What is the surface area when rotating a curve about the x-axis?

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
3 replies · 4K views
sherlockjones
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
1 Find the area bounded by the curve [tex]x = t - \frac{1}{t}[/tex], [tex]y = t + \frac{1}{t}[/tex] and the line [tex]y = 2.5[/tex].

I know that [tex]A = \int_{\alpha}^{\beta} g(t)f'(t) \; dt[/tex]I ended up with [tex]\int_{1}^{2} 2.5-(t+\frac{1}{t})(1+\frac{1}{t^{2}})[/tex] 2 Find the length of the curve: [tex]x = a(\cos \theta + \theta \sin \theta)[/tex], [tex]y = a(\sin \theta-\theta \cos \theta)[/tex], [tex]0\leq \theta\leq \pi[/tex]

I obtained [tex]\frac{a\pi^{2}}{2}[/tex]. Does this look correct? I used the arc length formula for parametric equations.Is this correct? 3 Find the surface area obtained by rotating the given curve about the x-axis: [tex]x = 3t-t^{3}[/tex] [tex]y = 3t^{2}[/tex], [tex]0\leq t\leq 1[/tex].

So [tex]S = \int_{a}^{b} 2\pi y \sqrt{(\frac{dx}{dt}^{2})+(\frac{dy}{dt}^{2})} \; dt[/tex]

So would I do the following: [tex]\int_{0}^{1} 2\pi(3t^{2})\sqrt{(3-3t^{2})+36t^{2}} \; dt[/tex]?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
sherlockjones said:
1 Find the area bounded by the curve [tex]x = t - \frac{1}{t}[/tex], [tex]y = t + \frac{1}{t}[/tex] and the line [tex]y = 2.5[/tex].

I know that [tex]A = \int_{\alpha}^{\beta} g(t)f'(t) \; dt[/tex]


I ended up with [tex]\int_{1}^{2} 2.5-(t+\frac{1}{t})(1+\frac{1}{t^{2}})[/tex]
Now quite. if x= f(t), y= g(t), then dx= f'(t)dt and ydx= g(t)f'(t)dt but you want (2.5- y)dx. You should have (2.5- t+ 1/t)(1+ 1/t2)dt. Also, recheck your limits of integration. When t= 1, y= 2, not 2.5.


2 Find the length of the curve: [tex]x = a(\cos \theta + \theta \sin \theta)[/tex], [tex]y = a(\sin \theta-\theta \cos \theta)[/tex], [tex]0\leq \theta\leq \pi[/tex]

I obtained [tex]\frac{a\pi^{2}}{2}[/tex]. Does this look correct? I used the arc length formula for parametric equations.


Is this correct?
Yes, it is. Don't you just love it when things cancel out?


3 Find the surface area obtained by rotating the given curve about the x-axis: [tex]x = 3t-t^{3}[/tex] [tex]y = 3t^{2}[/tex], [tex]0\leq t\leq 1[/tex].

So [tex]S = \int_{a}^{b} 2\pi y \sqrt{(\frac{dx}{dt}^{2})+(\frac{dy}{dt}^{2})} \; dt[/tex]

So would I do the following: [tex]\int_{0}^{1} 2\pi(3t^{2})\sqrt{(3-3t^{2})+36t^{2}} \; dt[/tex]?
No. You forgot a square: it should be
[tex]\int_{0}^{1} 2\pi(3t^{2})\sqrt{(3-3t^{2})^2+36t^{2}} \; dt[/tex]
(Once again, that square root simplifies nicely. Your teacher is being nice to you!)
 
Instead if the question read as:

Find the surface area generated by rotating the given curve about the y-axis:

[tex]x = 3t^{2}, y = 2t^{3}, 0\leq t \leq 5[/tex] would it be:

[tex]\int_{0}^{5} 2\pi(3t^{2})\sqrt{72t^{2}} \; dt[/tex]
 
No, it wouldn't. You want [itex]\sqrt{(dx/dt)^2+ (dy/dt)^2}[/itex]. Here, dx/dt= 6t and dy/dt= 6t2. You need [itex]\sqrt{36t^2+ 36t^4}= 6t\sqrt{1+ t^2}[/itex].