Circle of Curvature and Radius of Curvature


Introduction

Circle of curvature is a circle that "fit" the curve at a point. If the curve is turning sharply, the radius of curvature is small and if the curve is turning slowly, the radius of curvature is large. Applet 1 shows change of the radius of curvature on y=cos x. Applet 2 shows a method to find the circle of a curvature at (0,1) on y=cos x.

Applet 1






Applet 2