Surface area of a polar equation

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on setting up integrals to calculate the surface area of a polar equation, specifically the curve defined by r = 1 + sin(4Θ) for 0 ≤ Θ ≤ 2π. The surface area of revolution about the x-axis is expressed as S = ∫ 2πy ds, where ds is the arc length derived from parametric equations. The participants clarify the need to substitute the correct variables and derive ds using the formulas for dx/dΘ and dy/dΘ. Additionally, the formula for rotation about the y-axis is confirmed to be analogous, substituting y with x.

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  • Understanding of polar coordinates and equations
  • Familiarity with parametric equations and their derivatives
  • Knowledge of integral calculus, specifically surface area of revolution
  • Ability to manipulate trigonometric identities and functions
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Ironmaningell
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Hello, the problem I'm working on is to find and set up the integral whose value is the area of the surface obtained by rotating the curve about the x-axis, then another integral to find the surface area by rotating about the y-axis. I do not need to evaluate these integrals, just set them up. (I'm sorry I'm not using prper variable and notation signs in some parts, I'm worried about them not showing up correctly.)

r = 1 + sin(4*Θ)
where 0<= Θ <= 2pi

I understand that I can find surface area of parametric equations using
S = ʃ 2(pi)y sqrt([dx/dt]² + [dy/dt]²) dt
(a->b)

I'm also familiar with:
x = r cos(Θ)
y = r sin(Θ)
r = sqrt(x² + y²)
Θ = tan(y/x)

And lastly, with all my efforts, basically all I did was write a bunch of stuff down and hope something jumped out at me.

I drew a triangle and labeled it...(you can laugh at my attempt to draw it, you can also tell where theta is supposed to go)

.
|\
y | \ r = 1 + sin(4Θ) = sqrt(x² + y²)
| \
----`
x

and so sin(Θ) = y / (1 + sin(4Θ))
and sin(Θ) = y / (sqrt(x² + y²))

1 + sin(4Θ) = sqrt(x² + y²)

but it turns out I don't really know what I'm doing, I have no direction. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks a lot!
 
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The surface area obtained by rotating the curve about the x-axis is given by

\int 2\pi y ds

Your formula is correct, but your parameter is \theta and not t.

So if you substitute in it..you could easily get a formula for it.
 
Wait...I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean. Could you elaborate a little further? I think my question is substitute what for what?
 
Last edited:
Ironmaningell said:
Wait...I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean. Could you elaborate a little further?

my bad if I wasn't too clear.

Let x=rcos\theta;y=rsin\theta

The surface area of revolution is given by

\int 2\pi y ds

So we need to find ds (arc length)

in parametric form:

ds = \sqrt{\left (\frac{dx}{d\theta}\right ) ^2 + \left (\frac{dy}{d\theta}\right ) ^2} d\theta

\frac{dx}{d\theta}=\frac{dr}{d\theta}cos\theta}-rsin\theta

<br /> \frac{dy}{d\theta}=\frac{dr}{d\theta}sin\theta}+rcos\theta

\left (\frac{dx}{d\theta}\right ) ^2 + \left (\frac{dy}{d\theta}\right ) ^2<br /> <br /> = (\frac{dr}{d\theta}cos\theta}-rsin\theta)^2 + (\frac{dr}{d\theta}sin\theta}+rcos\theta)^2

(\frac{dr}{d\theta})^2cos^2\theta -2r\frac{dr}{d\theta}cos\theta sin\theta +r^2sin^2\theta + (\frac{dr}{d\theta})^2 sin^2\theta+ 2r\frac{dr}{d\theta}cos\theta sin\theta + r^2cos^2\theta

(long and tedious) simplifies to

r^2+ \left( \frac{dr}{d\theta}\right )^2

But end story is

ds= \sqrt{r^2 +\left( \frac{dr}{d\theta} \right )^2} d\theta
 
Yuck. Haha, thanks so much for the help, saved the day for me. I think I understand now.

But let me ask one more question, in the original formula
\int 2\pi y ds
what would I do with that y variable? Leave it as a variable? Wouldn't that leave the result still with y, r, and theta?

And what if I wanted to rotate about the y-axis instead of the x axis? Is the formula the same, except with x instead of y?

It appears that I'm getting tired from doing these problems all day...
 
Last edited:
y=rsin\theta

if around the y-axis then yes.
 
Oh, right, that makes sense. Thanks again for all your help friend, you've been a great help.
 
No problem.
 

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