noncurved

Noncurved is an adjective used to describe objects, lines, or surfaces that do not bend or bend in a uniform manner. In everyday language it denotes straightness or flatness, contrasting with forms that exhibit curvature.

In geometry and related fields, curvature is a measure of how a shape deviates from being flat or straight. A straight line has zero curvature everywhere; a plane is flat and has zero Gaussian curvature. Surfaces can have curvature in one or both principal directions, and thus may be described as curved or noncurved depending on the context. In general usage, noncurved may be applied to features that are straight in outline or flat in surface.

In practical terms, noncurved features are sought in design, construction, and manufacturing for simplicity, predictability, and ease of fabrication. Roads, rails, and architectural panels that do not bend are termed noncurved; curved elements require different fabrication, such as bending radii or curved molds.

Limitations: The term is informal and may be ambiguous without context, since some surfaces may be flat yet locally curved in one direction (as with a cylinder) or may be part of a curved overall geometry. In precise discourse, it is preferable to specify the precise type of curvature being referred to, such as zero Gaussian curvature for surfaces or zero curvature in a given direction for curves.

See also: curvature; straight line; developable surface; plane; geometry.