Shortest Distance Between Two Points on the Surface of

a Cone Given a cone with a half angle whose axis of symmetry is the z
axis, using polar cylindrical coordinates, the distance between two points that
are dierentially separated is
q
ds = dz 2 + d 2 + 2 d 2 :
z and
Hence

are related via z = = tan ; which implies dz = d = tan

q
q
ds =
cot2 d 2 + d 2 + 2 d 2 = d 2 = sin2
q
1
ds =
d 2 + sin2 2 d 2 :
sin

= cot d :

2d 2;

The distance between two points can be represented in two dierent ways.
(1) In this method the total distance is given by
L=

1
sin

q
1 + sin2

2 02 d

where 0 = d =d : This integrand, f , is independent of

Lagrange equation is

This implies

2 0

sin

2 02

1 + sin2

where

@f
d @f
sin 2
d
p
=
0 =
@
d @
d
1 + sin2

is a constant. Solving for

4 02

sin2
2

2
o

This leads to the integral

Z
sin
d =(

= 0:

o;

results in
1 + sin2

2
o

2 02

sin

d
=
d
sin

2 02

: Hence the Euler-

po

o ) sin

=
2
o

2 02

2
o;

d
2

2
o

This integral is easily performed with the substitution

=

o = cos

2
o

2
o

tan2 ; and d =d =

tan = cos :

The integral now becomes

Z

o ) sin

o ) sin

cos

(
1

cos )

tan
d =
cos o tan
o

( o= ) :

Choosing the initial point to lie at

d =

= 0; the curve for the shortest distance is

cos ( sin ) =

o:

Some care must be taken here as it is necessary that the range in

or else it is shorter to go the opposite way around the cone.

is less than

(2) In this method the total distance is given by

Z

1
L=
sin

02

+ sin2

2d

where 0 = d =d : Since the integrand, f; is independent of the independent

variable the rst integral of the Euler- Lagrange equation is
0

@f
=
@ 0

a constant. The expression becomes

q
0
1
02 + sin2
2
p
sin
sin

Multiplying by
to

1
sin

02

+ sin2

02

+ sin2

sin

o;

0
02

+ sin2

o:

and squaring both sides of the equation leads

02

sin

02

sin2

2
02
o
2 02
o

2
o

2
o

sin
p
2

Separating and Integrating this expression yields

Z
d
p
(
)
sin
=
o
o

+ sin2

+ sin2

2
o

2;
2

d
:
d

This is the same integral as that obtained in method (1), hence the same curve,
cos ( sin ) =

o: