Math 152: Worksheet 23

Arc Length and Speed

Learning Problems

These problems should be completed on your own. If you need hints on solving a problem, there are some provided with each problem. Click on the word "hint" to view it and again to hide it. They go in increasing order of helpfulness, with the last hint mostly giving away how to do the problem. Try to work from the earlier hints to the later ones, as this will give you the practice you need to succeed in this class.

Problem 1

Find the length of the path $c(t) = (4t, 2t^{3/2})$ between $t=1$ and $t=3$.

Problem 2

Find the length of the spiral $c(t) = (t \cos(t), t\sin(t))$ between $t=0$ and $t=4\pi$.

Problem 3

Find the minimum speed of the particle whose trajectory is given by $c(t) = (2t^3, t^{-2})$ with $t \geq 0.5$ for $t$ in seconds and $c(t)$ in meters.

Problem 4

Find the surface area of the solid of revolution generated by revolving the curve $c(t) = (3t^2, 2t)$ between $t=1$ and $t=3$ around the $x$-axis.

Submission Problems

Problem 1

Find the length of the path $c(t) = (t^3 + 1, t^2 - 3)$ between $t=0$ and $t=4$.

Problem 2

Find the surface area of the solid of revolution generated by revolving the curve $c(t) = (\sin^2(t), \cos^2(t)$ between $t=0$ and $t = \pi/2$ around the $x$-axis.