How Is Work Calculated Along a Semicircle in Vector Calculus?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the work done along the semicircle defined by the equation (x-1)² + y² = 1, from the point (0,0,0) to (2,0,0), using vector calculus. The force vector is given as F = r³cos²φsinφâhat{r} + r³cosφcos(2φ)âhat{φ}. The participant initially attempted to convert the equation to cylindrical coordinates and compute the work using the integral W = ∫F·dr, but encountered discrepancies in the results. Corrections were suggested regarding the expression for dr and the integration path, emphasizing the need to follow the upper semicircle where y > 0.

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HeisenbergW
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Homework Statement


Find the work done along the semicircle (x-1)2+y2=1 from the point (0,0,0) to (2,0,0)
When F=r3cos2φsinφ\hat{r} + r3*cosφ*cos(2φ) \hat{φ}

Homework Equations


Work
W=∫F*dr
where dr=dr= dr\hat{r} + rsinφdφ\hat{φ}

The Attempt at a Solution



I convert the equation of the line (x-1)2+y2=1 to cylindrical coordinates.
Where x=rsinφ
and y=rcosφ
so (x-1)2+y2=1
eventually becomes r=2cosφ

now i plug in this r value into the force vector given, which gives me F=8cos5φsinφ\hat{r} + 8*cos4φ*cos(2φ) \hat{φ}

W=∫F*dr

So now i dot product this with the dr, which is now dr= dr\hat{r} + 2cosφ
sinφdφ\hat{φ} due to the r value I found.

The dot product comes out to be

∫8cos5φsinφdr + 16*cos5φ*cos(2φ)sinφdφ

and because r=2cosφ, dr=-2sinφ dφ

so this is once again plugged into the integral of the dot product, creating

∫-16cos5φsin2φdφ + 16*cos5φ*cos(2φ)sinφdφ

where I integrate from pi/2 to 0, since it ends at x=2 and y=0, but begins at x=0 and y=0

This gives me -4/35, which does not seem to be a correct answer
Any mistakes?
Any help is appreciated
Thank You in advance
 
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HeisenbergW said:
where dr=dr= dr\hat{r} + rsinφdφ\hat{φ}

The equation is not correct.The second terms has to be rdφ\hat{φ}.
And make the vector \vec{dr} different from dr, change of the coordinate r.


ehild
 
For d\vec{r} I actually left out the second term, which is the elevation angle, since it is constant. I guess I should have clarified that I am using this in spherical coordinates, but I did produce a typo It should be
dr\hat{r}+rsinθd\varphi\hat{\varphi}.
Which of course just simplifies to
dr\hat{r}+rd\varphi\hat{\varphi}
because θ constantly equals pi/2
So you can ignore the lone sin at the end of the force vector, since it goes to one. Yet it still goes to a negative value unfortunately.
 
The integration path is not clear: You can reach from (0.0,0) to (2,0,0) along the upper semicircle or the bottom one, yielding integrals of opposite signs.

ehild
 
My apologies, we must go along the circle where y>0
 
The integral is negative then.

ehild
 

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