Chapter 7: Additional Applications of Integration
Section 7.2: Integration in Polar Coordinates
Example 7.2.9
Starting with the expression for the arc length of a curve defined parametrically, obtain the expression for the arc length of a curve defined by r=rθ in polar coordinates. (See Table 7.2.1.)
Solution
Mathematical Solution
From Table 5.4.1, the arc length of the curve defined parametrically by the equations x=xt,y=yt is given by the integral
L=∫abdxdt2+dydt2 ⅆt
The equations x=rθcosθ,y=rθsinθ convert the polar curve to Cartesian coordinates with θ now the parameter. Hence, the radicand in the integrand becomes
dxdθ2+dydθ2
=r′cosθ−r sinθ2+r′sinθ+r cosθ2
= r′2cos2θ−2 rr′cosθsinθ+r2sin2θ +r′2sin2θ+2 rr′cosθsinθ+r2cos2θ
=r′2cos2θ+sin2θ+0+r2cos2θ+sin2θ
=r′2+r2
from which it follows that
L=∫θ1θ2r2+r′2ⅆθ
as per Table 7.2.1.
Maple Solution
Define the parametric equations x=xθ and y=yθ
Context Panel: Assign Function
xθ=rθcosθ→assign as functionx
yθ=rθsinθ→assign as functiony
Obtain the radicand of the integrand for the arc-length integral
Write the sum of the squares of the derivatives. Press the Enter key.
Context Panel: Simplify≻Simplify
x′θ2+y′θ2
ⅆⅆθ⁢r⁡θ⁢cos⁡θ−r⁡θ⁢sin⁡θ2+ⅆⅆθ⁢r⁡θ⁢sin⁡θ+r⁡θ⁢cos⁡θ2
= simplify
ⅆⅆθ⁢r⁡θ2+r⁡θ2
The expression for L in Table 7.2.1 is now easily obtained.
<< Previous Example Section 7.2 Next Example >>
© Maplesoft, a division of Waterloo Maple Inc., 2024. All rights reserved. This product is protected by copyright and distributed under licenses restricting its use, copying, distribution, and decompilation.
For more information on Maplesoft products and services, visit www.maplesoft.com
Download Help Document