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.

Try it yourself first.
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.

Try it yourself first.
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.

Try it yourself first.
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.

Try it yourself first.
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.

Try it yourself first.
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.

Need the formulas? Must memorize · Flashcards

Found this helpful? Leave us a review on Google ↗Spotted a mistake?

Which topics are you reviewing?

The topic list, Flashcards, Must memorize and Exam words will only show these. Change it any time with the Topics button above the topic list.

Vectors & geometry
Partial derivatives
Optimization
Multiple integrals
20 of 20 topics selected