Topic 17

Mass, Center of Mass & Surface Area

A double integral adds up a quantity over a flat region. With a ρ\rho it gives the mass, and with xρx\rho and yρy\rho it gives the . Divided by the area, it gives an average. Surface area uses the same idea with 1+fx2+fy2\sqrt{1 + f_x^2 + f_y^2} as the .

5 kinds of question. Open the one you are stuck on.

1

Find the mass of a thin plate with variable density

e.g. “Find the mass of the region DD … if the density is ρ(x,y)=…\rho(x, y) = …”
  1. 1
    Sketch the region and choose Cartesian or polar

    Circles, or x2+y2\sqrt{x^2 + y^2} in ρ\rho: polar, with dA=r dr dθdA = r\,dr\,d\theta. Straight edges: Cartesian.

  2. 2
    Write M=∬Dρ dAM = \iint_D \rho\,dA with limits

    Inner limits from the curves, outer limits as numbers.

  3. 3
    Integrate the inner integral, then the outer

Remember: Mass is the density, added up.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Find the mass of the plate bounded by y=xy = x and y=x2y = x^2, with density ρ(x,y)=x\rho(x, y) = x.

  1. 1
    Sketch the region and choose Cartesian or polar

    The curves meet at x=0x = 0 and x=1x = 1, with x2≤y≤xx^2 \le y \le x between. No circles: Cartesian.

  2. 2
    Write M=∬Dρ dAM = \iint_D \rho\,dA with limits

    M=∫01∫x2xx dy dxM = \displaystyle\int_0^1\int_{x^2}^{x} x\,dy\,dx.

  3. 3
    Integrate the inner integral, then the outer

    Inner: x(x−x2)=x2−x3x(x - x^2) = x^2 - x^3. Outer: ∫01(x2−x3) dx=13−14=112\displaystyle\int_0^1 (x^2 - x^3)\,dx = \tfrac{1}{3} - \tfrac{1}{4} = \tfrac{1}{12}.

Answer:

M=112M = \dfrac{1}{12}

Common mistakes3
  • Forgetting the rr in dA=r dr dθdA = r\,dr\,d\theta.
  • A circle through the origin, like (x−1)2+y2=1(x - 1)^2 + y^2 = 1, is r=2cos⁡θr = 2\cos\theta with −π2≤θ≤π2-\tfrac{\pi}{2} \le \theta \le \tfrac{\pi}{2}, not r≤1r \le 1.
  • Doing a long integral when the density is a constant kk. The mass is just kk times the area.
2

Find the center of mass of a plate using double integrals

e.g. “Find the center of mass of the region DD … with density …”
  1. 1
    Use symmetry to get any coordinate for free

    If the region and the density are symmetric about the yy-axis, xˉ=0\bar x = 0. About the xx-axis, yˉ=0\bar y = 0.

  2. 2
    Find the mass M=∬Dρ dAM = \iint_D \rho\,dA

    Constant density cancels. Use the area for MM, and ρ=1\rho = 1 in the moments.

  3. 3
    Find the moments ∬Dxρ dA\iint_D x\rho\,dA and ∬Dyρ dA\iint_D y\rho\,dA

    Same limits as the mass; only the integrand changes.

  4. 4
    Divide each moment by MM

Remember: Mass, moments, divide.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

A thin plate of uniform density occupies the region between y=4−x2y = 4 - x^2 and the xx-axis. Find its center of mass.

  1. 1
    Use symmetry to get any coordinate for free

    The region is symmetric about the yy-axis and ρ\rho is constant, so xˉ=0\bar x = 0.

  2. 2
    Find the mass M=∬Dρ dAM = \iint_D \rho\,dA

    Uniform, so use the area: A=∫−22(4−x2) dx=323A = \displaystyle\int_{-2}^{2}(4 - x^2)\,dx = \tfrac{32}{3}.

  3. 3
    Find the moments ∬Dxρ dA\iint_D x\rho\,dA and ∬Dyρ dA\iint_D y\rho\,dA

    ∬Dy dA=∫−22∫04−x2y dy dx=∫−2212(4−x2)2 dx=25615\displaystyle\iint_D y\,dA = \int_{-2}^{2}\int_0^{4 - x^2} y\,dy\,dx = \int_{-2}^{2}\tfrac{1}{2}(4 - x^2)^2\,dx = \tfrac{256}{15}.

  4. 4
    Divide each moment by MM

    yˉ=256/1532/3=85\bar y = \dfrac{256/15}{32/3} = \dfrac{8}{5}.

Answer:

(xˉ,yˉ)=(0,85)(\bar x, \bar y) = \left(0, \dfrac{8}{5}\right)

Common mistakes3
  • Swapping the moments: xˉ\bar x uses xρx\rho, yˉ\bar y uses yρy\rho.
  • Stopping at a moment. A moment is not a coordinate until you divide by MM.
  • Using symmetry when only the region is symmetric. The density must be symmetric too.
3

Evaluate a double integral without iterating, using symmetry and area

e.g. “Evaluate the double integral without using iteration”
  1. 1
    Split the integrand into a sum of simple pieces
  2. 2
    Drop each piece that is odd over a symmetric region

    If DD is symmetric about the yy-axis and g(−x,y)=−g(x,y)g(-x, y) = -g(x, y), then ∬Dg dA=0\iint_D g\,dA = 0. Same idea in yy.

  3. 3
    Replace each constant piece cc by cc times the area of DD
  4. 4
    Read what is left as the volume of a known solid

    a2−x2−y2\sqrt{a^2 - x^2 - y^2} over the disk of radius aa is a half ball: 23πa3\tfrac{2}{3}\pi a^3.

Remember: Odd pieces vanish; constants are areas.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Without iterating, evaluate ∬D(2−3y) dA\displaystyle\iint_D (2 - 3y)\,dA, where DD is the disk x2+y2≤4x^2 + y^2 \le 4.

  1. 1
    Split the integrand into a sum of simple pieces

    ∬D2 dA−∬D3y dA\displaystyle\iint_D 2\,dA - \iint_D 3y\,dA.

  2. 2
    Drop each piece that is odd over a symmetric region

    DD is symmetric about the xx-axis and 3y3y is odd in yy: ∬D3y dA=0\displaystyle\iint_D 3y\,dA = 0.

  3. 3
    Replace each constant piece cc by cc times the area of DD

    ∬D2 dA=2⋅π(2)2=8π\displaystyle\iint_D 2\,dA = 2 \cdot \pi(2)^2 = 8\pi.

  4. 4
    Read what is left as the volume of a known solid

    Nothing is left.

Answer:

8π8\pi

Common mistakes3
  • Calling a piece odd when the region is not symmetric in that variable.
  • Using the full disk's area for a half disk. A half disk of radius aa has area 12πa2\tfrac{1}{2}\pi a^2.
  • Mixing up ∬D1 dA\iint_D 1\,dA (an area) with a volume.
4

Find the average value of a function over a region

e.g. “Find the average value of ff over DD”
  1. 1
    Find the area A(D)A(D)

    Use geometry when you can; otherwise ∬D1 dA\iint_D 1\,dA.

  2. 2
    Integrate ff over DD

    Polar for disks and for distances to the origin, x2+y2=r\sqrt{x^2 + y^2} = r.

  3. 3
    Divide the integral by the area

Remember: Total over area.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Find the average value of f(x,y)=xyf(x, y) = xy over the rectangle 0≤x≤20 \le x \le 2, 0≤y≤30 \le y \le 3.

  1. 1
    Find the area A(D)A(D)

    A=2⋅3=6A = 2 \cdot 3 = 6.

  2. 2
    Integrate ff over DD

    ∫02∫03xy dy dx=∫02x dx⋅∫03y dy=2⋅92=9\displaystyle\int_0^2\int_0^3 xy\,dy\,dx = \int_0^2 x\,dx \cdot \int_0^3 y\,dy = 2 \cdot \tfrac{9}{2} = 9.

  3. 3
    Divide the integral by the area

    96=32\dfrac{9}{6} = \dfrac{3}{2}.

Answer:

favg=32f_{\text{avg}} = \dfrac{3}{2}

Common mistakes3
  • Forgetting to divide by the area.
  • Distance to the origin is rr, not r2r^2, and dAdA still brings its own rr.
  • Not checking the answer: the average must lie between the smallest and largest values of ff on DD.
5

Find the surface area of z = f(x, y) over a region

e.g. “Find the area of the part of the surface z=f(x,y)z = f(x, y) that lies above …”
  1. 1
    Write the surface as z=f(x,y)z = f(x, y)

    If it is easier as x=g(y,z)x = g(y, z), swap roles and use its shadow in the yzyz-plane.

  2. 2
    Compute 1+fx2+fy2\sqrt{1 + f_x^2 + f_y^2} and simplify
  3. 3
    Find the shadow DD in the xyxy-plane

    A cylinder x2+y2=a2x^2 + y^2 = a^2 gives a disk. "Above the xyxy-plane" means f≥0f \ge 0.

  4. 4
    Integrate over DD, in polar if DD is round

    Pick the order that lets you integrate the root.

Remember: Root of one plus the squares.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Find the area of the part of the plane 2x+y+z=32x + y + z = 3 that lies inside the cylinder x2+y2=4x^2 + y^2 = 4.

  1. 1
    Write the surface as z=f(x,y)z = f(x, y)

    z=3−2x−yz = 3 - 2x - y.

  2. 2
    Compute 1+fx2+fy2\sqrt{1 + f_x^2 + f_y^2} and simplify

    fx=−2f_x = -2, fy=−1f_y = -1: 1+4+1=6\sqrt{1 + 4 + 1} = \sqrt{6}.

  3. 3
    Find the shadow DD in the xyxy-plane

    DD is the disk x2+y2≤4x^2 + y^2 \le 4, with area 4π4\pi.

  4. 4
    Integrate over DD, in polar if DD is round

    The integrand is constant: S=6⋅4π=46 πS = \sqrt{6} \cdot 4\pi = 4\sqrt{6}\,\pi.

Answer:

S=46 πS = 4\sqrt{6}\,\pi

Common mistakes3
  • Forgetting the 11 under the root.
  • Integrating over the surface's zz-range instead of its shadow DD.
  • Dropping the rr in polar: the rr in 1+4r2 r dr\sqrt{1 + 4r^2}\,r\,dr is what makes the substitution work.

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