Example 1.
First create a 2 dimensional manifold and define a metric on .
Compute the sectional curvature determined by the coordinate basis vectors and .
For 2-dimensional manifolds the sectional curvature coincides with the Gaussian curvature . Let us check this formula.
Example 2.
First create a 3 dimensional manifold and define a metric on .
Define a pair of vectors which span a generic tangent plane.
Calculate the curvature and sectional curvature. Note that the sectional curvature is independent of the parameters appearing in the vector fields and .
Since the metric has constant sectional curvature and the dimension of is , the sectional curvature is 1/6 the Ricci scalar.
Example 3.
We re-work the previous example in an orthonormal frame.
Calculate the sectional curvature.
Example 4.
First create a 3 dimensional manifold and define a metric on .
Define a pair of vectors which span a generic tangent plane.
Calculate the curvature and sectional curvature. In this example, the sectional curvature is dependent on the parameters appearing in the vector fields and .