Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2023/ib/paper-3/12e/solution

Write , , , and let be the first fundamental form. Since
differentiating and , or equivalently taking the two inner products of the second formula with , gives
The matrix is invertible because is a regular embedded surface parametrization. Consequently the two geodesic equations hold exactly when is orthogonal to both tangent vectors and , which says precisely that is a normal vector. This is the ambient acceleration criterion for a surface geodesic.
Because is tangent and is normal,
Thus an affinely parametrized geodesic has constant speed, as recorded by constant speed of an affinely parametrized geodesic.
For a surface of revolution, use profile arc length and azimuth . Its Riemannian metric is
The azimuth is an ignorable coordinate, so the corresponding geodesic equation has the first integral
If and is the oriented angle with the parallel, then the component of velocity along the parallel is
Since is constant,
This is the Clairaut first integral for a surface of revolution.

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