Surface area of a rotated curve

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SUMMARY

The surface area of the curve defined by the equation y = 3x^3, when rotated about the x-axis from x = 0 to x = 9, can be calculated using the integral formula for surface area. The correct parametric equations are x = x₀, y = 3x₀³cos(θ), z = 3x₀³sin(θ). The surface area integral is expressed as 2π ∫₀⁹ (3x³)√(1 + 81x⁴) dx, which simplifies the calculation by incorporating the radius and height of the surface. This method is confirmed to be effective for finding the desired surface area.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of parametric equations in three-dimensional space
  • Knowledge of surface area calculations for rotated curves
  • Familiarity with integral calculus, specifically double integrals
  • Ability to compute partial derivatives and cross products
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of surface area formulas for rotated curves
  • Learn about parametric equations and their applications in calculus
  • Explore the computation of double integrals in polar coordinates
  • Investigate the use of numerical methods for evaluating complex integrals
USEFUL FOR

Mathematics students, calculus instructors, and professionals in engineering or physics who are involved in surface area calculations and parametric modeling of curves.

glid02
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Here's the question:
Find the area of the surface obtained by rotating the curve

http://ada.math.uga.edu/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/18/d733a6e52ad8ca260230969bdc3f401.png

from x=0 to x=9 about the x-axis.

I'm supposed to parametrize the curve, using rcos(theta) as x and rsin(theta) as y, at least I think I am.

That would give f(x,y) = 3rcos^3(theta),rsin(theta)

Then find the partial derivatives with respect to r and theta and find their cross product. Then find the magnitude of the cross product and integrate with limits int[0-2pi] int[0-9].

Is this right? I can't find any information on the internet to do it this way and the book isn't much help either.

Thanks.
 
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glid02 said:
Here's the question:
Find the area of the surface obtained by rotating the curve

http://ada.math.uga.edu/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/18/d733a6e52ad8ca260230969bdc3f401.png

from x=0 to x=9 about the x-axis.

I'm supposed to parametrize the curve, using rcos(theta) as x and rsin(theta) as y, at least I think I am.
No. That is a circle in the xy-plane. Your curve, in the xy-plane, is y= 3x3, not at all a circle. When you "rotate" around the x-axis, every point, with coordinates (x0, y) in the xy-plane, traces out a circle of points in the (x0, y, z) plane.
Since the radius of the circle is y= 3x^3, that would have parametric equations [itex]x= x_0, y= 3x_0^3cos(\theta ), z= 3x_0^3 sin(\theta)[/itex].

That would give f(x,y) = 3rcos^3(theta),rsin(theta)

Then find the partial derivatives with respect to r and theta and find their cross product. Then find the magnitude of the cross product and integrate with limits int[0-2pi] int[0-9].

Is this right? I can't find any information on the internet to do it this way and the book isn't much help either.

Thanks.
Using the parametric equations I gave, with x0 and [itex]\theta[/itex] as parameters, that should work. However, it looks awfully complicated to me. The area of the curved surface of a cylinder with radius y and height ds is [itex]2\pi y ds[/itex]. For y= 3x3,
[tex]ds= \sqrt{1+ (9x^2)^2}dx= \sqrt{1+ 81x^4}dx[/tex].
The integral for surface area would be given by
[tex]2\pi \int_0^9(3x^3)\sqrt{1+81x^4}dx[/tex]
 
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