# Arc length of vector function with trigonometric components

## Homework Statement

Find the length of the path traced out by a particle moving on a curve according to the given equation during the time interval specified in each case.
r(t) = (c2/a)cos3t i + (c2/b)sin3t j

where i and j are the usual unit vectors, 0 $\leq$ t $\leq$ 2$\pi$, c2 = a2 - b2, and 0 < b < a

Also, r(t) is the position vector-valued function of t. Scalar functions will not be bolded.

## Homework Equations

I know that the arc length in this case is the integral of ||r'(t)|| = v(t) from 0 to 2$\pi$.

## The Attempt at a Solution

Differentiating gives: r'(t) = (-3c2/a)cos2t sin t i + (3c2/b)sin2t cos t j.

Therefore, v(t) = √{(9c4/a2)cos4t sin2t + (9c4/b2)sin4t cos2t)} = √{(9c4/a2)cos2t(cos2t sin2t) + (9c4/b2)sin2t(sin2t cos2t)} =

√{(9c4/a2)cos2t(0.25sin22t) + (9c4/b2)sin2t(0.25sin22t)} = √{(9c4/a2)cos2t(0.25sin22t) + (9c4/b2)sin2t(0.25sin22t)} =

(3c2/2)(sin2t)*√{(1/a2)cos2t + (1/b2)sin2t} = (3c2/(2ab))(sin2t)*√{(b2)cos2t + (a2)sin2t}

And that is where I get stuck. I'm not sure what the integral of that expression is, nor do I know what I can do to simplify it further. I would say that it has no simple solution, since the argument under the square root looks an awfully lot like an integral for an ellipse, and I have heard one needs something called an "elliptic integral" to solve. However, the answer for this problem is quite simple: (4a3-4b3)/(ab). Will someone please help me with this?

Last edited:

tiny-tim
Homework Helper
Hi Subdot!

(have a square-root: √ )
(3c2/2)(sin2t)*Sqrt {(1/a2)cos2t + (1/b2)sin2t} = (3c2/(2ab))(sin2t)*Sqrt {(b2)cos2t + (a2)sin2t}

I'm not sure what the integral of that expression is …

Use standard trigonometric identities to write it as sin2t f(cos2t)

Hello! Oh! I get it now. I just use the identities: sin2 = .5 - .5cos2t and cos2 = .5 + .5cos2t after which I do a simple substitution. Thanks for that! On another related note, now it's obvious that I'm going to need to integrate it a step over the interval at a time.

[(1/(ab)) (.5b2 + (.5b2 - .5a2)cos(2t) + .5a2)1.5] from 0 to 2$\pi$. If I try to integrate it from 0 to .5$\pi$ then from .5$\pi$ to $\pi$ and so on I come up with (2a3 - 2b3)/(ab) + (2b3 - 2a3)/(ab). I'm guessing from the answer that I am justified in flipping that last fraction around to (2a^3 - 2b^3)/(ab). However, I'd like to know why, so I'll be able to do it in the future without knowing the answer. I think it's because the arc length must be positive and so I must flip (b3 - a3)/(ab) to (a3 - b3)/(ab) because b < a? So then do you take the absolute value of the integral as you move up the interval, not the integrand, when you find arc length?

Dick