Arc Length and Surface Area in Parametric

Equations
MATH 211, Calculus II

J. Robert Buchanan

Department of Mathematics

Spring 2018
Background

I We have developed definite integral formulas for arc length

and surface area for curves of the form y = f (x) with
a ≤ x ≤ b.
Z bq
s = 1 + (f 0 (x))2 dx
a
Z b q
S = 2π |f (x)| 1 + (f 0 (x))2 dx
a

I Today we will develop formulas for calculating arc length

and surface area for curves described parametrically.
Riemann Sum Approach
Suppose a curve is described by the parametric equations:

x = x(t)
y = y (t)

where a ≤ t ≤ b and x 0 (t) and y 0 (t) are continuous as well.

Partition

b−a
Partition [a, b] into n equal subintervals with ∆t = and
n
tk = a + k ∆t for k = 0, 1, . . . , n.

q
∆sk = (x(tk ) − x(tk −1 ))2 + (y (tk ) − y (tk −1 ))2
q
= (x 0 (vk )∆t)2 + (y 0 (wk )∆t)2 (by the MVT)
q
= (x 0 (vk ))2 + (y 0 (wk ))2 ∆t
q
≈ (x 0 (wk ))2 + (y 0 (wk ))2 ∆t
Riemann Sum

Arc length
n q
X
s ≈ (x 0 (wk ))2 + (y 0 (wk ))2 ∆t
k =1
n q
X
= lim (x 0 (wk ))2 + (y 0 (wk ))2 ∆t
n→∞
k =1
Z b q
= (x 0 (t))2 + (y 0 (t))2 dt
a
Riemann Sum

Arc length
n q
X
s ≈ (x 0 (wk ))2 + (y 0 (wk ))2 ∆t
k =1
n q
X
= lim (x 0 (wk ))2 + (y 0 (wk ))2 ∆t
n→∞
k =1
Z b q
= (x 0 (t))2 + (y 0 (t))2 dt
a

q
Remark: the expression ds = (x 0 (t))2 + (y 0 (t))2 dt is called
differential arc length.
Result

Theorem
For the curve defined parametrically by x = x(t), y = y (t),
a ≤ t ≤ b, if x 0 (t) and y 0 (t) are continuous on [a, b] and the
curve does not intersect itself (except possibly at a finite
number of points), then the arc length s of the curve is given by
s
Z bq Z b  2  2
dx dy
s= (x 0 (t))2 + (y 0 (t))2 dt = + dt.
a a dt dt
Example

Find the arc length of the curve given by

x = 2t 2
y = 2t 3

for 0 ≤ t ≤ 2.
Solution
Z 2q
s = (4t)2 + (6t 2 )2 dt
y
0
Z 2 p
15
= 2t 4 + 9t 2 dt
0

Integrate by substitution, letting u = 4 + 9t 2

10
1
and du = 2t dt.
9
Z 40
1 1/2
s = u du
5
4 9
2 3/2 40

= u 
27 4
x 2 √ 16 √
2 4 6 8
= (40 40 − 8) = (10 10 − 1)
27 27
Example
Find the arc length of the curve given by

x = 3 sin t
y = 3 cos t − 3

for 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π.
y

x
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6
Solution

Z 2π q
s = (3 cos t)2 + (−3 sin t)2 dt
0
Z 2π p
= 9 cos2 t + 9 sin2 t dt
0
Z 2π
= 3 dt
0
= 6π
Brachistochrone Problem
Problem: suppose an object is to slide down a path in the
xy -plane from the origin to a point below the origin but not on
the y -axis. Which path should the object follow to accomplish
the trip in the least time?
y

x
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

0.5

1.

1.5

2.
Physical Background

distance = speed × time

d = |v |t

Conservation of energy:

potential energy = kinetic energy

 2  2 !
1 dx dy
mgy = m +
2 dt dt

I To avoid confusion with “time” use the symbol u as the

parameter of the parametric equations.
I To simplify the mathematics we will assume that g y ≥ 0.
Formula for Trip Time
Suppose the path is parameterized by x = x(u), y = y (u) for
0 ≤ u ≤ 1, then
 2  2 !
1 dx dy
mgy = m +
2 du du
 2  2
dx dy
2g y = +
du du
2g y = (v (u))2
p
2g y = |v (u)|.
Formula for Trip Time
Suppose the path is parameterized by x = x(u), y = y (u) for
0 ≤ u ≤ 1, then
 2  2 !
1 dx dy
mgy = m +
2 du du
 2  2
dx dy
2g y = +
du du
2g y = (v (u))2
p
2g y = |v (u)|.

Therefore the trip time is

r  2 v 2
dx 2

dy dx 2

u
+

dy
d
Z 1
du du 1
Z 1
u
t du + du
t= = p du = p du.
|v | 0 2gy 2g 0 y
Comparison of Paths
Suppose the object is to move from (0, 0) to (π, 2) along a
straight line parameterized by

x = πu
y = 2u

for 0 ≤ u ≤ 1. Find the time of travel.

y

x
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

0.5

1.

1.5

2.
Calculation of Travel Time

Z 1r 2
1 (π) + (2)2
t = p du
2g 0 2u
√
π 2 + 4 1 −1/2
Z
= √ u du
2 g 0
s 1
2
=  π + 4 u 1/2 
g
0
s
π2 + 4
t =
g
Comparison of Paths
Suppose the object is to move from (0, 0) to (π, 2) along a
cycloid parameterized by

x = πu − sin πu
y = 1 − cos πu

for 0 ≤ u ≤ 1. Find the time of travel.

y

x
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

0.5

1.

1.5

2.
Calculation of Travel Time

s
1
(π − π cos πu)2 + (π sin πu)2
Z
1
t = p du
2g 0 1 − cos πu
s
1
π 2 − 2π 2 cos πu + π 2 cos2 πu + π 2 sin2 πu
Z
1
= p du
2g 0 1 − cos πu
s
1
2π 2 − 2π 2 cos πu
Z
1
= p du
2g 0 1 − cos πu
Z 1
π
= √ 1 du
g 0
s
π2
t =
g
Result
s s
π2 π2 + 4
<
g g
Even though the cycloid is a greater distance (arc length), it
requires less time.
y

x
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

0.5

1.

1.5

2.
Surface Area

Geometrically we may think of the definite integral for the

surface area of a solid of revolution as
Z b
S= 2π(radius)(arc length) dx.
a

Thus the surface generated when the parametric curve

x = x(t)
y = y (t)

for a ≤ t ≤ b is revolved around the x-axis has surface area

Z b q
S = 2π |y (t)| (x 0 (t))2 + (y 0 (t))2 dt.
a
Example

Find the surface area of the solid of revolution generated when

the parametric curve

x = 3t
√
y = 7t + 1

for 0 ≤ t ≤ 1 is revolved around the x-axis.

Solution

Z 1 √ q √
y
S = 2π ( 7t + 1) (3)2 + ( 7)2 dt
0
Z 1 √
3
= 2π 4( 7t + 1) dt
0
Z 1 √
= 8π ( 7t + 1) dt
2 0
" √ !#1
7 2
= 8π t +t
1 2
0
√ !
7
= 8π +1
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
x 2
√
= 4( 7 + 2)π
Example
Find the surface area of the solid of revolution generated when
the parametric curve

x = 4t 2 − 1
y = 3 − 2t

for −2 ≤ t ≤ 0 is revolved around the x-axis.

y

x
5 10 15
Solution (1 of 2)

Z 0 q
S = 2π (3 − 2t) (8t)2 + (−2)2 dt
−2
Z 0 p
= 2π (3 − 2t) 64t 2 + 4 dt
−2
Z 0 p
= 4π (3 − 2t) 16t 2 + 1 dt
−2
Z 0 p Z 0 p
= 12π 16t 2 + 1 dt − 8π t 16t 2 + 1 dt
−2 −2

I The first integral can be handled via the trigonometric

1 1
substitution, t = tan θ and dt = sec2 θ dθ.
4 4
I The second integral can be handled via the substitution,
1
u = 16t 2 + 1 and du = t dt.
32
Solution (2 of 2)

Z 0 p Z 0 p
S = 12π 16t 2 + 1 dt − 8π t 16t 2 + 1 dt
−2 −2
Z 0 Z 1
π
= 3π sec3 θ dθ − u 1/2
du
− tan−1 8 4 65
 0
3π h π i1
= (sec θ tan θ − ln[sec θ + tan θ]) − u 3/2
2 − tan−1 8 6 65
√ 3π √ π √
= 12 65π + ln(8 + 65) − (65 65 − 1) ≈ 590.89
2 6
Homework

I Read Section 9.3

I Exercises: 1–19 odd (arc length), 21–29 odd (surface area)