Example 1: An Elliptical Helix

Parametric curve for an ellipse

> x := 2*cos(2*Pi*t);

> y := 5*sin(2*Pi*t);

> z := t;

> PARAM := t = 0..2;

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Plot of curve

> spacecurve( [x,y,z, PARAM], scaling=constrained, axes=framed );

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Animated plot of the curve with animated velocity and acceleration vectors

> #animatemotion3d( x, y, z, PARAM, frames=18 ); # default scene is [R,V,A]

Note: This plot is omitted because the (unscaled) velocity and acceleration vectors dominate the picture.

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Animated plot with position (R), unit tangent (T), principal unit normal (N), and unit binormal (B) vectors:

> animatemotion3d( x, y, z, PARAM, scene=[R,T,N,B], frames=18 );

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