How to calculate dA of a circle

[DDarthVader]

Homework Statement

Hello! I need to calculate a little fraction (dA) of the area of a circle (mass m and radius R and area A) and I have no idea how to do this.

Homework Equations

According to my textbook dm=\frac{M.dA}{A}=\sigma .dA and dA=R.dR.d\theta.

The Attempt at a Solution

Well, I tried to analyze the problem and my first thought was dA=\pi dR^2. This is obviously wrong so I tried to think a little bit more and this is what I got dA=R.dR... wrong again.
PS: is there a problem that I post here very often (create new topics)??

Thanks!

 

[Muphrid]

This is a calculus question.

Why does your circle have mass? Do you mean a disc?

You almost had it with dA = r \; dr, but you need to account for the angle. Think of it like this: start at a point (r,\theta). From there, add a small radial distance dr and a small angle d\theta. Doing so should define a small rectangle. One side is just dr, but the other side, based on the change in angle, depends on how far away you are from the center of the circle: that side length is r \; d\theta.

The small differential area dA is then just the product of the two side lengths of the (nearly) rectangular shape we have: (dr)(r \; d\theta) = r \; dr \; d\theta.

 

[DDarthVader]

Yes, sorry I was thinking about a disc. I think I got it now! Thank you for the answer and sorry for posting this question in the wrong forum.