Whitney curves revisited (Q2496994)

Let \(\gamma\in \mathbb{R}^n\) be a simple arc; \(\gamma\) is said to be a 1-critical arc if there exists a \(C^1\) function on \(\mathbb{R}^n\) which is not constant on \(\gamma\) and \(f'(x)= 0\) for each \(x\in\gamma\); \(\gamma\) is said to be a Whitney arc, if there exists a non-constant real function \(f\) on \(\gamma\) such that \[ \lim_{y\to x,y\in \gamma}(|f(y)- f(x)|/|y- x|)= 0\quad\text{for each }x\in\gamma.\tag{1} \] Theorem 1. There exists a Whitney arc \(\gamma\in\mathbb{R}^2\) which is not 1-critical. Moreover, there exists no non-constant Lipschitz function \(f\) on \(\gamma\) which satisfies (1). Theorem 2. There exists a simple arc \(\gamma\subset\mathbb{R}^2\) such that each subarc of \(\gamma\) is a Whitney arc, but each function satisfying (1) on \(\gamma\) is locally constant on a relatively open dense subset of \(\gamma\).