In this book, we study the shape of different geometric objects (curves, surfaces, and knots) through small deformation: infinitesimal bending. The shape of geometric objects is determined by their geometric curvature as well as curvature-based functionals, which are referred to as energies. Different kinds of curvatures, their properties, and their influence on shape and energy are discussed. For the investigation of shape and energy, we use our own software visualization tools.We aim to offer a mathematical way of considering shape. That is, all the geometrical information that is invariant to translations, rotations, and size changes. A more flexible definition of shape takes into consideration the fact that we often deal with deformable shapes in reality. By allowing also isometric (or near-isometric) deformations, such as infinitesimal bending, the intrinsic geometry of the object will stay the same, while sub-parts might be located at very different positions in space.A special part of the book presents the construction of examples of unknots, as well as knots that can resist simplification by energy gradient and force evolution methods in programming models.
