The quarter disk in the first quadrant bounded by x^2+y^2=4

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the center of mass for a quarter disk in the first quadrant bounded by the equation x² + y² = 4. The integration limits for y are established as 0 ≤ y ≤ √(4 - x²) and for x as 0 ≤ x ≤ 2. A suggestion is made to perform the integration using polar coordinates, which simplifies the calculations. The centroid coordinates are determined to be equal due to symmetry, with the area of the quarter circle calculated as π.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of double integrals in Cartesian coordinates
  • Familiarity with polar coordinates and transformations
  • Knowledge of calculating centroids and areas of geometric shapes
  • Basic calculus concepts, including integration techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to perform double integrals in polar coordinates
  • Study the method for calculating centroids of composite shapes
  • Explore substitution techniques in integration, particularly for circular regions
  • Review the properties of symmetry in geometric figures
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in mathematics, physics, and engineering who are involved in solving problems related to center of mass and integration techniques in calculus.

tj Cho
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
members are reminded that homework-type questions belong in our homework forums, and we require that you show your attempt at the solution
Find the coordinate of center of mass.
Given: The quarter disk in the first quadrant bounded by x^2+y^2=4
I tried to solve this problem but can't figure out how to do it.
so y integration limit is: 0 <= y <= sqrt(4-x^2))
x limit of integration: 0 <= x <= 2

and then after the dy integral I got something really messy
integral from 0 to 2(sqrt(4-x^2)+x^2sqrt(4-x^2)+(sqrt(4-x^2)^3/3)dx)
Where did I do wrong?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You could look at it another way: The quarter disk is given by R=2, φ∈[0, π/2].
 
The area of the quarter circle with radius 2 is, of course, [itex](1/4)\pi (4)= \pi[/itex]. Because of symmetry the x and y coordinates of the centroid (I would not say "center of mass" since we are not given a density) are the same:
[tex]\overline{x}= \overline{y}= \frac{\int xdA}{A}= \frac{\int ydA}{A}[/tex].

Personally, I would do the integration in polar coordinates, as Svein suggests:
[tex]\int xdA= \int_{r= 0^2}\int_{\theta= 0}^{\pi/2} (r cos(\theta) rd\theta dr= \left(\int_0^2 r^2dr\right)\left(\int_0^{\pi/2} cos(\theta)d\theta\right)[/tex]

But since you specifically ask about the integration in xy- coordinates,
[tex]\int x dA= \int_0^2\int_0^{\sqrt{4- x^2}} x dydx= \int_0^2x\sqrt{4- x^2}dx[/tex]
and now use the substitution [itex]u= 4- x^2[/itex].

I can't say what you did wrong because you don't show what you did!
 

Similar threads

Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
20
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K