Center of Mass Calculus 2 Integration

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of the center of mass for a uniform semicircle of radius R, focusing on the integration process in polar coordinates. Participants are examining the formulation of the integral used to compute the y-coordinate of the center of mass and questioning the presence of certain terms in the integral.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the formula for the y-coordinate of the center of mass and the corresponding integral in polar coordinates, questioning the inclusion of an additional y term and a sine function.
  • Another participant agrees with the first and reformulates the integral, expressing confusion about the necessity of the y term after converting to polar coordinates.
  • A third participant reiterates the confusion regarding the y term and suggests it might be a typo, indicating they could not derive it from the expression for y in polar coordinates.
  • Some participants propose that if the integral were to include y terms, it would need to be expressed differently, suggesting a potential error in the original computation.
  • There is a consensus among some participants that a typo is likely present in the original formulation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that there is likely a typo in the original integral formulation, but the exact nature of the error remains unresolved. There is no consensus on the correct formulation of the integral.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights potential limitations in understanding the transition from Cartesian to polar coordinates, particularly regarding the representation of the y-coordinate in the integral. The assumptions about the uniformity and symmetry of the semicircle are also implicit in the discussion.

Dustinsfl
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Uniform semi circle of radius R whose diameter is on the x axis.
Since it is uniform and symmetric on the x axis, x = 0.
For y, we have
$$
y_{cm} = \frac{\int y\sigma dA}{\frac{\pi R^2}{2}}
$$
In polar, $dA = rdrd\phi$.
So the integral becomes
$$
\int_0^{\pi}\int_0^R y^2\sin\phi drd\phi
$$
How did we end up with an additionally $y$ and a $\sin\phi$?
 
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dwsmith said:
Uniform semi circle of radius R whose diameter is on the x axis.
Since it is uniform and symmetric on the x axis, x = 0.
For y, we have
$$
y_{cm} = \frac{\int y\sigma dA}{\frac{\pi R^2}{2}}
$$
In polar, $dA = rdrd\phi$.
So the integral becomes
$$
\int_0^{\pi}\int_0^R y^2\sin\phi drd\phi
$$
How did we end up with an additionally $y$ and a $\sin\phi$?

In this case,

\[\int y\,dA = \int_0^{\pi}\int_0^R (r\sin\phi)r\,dr\,d\phi =\int_0^{\pi}\int_0^Rr^2\sin\phi\,dr\,d\phi.\]

I don't see why you should have $y$ in your integral once you've converted everything to polar.
 
Chris L T521 said:
In this case,

\[\int y\,dA = \int_0^{\pi}\int_0^R (r\sin\phi)r\,dr\,d\phi =\int_0^{\pi}\int_0^Rr^2\sin\phi\,dr\,d\phi.\]

I don't see why you should have $y$ in your integral once you've converted everything to polar.

Maybe it was a typo. I was solving $y = r\sin\phi$ for r and couldn't get anything like that.
 
I came to the same conclusion as Chris L T521, so my vote is for typo too.
 
dwsmith said:
Maybe it was a typo. I was solving $y = r\sin\phi$ for r and couldn't get anything like that.

If they wanted it to have y terms in there, the integral would have to be $\displaystyle\int_0^{\pi}\int_0^R y^2\csc\phi\,dr\,d\phi$, not $\displaystyle\int_0^{\pi}\int_0^R y^2\sin\phi\,dr\,d\phi$.

Either way, there's a typo somewhere in their computation.
 

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