Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2006 / ii / Paper 4 / 24H / a / Solution

Let $J$ be rotation by ninety degrees in the oriented tangent plane, $Jv=N\times v$. In local coordinates seek a curve withThis smooth second-order ordinary differential equation, written as a first-order system for $(x,\dot{x})$, has a unique local solution with the specified initial position and velocity. Its speed is constant, sinceThe initial speed is one, so the parameter is arc-length and the signed geodesic curvature is $⟨{\nabla }_s\dot{\gamma },J\dot{\gamma }⟩=\lambda$. Conversely every requested curve satisfies this system, which proves the claimed uniqueness as well as existence on some $(-ϵ,ϵ)$.