Find the Length of a Curve with x=cos(t) and y=t+sin(t) from 0 to pi

[apoptosis]

Help in Curve Length Question :D

Homework Statement

Find the length of the curve where x=cos(t) and y=t+sin(t) where 0\leqt\leq\pi

Homework Equations

\sqrt{(dx/dt)^2+(dy/dt)^2}

x=cos(t)
dx/dt=-sin(t)

y=t+sin(t)
dy/dt=1+cos(t)

The Attempt at a Solution

\sqrt{(-sin(t))^2+(1+cost(t))^2}
\sqrt{(sint)^2+1+2cost+(cos(t))^2}
\sqrt{2+2cos(t)}dt

where I am stuck is how to do substitution to find the length of the curve.

I found the antiderivative:
(-1/3sint)(2+2cost)^(3/2) but when I substitute the limits pi and zero I get a length of zero
any pointers to get me in the right direction? thanks

 

[rock.freak667]

I do not not think you integrated correctly. Show how you got that please.

 

[apoptosis]

I do not not think you integrated correctly. Show how you got that please.

so, I substituted my two derivatives into the length equation, multiplied out my factors, and added sin(t)^2 with cos(t)^2 to get 1.
Thus, sqrt of 1+1+2cos(t)

is there a certain part of the integration that you see an error in?

 

[rock.freak667]

\int \sqrt{2+2cos(t)} dt

=\sqrt{2} \int \sqrt{1+cost} dt


=\sqrt{2} \int \sqrt{\frac{1-cos^2t}{1-cost} dt


=\sqrt{2} \int \sqrt{\frac{sin^2t}{1-cost} dt


=\sqrt{2} \int \frac{sint}{\sqrt{1-cost}} dt

Did you get that?


Let u=1-cost => du=sint dt

=\sqrt{2} \int u^{\frac{-1}{2}} du


= 2\sqrt{2}\sqrt{1-cost}

 

[apoptosis]

Oh, I see! It's matter of taking a further step and factoring out the \sqrt{2} from my initial integral.
One question, how did you go from 1+cost to (1-cost^2)/(1-cost)?

Thanks rockfreak. I'll try the question using that.

 

[Mystic998]

(a - b)*(a + b) = (a^2 - b^2). Always a good one to be able to quote off the top of your head.

 

[rock.freak667]

(a - b)*(a + b) = (a^2 - b^2). Always a good one to be able to quote off the top of your head.

yeah it's basically that.

Multiply the numerator and denominator by 1-cost

 

[dynamicsolo]

I might mention that this is one of those parametric curves where it is important to investigate its behavior before evaluating definite integrals to find arclengths. The integral from 0 to pi for this problem will give a non-zero value for the integral function rock.freak667 shows. However, you would be in trouble if you were asked to go from 0 to 2(pi) and naively used that function.

I believe this curve is a cycloid; you would have to use a symmetry argument to take the arclength you find in going from 0 to pi and then doubling that result. This is a frequent potential pitfall in evaluating arclengths and enclosed areas for periodic curves (polar curves such as the rosettes often present such difficulties).