Areas and Lengths in Polar Coordinates

In summary, to find the area of the region enclosed by one loop of the curve r = sin(10θ), the equation A = (1/2)r^2 dθ can be used. Using the half angle formula, the integral can be rewritten as A = (1/2) integral (pi/10 to 0) (sin(10θ))^2 dθ. After simplifying and evaluating the integral, the area is equal to pi/8.
  • #1
JSGhost
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Homework Statement


Find the area of the region enclosed by one loop of the curve.
r = sin(10θ)

I can't seem to get the correct answer...I checked every step. I was not sure what to integrate from but the polar graph of sin(10θ) should be similar to polar graph of sin(2θ). From pi/2 to 0?

Homework Equations


A = integral(b to a) (1/2)r^2 dθ

half angle formula
(sinθ)^2 = (1/2)(1-cos2θ)dθ

The Attempt at a Solution


A = integral(b to a) (1/2)r^2 dθ = integral(pi/2 to 0) (1/2)r^2 dθ

A = (1/2) integral(pi/2 to 0) (sin(10θ))^2 dθ
A = (1/2) integral(pi/2 to 0) (1/2)(1-cos(20θ))dθ
A = (1/4) integral(pi/2 to 0) (1-cos(20θ))dθ
A = (1/4) [(θ-(1/20)sin(20θ)] (pi/2 to 0)
A = (1/4) [(pi/2-(1/20)sin(20*(pi/2)) - (0 - 0)]
A = (1/4)* (pi/2) = pi/8
 
Last edited:
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  • #2
Nevermind. I figured it out. Integrating from pi/10 to 0. Thanks.
 

1. What are polar coordinates and how do they differ from Cartesian coordinates?

Polar coordinates are a coordinate system that uses a distance from the origin (known as the radius) and an angle from a fixed reference direction (known as the polar angle) to locate a point in a plane. They differ from Cartesian coordinates in that they use a different set of variables to represent a point's location, making them useful for describing circular or rotational motion.

2. How do you convert between polar and Cartesian coordinates?

To convert from polar to Cartesian coordinates, use the following formulas:
x = r cos θ
y = r sin θ
where r is the radius and θ is the polar angle. To convert from Cartesian to polar coordinates, use the following formulas:
r = √(x² + y²)
θ = tan⁻¹ (y/x)
where x and y are the coordinates in the Cartesian system.

3. What is the equation for finding the area in polar coordinates?

The equation for finding the area in polar coordinates is A = ½ ∫ab r² dθ, where r is the distance from the origin and θ is the polar angle. This formula is derived from the formula for finding the area of a sector of a circle (A = ½r²θ) and the fact that a polar curve can be broken down into infinitesimal sectors.

4. How do you find the length of a curve in polar coordinates?

To find the length of a curve in polar coordinates, use the formula L = ∫ab √(r² + (dr/dθ)²) dθ, where r is the radius and dr/dθ is the derivative of r with respect to θ. This formula is derived from the Pythagorean theorem and the arc length formula for a curve (L = ∫√(1 + (dy/dx)²) dx).

5. Can you use polar coordinates to describe three-dimensional objects?

No, polar coordinates are only used to describe points in a two-dimensional plane. To describe three-dimensional objects, you would need to use a coordinate system such as Cartesian coordinates, cylindrical coordinates, or spherical coordinates.

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