Question

I am trying to plot a few points on the following picture in Mathematica:

ParametricPlot3D[
   {{u, v, (Cos[u] + Cos[v])/3}, {u, -1, (Cos[u] + Cos[0])/3}, 
   {5, v, (Cos[4] + Cos[v])/3}}, {u, -4, 4}, {v, 0, 8}, Axes -> False, 
 Boxed -> False, BoxRatios -> {8, 8, 1.5}]

(they should just look like dots on the surface)

What I was trying to do is enter the coordinates of the points manually on another graph using ListPointPlot3D, and then combine them using Show. But for some reason that isn’t working. Suggestions?

Also, I would like to add small vectors tangent to the surface in the x directions for the points I have plotted, but I have no idea on how to do that, so suggestions would be very much appreciated!

Answer 1

Perhaps this will help you get started on a solution. It plots 3 random points on the surface. You can change the number of points by setting nPoints. I don’t know how to plot tangents along x. But when you figure that out you can use Arrows, as suggested by @Verbeia.

nPoints = 3;
Show[ParametricPlot3D[{
       {u, v, (Cos[u] + Cos[v])/3}, 
       {u, -1, (Cos[u] + Cos[0])/3}, {5,  v, (Cos[4] + Cos[v])/3}}, 
       {u, -4, 4}, {v, 0, 8}, Axes -> False, 
       Boxed -> False, BoxRatios -> {8, 8, 1.5},
       PlotStyle -> Directive[Opacity[0.5]]],

     Graphics3D[{Red, PointSize[.025], 
         Point[Table[{u1 = RandomReal[{-3, 3}], v1 = RandomReal[{1, 7}], 
         (Cos[u1] + Cos[v1])/3}, {nPoints}]]}]]

Edit

The following dynamic variation makes use of @belisarius ‘s contribution:

Manipulate[
Show[ParametricPlot3D[{{u, v, (Cos[u] + Cos[v])/3} },
  {u, -4, 4}, {v, 0, 8}, Axes -> False, Boxed -> False, 
  BoxRatios -> {8, 8, 1.5},
  Mesh -> None,
  ImageSize -> {400, 300},
  PlotRange -> {{-4, 4}, {0, 8}},
  PlotRangePadding -> {{0, 1.4}, {0, 0}},
  PlotStyle -> Directive[Opacity[0.5]]],
Graphics3D[({Red, PointSize[.025], 
  Point@f[pt[[1, 1]], pt[[1, 2]]], Black, 
  Arrow[{f[pt[[1, 1]], pt[[1, 2]]], 
  f[pt[[1, 1]], pt[[1, 2]]] + D[f[t, pt[[1, 2]]], t] /. 
   t -> pt[[1, 1]]}]}]],
Grid[{{
  LocatorPane[Dynamic[pt],
  Dynamic[Graphics[{},
   PlotRange -> {{-4, 4}, {0, 8}},
   Frame -> True,
   ImageSize -> 160,
   FrameTicks -> {Range[-4, 4], Range[0, 8], None, None},
   FrameLabel -> {"u", "v"},
   GridLines -> {Range[-4, 4], Range[0, 8]},
   GridLinesStyle -> Directive[LightGray]]],
   {{-4, 0}, {4, 8}}]}}],
  {{pt, {{1, 2}}}, ControlType -> None},

  Initialization :> {f[u_, v_] := {u, v, (Cos[u] + Cos[v])/3};}]