Question #140049
If f:R^n-->R is a smooth function, define hypersurface f(x)=c for some constant c, then prove velocity vector is orthogonal to the normal vector i.e <\nabla f(p),v_{\gamma}(p)>=0
1
Expert's answer
2020-10-26T19:58:12-0400

We have been provided that f:RnRf:\R^n\rightarrow \R is C\mathscr{C}^{\infty} . let us define the level set by


Mf:={xRn:f(x)=c}M_f:=\{\vec x\in \R^n:f(\vec x)=c\}

Let γ:(a,b)Rn\gamma:(a,b)\rightarrow \R^n is smooth path such that tγ(t)t\mapsto\gamma(t) , for t(a,b),a,bRt\in (a,b),a,b\in \R which passes through MfM_f . let γ(θ)=pRn\gamma(\theta)=p\in\R^n for θ(a,b)\theta\in (a,b) and denote vγ(p)=γ(θ)v_{\gamma}(p)=\gamma'(\theta) is velocity vector passes through pp .

Thus, by chain rule we get,


ddt[f(γ(t))]=f(γ(t))vγ(p)\frac{d}{dt}[f(\gamma(t))]=f'(\gamma(t))v_{\gamma}(p)

Since, f:URn\nabla f:U\rightarrow \R^n is smooth map from open set UU to Rn\R^n such that

f(x)=(D1f(x),...,Dnf(x))\nabla f(\vec x)=(D_1f(\vec x),...,D_nf(\vec x))

Thus, f(γ(t))T=f(γ(t))\nabla f(\gamma(t))^T=f'(\gamma(t)) , Hence, we get

ddt[f(γ(t))]=f(γ(t))vγ(p)=ddt(c)=0    <f(p),vγ(p)>=0\frac{d}{dt}[f(\gamma(t))]=f'(\gamma(t))v_{\gamma}(p)=\frac{d}{dt}(c)=0\\ \implies <\nabla f(p),v_{\gamma}(p)>=0

Therefore f(p)&vγ(p)\nabla f(p)\&v_{\gamma}(p) orthogonal to each other.

We are done.


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