Consider a line L in R^3 in the shape of a trefoil knot. Consider the surface S that is the union of all unit circles that have centers on this line and whose tangent vectors are all perpendicular to the tangent vector of L at the cirle's center. S does not intersect itself.

What is the shortest possible length of L?

Consider a line L in R^3 in the shape of a trefoil knot. Consider the surface S that is the union of all unit circles that have centers on this line and whose tangent vectors are all perpendicular to the tangent vector of L at the cirle's center. S does not intersect itself.

What is the shortest possible length of L?