Arc length of polar curve

Questions asking to find the length of an arc of a polar curve using the formula ∫√(r² + (dr/dθ)²) dθ.

8 questions · Challenging +1.5

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CAIE Further Paper 2 2022 June Q1
5 marks
1 The curve \(C\) has polar equation \(r = \mathrm { e } ^ { \frac { 3 } { 4 } \theta }\) for \(0 \leqslant \theta \leqslant \alpha\).
Given that the length of \(C\) is \(s\), find \(\alpha\) in terms of \(s\).
OCR MEI FP3 2013 June Q3
24 marks Challenging +1.2
3
  1. Find the length of the arc of the polar curve \(r = a ( 1 + \cos \theta )\) for which \(0 \leqslant \theta \leqslant \frac { 1 } { 2 } \pi\).
  2. A curve \(C\) has cartesian equation \(y = \frac { x ^ { 3 } } { 6 } + \frac { 1 } { 2 x }\).
    1. The arc of \(C\) for which \(1 \leqslant x \leqslant 2\) is rotated through \(2 \pi\) radians about the \(x\)-axis to form a surface of revolution. Find the area of this surface. For the point on \(C\) at which \(x = 2\),
    2. show that the radius of curvature is \(\frac { 289 } { 64 }\),
    3. find the coordinates of the centre of curvature.
CAIE FP1 2004 November Q4
6 marks Standard +0.8
4 The curve \(C\) has polar equation $$r = \mathrm { e } ^ { \frac { 1 } { 5 } \theta } , \quad 0 \leqslant \theta \leqslant \frac { 3 } { 2 } \pi$$
  1. Draw a sketch of \(C\).
  2. Find the length of \(C\), correct to 3 significant figures.
CAIE FP1 2015 June Q2
6 marks Challenging +1.2
2 The curve \(C\) has polar equation \(r = \mathrm { e } ^ { 4 \theta }\) for \(0 \leqslant \theta \leqslant \alpha\), where \(\alpha\) is measured in radians. The length of \(C\) is 2015 . Find the value of \(\alpha\).
OCR MEI Further Pure with Technology Specimen Q1
19 marks Challenging +1.8
1 A family of curves has polar equation \(r = \cos n \left( \frac { \theta } { n } \right) , 0 \leq \theta < n \pi\), where \(n\) is a positive even integer.
  1. (A) Sketch the curve for the cases \(n = 2\) and \(n = 4\).
    (B) State two points which lie on every curve in the family.
    (C) State one other feature common to all the curves.
  2. (A) Write down an integral for the length of the curve for the case \(n = 4\).
    (B) Evaluate the integral.
  3. (A) Using \(t = \theta\) as the parameter, find a parametric form of the equation of the family of curves.
    (B) Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { \sin t \sin \left( \frac { t } { n } \right) - \cos t \cos \left( \frac { t } { n } \right) } { \sin t \cos \left( \frac { t } { n } \right) + \cos t \sin \left( \frac { t } { n } \right) }\).
  4. Hence show that there are \(n + 1\) points where the tangent to the curve is parallel to the \(y\)-axis.
  5. By referring to appropriate sketches, show that the result in part (iv) is true in the case \(n = 4\).
  6. (A) Create a program to find all the solutions to \(x ^ { 2 } \equiv - 1 ( \bmod p )\) where \(0 \leq x < p\). Write out your program in full in the Printed Answer Booklet.
    (B) Use the program to find the solutions to \(x ^ { 2 } \equiv - 1 ( \bmod p )\) for the primes
    • \(p = 809\),
    • \(p = 811\) and
    • \(p = 444001\).
    • State Wilson's Theorem.
    • The following argument shows that \(( 4 k ) ! \equiv ( ( 2 k ) ! ) ^ { 2 } ( \bmod p )\) for the case \(p = 4 k + 1\).
    $$\begin{aligned} ( 4 k ) ! & \equiv 1 \times 2 \times 3 \times \ldots \times ( 2 k - 1 ) \times 2 k \times ( 2 k + 1 ) \times ( 2 k + 2 ) \times \ldots \times ( 4 k - 1 ) \times 4 k ( \bmod p ) \\ & \equiv 1 \times 2 \times 3 \times \ldots \times ( 2 k - 1 ) \times 2 k \times ( - 2 k ) \times ( - ( 2 k - 1 ) ) \times \ldots \times ( - 2 ) \times ( - 1 ) ( \bmod p ) \\ & \equiv ( ( 2 k ) ! ) ^ { 2 } ( \bmod p ) \end{aligned}$$ (A) Explain why ( \(2 k + 2\) ) can be written as ( \(- ( 2 k - 1 )\) ) in line ( 2 ).
    (B) Explain how line (3) has been obtained.
    (C) Explain why, if \(p\) is a prime of the form \(p = 4 k + 1\), then \(x ^ { 2 } \equiv - 1 ( \bmod p )\) will have at least one solution.
    (D) Hence find a solution of \(x ^ { 2 } \equiv - 1 ( \bmod 29 )\).
  7. (A) Create a program that will find all the positive integers \(n\), where \(n < 1000\), such that \(( n - 1 ) ! \equiv - 1 \left( \bmod n ^ { 2 } \right)\). Write out your program in full.
    (B) State the values of \(n\) obtained.
    (C) A Wilson prime is a prime \(p\) such that \(( p - 1 ) ! \equiv - 1 \left( \bmod p ^ { 2 } \right)\). Write down all the Wilson primes \(p\) where \(p < 1000\).
Edexcel FP2 2019 June Q8
13 marks Challenging +1.8
8. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{4ba4a815-f53d-4de2-810b-b06e145f457b-24_547_629_242_717} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1}
\end{figure} Figure 1 shows the vertical cross section of a child's spinning top. The point \(A\) is vertically above the point \(B\) and the height of the spinning top is 5 cm . The line \(C D\) is perpendicular to \(A B\) such that \(C D\) is the maximum width of the spinning top.
The spinning top is modelled as the solid of revolution created when part of the curve with polar equation $$r ^ { 2 } = 25 \cos 2 \theta$$ is rotated through \(2 \pi\) radians about the initial line.
  1. Show that, according to the model, the surface area of the spinning top is $$k \pi ( 2 - \sqrt { 2 } ) \mathrm { cm } ^ { 2 }$$ where \(k\) is a constant to be determined.
  2. Show that, according to the model, the length \(C D\) is \(\frac { 5 \sqrt { 2 } } { 2 } \mathrm {~cm}\).
Edexcel FP2 2020 June Q4
10 marks Challenging +1.8
4. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{868aedc8-6afb-4419-ae29-2ecad3461999-12_213_684_257_221} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1}
\end{figure} \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{868aedc8-6afb-4419-ae29-2ecad3461999-12_193_736_258_1053} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2}
\end{figure} Figure 1 shows a sketch of a design for a road speed bump of width 2.35 metres. The speed bump has a uniform cross-section with vertical ends and its length is 30 cm . A side profile of the speed bump is shown in Figure 2. The curve \(C\) shown in Figure 2 is modelled by the polar equation $$r = 30 \left( 1 - \theta ^ { 2 } \right) \quad 0 \leqslant \theta \leqslant 1$$ The units for \(r\) are centimetres and the initial line lies along the road surface, which is assumed to be horizontal. Once the speed bump has been fixed to the road, the visible surfaces of the speed bump are to be painted. Determine, in \(\mathrm { cm } ^ { 2 }\), the area that is to be painted, according to the model.
OCR MEI FP3 2015 June Q3
24 marks Challenging +1.8
3 Fig. 3 shows an ellipse with parametric equations \(x = a \cos \theta , y = b \sin \theta\), for \(0 \leqslant \theta \leqslant 2 \pi\), where \(0 < b \leqslant a\).
The curve meets the positive \(x\)-axis at A and the positive \(y\)-axis at B . \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{0e032f23-0549-4adc-bfae-59333108fab5-4_668_1255_477_404} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 3}
\end{figure}
  1. Show that the radius of curvature at A is \(\frac { b ^ { 2 } } { a }\) and find the corresponding centre of curvature.
  2. Write down the radius of curvature and the centre of curvature at B .
  3. Find the relationship between \(a\) and \(b\) if the radius of curvature at B is equal to the radius of curvature at A . What does this mean geometrically?
  4. Show that the arc length from A to B can be expressed as $$b \int _ { 0 } ^ { \frac { \pi } { 2 } } \sqrt { 1 + \lambda ^ { 2 } \sin ^ { 2 } \theta } d \theta$$ where \(\lambda ^ { 2 }\) is to be determined in terms of \(a\) and \(b\).
    Evaluate this integral in the case \(a = b\) and comment on your answer.
  5. Find the cartesian equation of the evolute of the ellipse.