Can torsion be negative?

296 Views Asked by At

If $B$ denotes the binormal vector, $S$ denotes the arc length, $\tau$ denotes torsion, and $N$ denotes principal normal vector, then,

$$\frac{dB}{dS} = -\Bigg|\frac{dB}{dS}\Bigg|N = -\tau N$$

So if $\tau$ is the magnitude of $\frac{dB}{dS}$, i.e. a modulus value, then how can it be negative? It is written here that "if torsion is positive, the curve "turns" to the side to which binormal vector points. If torsion is negative, the curve "turns" to the opposite side."

1

There are 1 best solutions below

9
On

The definition of the torsion of the question, i.e. $$\frac{dB}{dS} = -\Bigg|\frac{dB}{dS}\Bigg|N = -\tau N$$ is not correct.

What is correct is that

$$\tau = -\frac{dB}{dS} \cdot N.$$ With this correct definition, the torsion can be positive as well as negative. See wikipedia for additional details.