Definition:Osculating Circle/Definition 1

Definition

Let $I \subseteq \R$ be an open subset of real numbers.

Let $\gamma : I \to \R^2$ be a curve defined by a twice differentiable vector-valued function.

Let $P$ be a point on $\gamma$.

Let $\kappa_P$ be the curvature of $\gamma$ at $P$.

Suppose $C$ is a circle such that:

$P \in C$

the tangent to $\gamma$ at $P$ is also a tangent to $C$ at $P$

the radius of $C$ at $P$ is equal to $\dfrac 1 {\size {\kappa_P} }$

the center of $C$ is on the inner (concave) side of $\gamma$.

Then $C$ is called the osculating circle of $\gamma$ at $P$.

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Also see

• Definition:Radius of Curvature
• Equivalence of Definitions of Osculating Circle

Sources

• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): curvature
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): curvature