Catenoid Minimal Surface

Written by Paul Bourke

December 2000

x = c cosh(v/c) cos(u)
y = c cosh(v/c) sin(u)
z = v

0 <= u <= 2pi
-infinity <= v <= infinity

The catenoid is the only minimal surface (zero mean curvature) that is also a surface of revolution. It was first documented by Leonhard Euler around 1740 making it the oldest documented minimal surface.