Surface Integral involving Paraboloid

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating a surface integral involving a paraboloid defined by the equation y = x² + z², constrained within a cylinder described by x² + z² = 4. Participants are exploring the correct parametrization and integration techniques for surface integrals.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the parametrization of the surface and the calculation of the surface area element dS. There are questions regarding the transition from Cartesian to polar coordinates and the resulting expressions for the integral. Some participants express confusion about the factors involved in the integral, particularly the powers of r in the final expression.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the parametrization and the surface integral setup. Some participants have provided insights into the calculations, while others are questioning the assumptions made regarding the area element dA and its relation to the surface area element dS. The discussion is productive, with participants clarifying their reasoning and addressing misunderstandings.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information available for discussion. There is an emphasis on understanding the correct application of surface integrals and the relationships between different coordinate systems.

LunaFly
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Homework Statement



Evaluate the surface integral:

∫∫s y dS

S is the part of the paraboloid y= x2 + z2 that lies inside the cylinder x2 + z2 =4.

Homework Equations



∫∫sf(x,y,z)dS = ∫∫Df(r(u,v))*|ru x rv|dA

The Attempt at a Solution



I've drawn the region D in the xz-plane as a circle with radius 2. My limits of integration are r between 0 and 2, and t between 0 and 2∏.

I've parametrized the surface as:
r(r,t)= <rcos(t), r2, rsin(t)>

I've gotten the vectors:
rr=<cos(t), 2r, sin(t)>
rt=<-rsin(t), 0, rcos(t)>

Trying to find dS, I did:
rr X rt = <2r2cos(t), -r, 2r2sin(t)>,
and the magnitude of that is r√(4r2 +1).

Overall, I end up with dS = r2*√(4r2+1)drdt.

The integral becomes:

∫∫r4*√(4r2+1)drdt, with limits as mentioned above.

However this is not the correct answer. I am having a difficult time with these surface integrals and I am not really sure why. I keep getting confused about whether or not I am parametrizing
the surfaces correctly, so that may be where my error is. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks
-Luna
 
Last edited:
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LunaFly said:
Overall, I end up with dS = r2*√(4r2+1)drdt.

The integral becomes:

∫∫r4*√(4r2+1)drdt, with limits as mentioned above.
How did the r2 become r4? Not saying it's wrong, ... this is not an area I'm expert on.
 
LunaFly said:

Homework Statement



Evaluate the surface integral:

∫∫s y dS

S is the part of the paraboloid y= x2 + z2 that lies inside the cylinder x2 + z2 =4.


Homework Equations



∫∫sf(x,y,z)dS = ∫∫Df(r(u,v))*|ru x rv|dA


The Attempt at a Solution



I've drawn the region D in the xz-plane as a circle with radius 2. My limits of integration are r between 0 and 2, and t between 0 and 2∏.

I've parametrized the surface as:
r(r,t)= <rcos(t), r2, rsin(t)>

I've gotten the vectors:
rr=<cos(t), 2r, sin(t)>
rt=<-rsin(t), 0, rcos(t)>

Trying to find dS, I did:
rr X rt = <2r2cos(t), -r, 2r2sin(t)>,
and the magnitude of that is r√(4r2 +1).

Overall, I end up with dS = r2*√(4r2+1)drdt.
Yes, this is what I get.

The integral becomes:

∫∫r4*√(4r2+1)drdt, with limits as mentioned above.
What? [itex]\int\int y dS= \int \int (r^2)dS= \int \int (r^2)(r\sqrt{4r^2+ 1})drd\theta[/itex]
You should have [itex]r^3[/itex] outside the square root, not [itex]r^4[/itex].

However this is not the correct answer. I am having a difficult time with these surface integrals and I am not really sure why. I keep getting confused about whether or not I am parametrizing
the surfaces correctly, so that may be where my error is. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks
-Luna
 
HallsofIvy said:
Yes, this is what I get.


What? [itex]\int\int y dS= \int \int (r^2)dS= \int \int (r^2)(r\sqrt{4r^2+ 1})drd\theta[/itex]
You should have [itex]r^3[/itex] outside the square root, not [itex]r^4[/itex].

I believe it is r4 because:

My paramatrization has y=r2, so f(r(r,t))=r2

dS = |rr X rt|dA = r√(4r2 + 1) * rdrdt

dA = r drdt (because of the relationship between polar and Cartesian coordinates) which is where the r4 comes from.

Altogether, ∫∫sf(r(r,t))dS = ∫∫Dr2*r√(4r2 + 1) * rdrdt= ∫∫Dr4√(4r2+1) drdt

This may be helpful: According to the book, the integral equals (∏/60)(391√(17) +1).
 
Last edited:
So I tried solving the integral that HallsofIvy thought was correct, and it was! Thanks for the response.

But that brings a new question to light: why does dA become drdt rather than r*drdt?

I had the impression that every time we switched from Cartesian to polar, dA became r*drdt, but it seems that in this problem, that's not the case.

Why?
 
LunaFly said:
So I tried solving the integral that HallsofIvy thought was correct, and it was! Thanks for the response.

But that brings a new question to light: why does dA become drdt rather than r*drdt?

I had the impression that every time we switched from Cartesian to polar, dA became r*drdt, but it seems that in this problem, that's not the case.

Why?

The formula for surface area element for a surface parameterized as ##\vec R = \vec R(u,v)## is ##dS = |\vec R_u \times \vec R_v|dudv##. There is no extra ##u## or ##v##, and in your case, no extra ##r##.

Suppose your surface had been a circle in the xy plane. You might parameterize it as ##\vec R(r,\theta) = \langle r\cos\theta,r\sin\theta,0\rangle##. If you calculate ##dS = |\vec R_r\times \vec R_\theta|drd\theta## you will find that that cross product is where the familiar ##r## in ##rdrd\theta## comes from. You don't add an extra ##r## when you parameterize it from the beginning.
 

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