|
Example: Let for . Then, the parametric representation of the opposite curve is given by for .
Orientation of a curve: Let be a curve with the parametrization for . As increases from to , the points moves continuously from to in a specific direction which we indicate by drawing arrows along the curve. This direction is called the orientation (or natural orientation) of the curve induced by the parametrization for .
Positive/Negative Orientation: Let be a simple closed contour with the parametrization for . If is parametrized so that the interior bounded domain of is kept on the left as moves around , then we say that is oriented in the positive (counterclockwise or anticlockwise) sense; otherwise, is oriented negatively (clockwise).
Examples: The circle for is oriented positively. The circle for is oriented negatively.
Note: If a simple closed curve is positively oriented, then the opposite curve is negatively oriented. If the orientation (or parametrization) of a simple closed curve is not given, then it is understood that the simple closed curve is oriented positively. |
|