A directional curvature formula for convex bodies in \(\mathbb{R}^n\) (Q2236057): Difference between revisions

Let \(F\) be a compact convex set in \(\mathbb{R}^n\), with the origin in its interior, let \(P\) be a point on its boundary; the neighbourhood of \(P\) is given by an implicit equation. An important question is then to calculate the curvature (and the curvature radius) of \(F\) nearby \(P\). In particular one wants to know the directional curvature, i.e. the curvature when one starts at \(P\) and walk towards a given direction. To find a precise [and easy to use] formula for the curvature, the author considers the intersection curve between the boundary of \(F\) and a suitable plane, but the (usually) tangential plane is avoided. Technically, \(F\) is embedded into the epigraph of the functional \(f\) what enables to calculate the directional curvature by the use of \(f\) and its gradient. Of course it is shown that the new formula is equivalent to the existing formula for implicit spatial curves and some concrete examples are presented.