

where
,
and
of are values
of o
corresponding to

and
the
points A B
.
respectively
[1 sin/d) 3
2

From Q ,
f = a +

↓ = a
31 (P1)since
+
,
&" =

A
to (h)
Euler becomes
The
equation ,
=

E 0! Eddiee
=

2 I + (P'sino
= O

=>
p'sino = b
,
a constant

1 + (0' sin o
2

=> (P's in o = b =21 (4)sinoly +

b
2
=>
(into -
b sino) (p) =

(b) ↓
2

=> : ↓
sinto-bino sino (sino by-
 d' =
b I b

- b2
sino sin o sino sin o
, (l-b/sin2o)
↓ = baseco = b coseco
(l + coto

-Score o
1 - b

↓
x -
b) -
boto

Integrating ,
we
get

J bcoseco
P =
do where e
It
,

cot
Sida-cost
Let b o = t e

=> - b coseco do : dt

...
0
fat
-
=

a - +
cos
& =

() + c

..
P : cos
/Ato) -1 -
b
-
+ c -S

③ is
equation of the
geodesic on the sphere
.

To
find geometrical nature
of sphere

8 cos(P -c) Cordcorc

boto
From =
= + sind sinte
&

= cot o = c
,
cosd +
-
sind consent in
=> coso = c
,
sinocord +
csino sinde
But a sinocord asinosing z a coro the
y
=
= : on
, ,

sphere 8 = a
,
& becomes

12 = c
,
x + <
, y
+
⑤ is plane through origin
 ⑤ represents crome
of
intersection
of this
plane with

sphere - = a
·

This che is called a GREAT CIRCLE

the
on
sphere .

: The
geodesics on the sphere are arcs
of
great circles.

SMALL 0 . >
-
GREAT CIRCLE
CIRCE

Godesic on a
right circular come

-2

A B
④

↓
-

>
y
-

Li

Consider circular vestex

the right come with

semivestical
langle
at and whose is
origin ↳ .

e
O: L .

The elemental arc as in sphorical

cordinates (2 ,
0
, ) is

ds =
dr + r do + Casinodl)"
Since O = 2 do=o
,
-

ds = -dr + (rsinodo
 do Resinao
=

(A)
=
+

when
I is
dependent variable and o is
independent
.
variable
ds = (2') + Esina] do

s = -(a) + Gina do

(2) Csinz independent t

of
Thus
f =

the
- +

Euler
is
becomes
.
g
.
e

exing. f-r A
I3
Ensinat
n+ = A

/
(i) + Esinc)" -1)) =
AX(R) Asind)
+

& sin 2 =
A (2) + (sind)
bs 24 sin2 A (1) + A isin' t
squaring >
.
.
- =

&sin (a sin 2 -
A4 = (i)
A r =
&sind : r sint-A2

A
dr =
Rsint a

A dr =
sin do

-In
·
 = Acascadi =

do
&
[ind)
-

Se
Integrating ,

*(
A
cored d (2) =
p + B

A cosecd .
I
A (2) =
0 + B

↑+ B = cosch sec
(
(b + B) sin2 =
sect
(
xec(Psina K) Bsin
side
= + K =

.. M = A cosecd sec/psinh + k) => Q

① is the
geodesic on
right circular come .

cable (chain)
Hanging
"A (x .
,
7)
·
BluecYz)

dS .

y
3

>
hanging freely
-

Consider under
a
heavy cable (a chain) suspended
gravity blw 2
fixed points -

Let Al
, %1) &
BKgifs) be a
fixed points of
 Conside elemental
suspension of the chain . an arc

ds at (x the cable.
length point , y) of
If S is
density of the cable
,
then the potential
energy of the element is migh =
(Sds)gy ,
where
y is
acceleration due to
gravity
.
Total potential cable
:
energy of the is

V =

(Sgyds =
1
q Je y I+
(y') du > =

We have to
find y
:
y(x) which makes U a minimum

does
From 0 ,
f
=

gy
1 +
(y)" not contain z

Eula's becomes
..
eq
6-y'Ef : constant

cy
Sgyrity) -y Ky
gy (y')
·

2
=
cat

1 + -

Ill-(
=

·
=
/
2-

y1
-
=

1 +
(y')
:
=>
y = C
/Hy")
=
y : c
[Ity'l I = c +
<ly')
Cy)
c
=

y
=

y =

+ y c
 y =

+ y -i

cdy = da

y -
c

Integrating
cost
c

(1) = x + a

corr() (a) =

catenary
Latin equivalent
is

.. :

ccosh/a) - of word chain

② represents a
catenary
. Thus the shape in

which cable (chain) would is catenary

a
hang a
.

The Brachistochrone problem (shortest time)

2
solved by Bernoulli in 1696
.

consider and lie vertical

2
points A B that in a

vertical line
plane but not on a
Suppose A
.

is at a
higher level than B and particle a

doon
moves
from A to i
purely under gravity
.

wish
We to
find the
particular path of the particle
(time)
along which the duration
of motion is shortest
This
problem is called the Brachistochrone problem 1
.

the name
being derived from the Greek words
brachistor
meaning shortest and chronos
meaning
time .
 A(0 03
,

> x

I
I
p
B(x , ,
y)

yv

at A = 10, 0) and B =
/x , yi) be the
points on the

xy-plane with
y-axis vertically .
downwards
starts rest
suppose the particle from from the
at and reaches the
point t time += 0 point
P(x , y) at time + >0
.
If s is arc
length along
A
path
ofmotion measuredisfrom
the then the relait
,
y
at time mass
of pati e
then

- the Kinetic energy(E) at 4is tm to iche

starte rest)
from
3) the potential energy
(P E ) at
I
. .

A = 0

4) the
potential energy
at P =

-mgy
According to law
of conservation
of energy
the

and the at all points

sum
of K E P E remains
.

same
: .
. .

Thus KE -
at A + P E - .

at A =
K E .
-

at P + P E . .
at P

=> 0 + o
+M/s) /
my
-

A velocity of particle
=> + at
P
12gy
=

Hence T
time
required by the particle to move

A is
from to B
given by
 se

Stdt
,
=
T des
S H+
/y') dx Q
= = I & >
-

29y
-
2gy
d = -1 + (y)du
We have to
find y =

y(m) which makes T

minimum
.

From 0
f (y') does not contain .
explicitly
<g
= 1 + i
,

y
Hence the Eule' equation is

f -Y' Et =
constant

by -

=> & ·
1 + (y))2 -

8
1 + X ky = constant
-

29y /
'Hy T
,
L
2q y -

-°
-

Ly')
-

=
= I constant
1 +
(1 -

29 -
y y
I+
ly') -

E 2

= 1 + ( -

x constant
=

129
T 1 +
(y )2
*

c ty H(y') 1

Hyp
- = C = =

=>
cy[( (y') I + = 1 = y
+
y(y) =

t
= y(y') =

+
-

Let 1 = Sa
c2 :
y (y') =
sa-y
 -
(y') = 2a -

y
y
=>
Y dy :
=
=> dy = dx

y
d
=>

saty dy =

-
(l-Cos0)
Let
y a
-y asino >
dy a sinodoo
=

= = =

= all-coso) a sinodo = dx

2a -

all-Coso

= Ja vi-coso a sinodo = dx

a + a coso
v

*Toro Xi coro
sino do
e
=>
a

&
/

= a / 1 - cos0) sino do =dx

1 - cost o

=> a (1-coso) sixo do =da

yo
= dx = a (1-coso) do
In
rating
teg b .
s we
get
n = ao-asino + b -
 Since when at A
y =
0 x = 0

using & and 8

,
we get b = 0

·
: = a (0-sino) >
-

② and together constitute parametric equations

of CYCLOID .

Thus
for particle moving in
a a vertical plane
least
purely under gravity the path , of
time

is a
cycloid .