ADAMSON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
MATHEMATICS & PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Module for Math Analysis II

Arc Length and Surfaces of Revolution

This prepared module focuses on the application of definite integral, determining arc
length and area of surfaces of revolution in particular. Readers are expected to have
knowledge on sketching graph and evaluating definite integral. These pieces of knowledge
are necessary to make the application of calculus make sense.

This module provides detailed explanation and examples that are easy to comprehend.
Many problems are also presented to facilitate an active participation in the learning
process which will enable the reader to solve and practice new thoughts obtained, solve
problems confidently and master the lesson accordingly.

The reader is expected to finish this module gaining the different conceptualization and
application of integration rules in determining arc length and are of surfaces of solids of
revolution. He/ she is also expected to clear all the problems presented in this entire
module.

Hard work and perseverance…let these values play their role in your learning.
 MODULE 9: Arc Length and Surfaces of Revolution

This module presents the concept and utilization of definite integral in

determining and calculating arc length of smooth curves, and surface area of solids
of revolution.

Objectives: After reading this module, the learners should be able to:
1. List formulas involving definite integrals for calculating arc length of a
smooth curves and area of surfaces of revolution
2. Determine the arc length of a smooth curve on a given interval
3. Calculate area of surface solids of revolution

Arc Length
The simplest way of defining arc is that it is a segment connecting two
points. In our pre-calculus lesson, we have found out that given two points (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )
and (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) we can determine the displacement between given by the distance
formula
𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2
This formula will be useful and convenient only for
straight lines connecting two points. But what if we
have parabolic curve connecting to points?
The idea is to partition the curve in 𝑛 number of line
segments then take the sum of all the length of these
line segments to estimate the length of the curve or
arc length. As we increase 𝑛, the estimate will appear
to become better and better. From this thought, we
can introduce limit notion to solve for the arc length
of any given curve in an interval.

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It is important to know that this idea works for rectifiable curve. A rectifiable
curve is one that has a finite arc length. A sufficient condition for the graph of a
function to be rectifiable between points (𝑎. , 𝑓(𝑎)) and (𝑏, 𝑓(𝑏)) is that 𝑓′ be
continuous on [𝑎, 𝑏]. Such function is continuously differentiable on[𝑎, 𝑏] and its
graph on interval [𝑎, 𝑏] is a smooth curve. To illustrate, observe the following
figure.

The function 𝑓(𝑥) is a smooth curve on

𝑓(𝑥)
the intervals [𝑎, 𝑐] and [𝑐, 𝑏] but not on
the interval [𝑎, 𝑏] since 𝑓(𝑥) is not
differentiable at 𝑥 = 𝑐. To deal with this
case, we simply add the length of the
curve connecting (𝑎, 𝑓(𝑎)) and
(𝑐, 𝑓(𝑐)), and with the length of the
curve connecting (𝑐, 𝑓(𝑐)) and (𝑏, 𝑓(𝑏)).

Definition of Arc Length

Let the function given by 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) represent a smooth curve on the interval
[𝑎, 𝑏]. The arc length of 𝑓 between 𝑎 and 𝑏 is
𝑏
𝑠 = ∫ √1 + [𝑓 ′ (𝑥)]2 𝑑𝑥
𝑎
Similarly, for smooth curve given by 𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑦), the arc length of 𝑔 between 𝑐
an 𝑑 is
𝑑
𝑠 = ∫ √1 + [𝑔′ (𝑦)]2 𝑑𝑦
𝑐

Example 1:
 Finding arc length.
𝑥3 1 1
 Find the arc length of the graph of 𝑦 = + 2𝑥 on the interval [2 , 2]
6
Solution: To use the formula, we have to determine 𝑓′(𝑥).
3𝑥 2 1 1 1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = − 2 = (𝑥 2 − 2 )
6 2𝑥 2 𝑥
Hence, we have
𝑏
𝑠 = ∫ √1 + [𝑓 ′ (𝑥)]2 𝑑𝑥
𝑎 Formula given 𝑓(𝑥)
2
1 1 2
= ∫ √1 + [ (𝑥 2 − 2 )] 𝑑𝑥 Substitute 𝑓′(𝑥)
1 2 𝑥
2

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 1 2 1 2
2
√
= ∫ 1 + (𝑥 − 2 ) 𝑑𝑥 Law of Exponent
1 4 𝑥
2
2
1 1
= ∫ √1 + (𝑥 4 − 2 + 4 ) 𝑑𝑥 Expand
1 4 𝑥
2

4 1
√4 + (𝑥 − 2 + 𝑥 4 )
2
=∫ 𝑑𝑥 Use common
1 4 denominator 4
2

1 2 1
= ∫ √(𝑥 4 + 2 + 4 ) 𝑑𝑥 Property of Integral
2 1 𝑥
2
1 2 2 1
= ∫ (𝑥 + 2 ) 𝑑𝑥
2 1 𝑥 Law of Exponent
2
1 𝑥3 1
2
Fundamental Theorem of
= ( − )] Calc.
2 3 𝑥 1
2
33
=
16 Answer.

SAQ 1: Test yourself.

Answer the following problems. Show your complete solution.

i. Find the arc length from (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) to

(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) on the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏 as
shown in the given figure. Use the
formula of arc length.
(Hint: 𝑚 = 𝑓′(𝑥))

ii. An electric cable is hung between to

towers that are 200 feet apart, as shown
in the given figure. The cable takes the
shape of a catenary whose equation is
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
𝑦 = 70 (𝑒 140 + 𝑒 −140 ) = 140 cosh
140
Find the arc length of the cable between
the two towers.

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Surface of Revolution
Previous we have studied the formulas or methods for calculating volume
of solids of revolution. We we’ll now look into the calculation of the area of
surfaces formed by revolving a region.

Definition of Surface of Revolution

If the graph of a continuous function is revolved about a line, the resulting

surface is a surface of revolution.

The area of a surface of revolution is actually

derived from the formula for the lateral surface area
of the frustum of a right circular cone. Consider the
figure on the right. If we have a line segment which
is revolved about an axis of revolution, we’ll clearly
generate a right circular cone (in general, cylinders
included). If we label the line segment connecting
the two base of the frustum by 𝐿 and the two radii
by 𝑟1 and 𝑟2 as shown in the figure, we’ll have

𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 = 𝑆 = 2𝜋𝑟𝐿 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑚

1
where 𝑟 = 2 (𝑟1 + 𝑟2 ) 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑚.

Again, the concept of limit was used to derive the formula for calculating area
of surface of revolution in general. For instance, to solve the area of the surface
as shown

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 Definition of Area of Surface of Revolution

Let 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) have a continuous derivative on the interval [𝑎, 𝑏]. The area 𝑆 of
the surface of revolution formed by revoling the graph of 𝑓 about a
horizontal or vertical axis is
𝑏
𝑆 = 2𝜋 ∫ 𝑟(𝑥)√1 + [𝑓 ′ (𝑥)]2 𝑑𝑥
𝑎
where 𝑟(𝑥) is the distance between the graph of 𝑓 and the axis of revolution.
If 𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑦) on the interval [𝑐, 𝑑], then the surface area is
𝑑
𝑆 = 2𝜋 ∫ 𝑟(𝑦)√1 + [𝑔′ (𝑦)]2 𝑑𝑦
𝑐
where 𝑟(𝑦) is the distance between the graph of 𝑔 and the axis of revolution

Example 2:
 Finding area of surface of revolution
 Find the area of surface formed by revolving the graph 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 on the
interval [0, 2] about the 𝑥-axis.
Solution: Since 𝑥-axis is the axis of revolution;
𝑟(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 ⟹ 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2
Hence,
𝑏
𝑆 = 2𝜋 ∫ 𝑟(𝑥)√1 + [𝑓 ′ (𝑥)]2 𝑑𝑥
𝑎
Formula
2
Replace 𝑟(𝑥) and
= 2𝜋 ∫ 𝑥 3 √1 + [3𝑥 2 ]2 𝑑𝑥
0 𝑓′(𝑥)
2𝜋 2
= ∫ 36𝑥 3 √1 + 9𝑥 4 𝑑𝑥
36 0 Simplify

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 𝜋 (1 + 9𝑥 4 )3/2
2 Fundamental
= ( )] Theorem of
18 3/2 0
Calc.
𝜋 3
= ((145)2 − 1)
27 Answer
≈ 203.0436 Answer

 Finding area of surface of revolution

 Find the area of surface formed by revolving the graph 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 on the
interval [0, √2] about the 𝑦-axis.
Solution: Since 𝑦-axis is the axis of revolution;
𝑟(𝑥) = 𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 ⟹ 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2𝑥
Hence,
𝑏
𝑆 = 2𝜋 ∫ 𝑟(𝑥)√1 + [𝑓 ′ (𝑥)]2 𝑑𝑥
𝑎
Formula
√2 Replace 𝑟(𝑥)
= 2𝜋 ∫ 𝑥√1 + [2𝑥]2 𝑑𝑥 and 𝑓′(𝑥)
0
2
2𝜋
= ∫ 8𝑥√1 + 4𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
8 0 Simplify
3 √2 Fundamental
𝜋 (1 + 4𝑥 2 )2 Theorem of
= ( )]
4 3/2 Calc.
0
𝜋 3 √2
= ((1 + 4𝑥 2 )2 )] Simplify
6 0
13𝜋
=
3 Answer
≈ 13.614 Answer

SAQ 2: Test yourself.

Solve the following problem. Show your complete solution.

i. Find the area of surface formed by revolving the graph 𝑓(𝑥) = 2√𝑥
on the interval [4,9] about the 𝑦-axis.

ii. Find the area of the zone of a spheroid formed by revolving the
graph of 𝑦 = √9 − 𝑥 2 , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2 about the𝑦-axis

Arc Length and Surfaces of Revolution Page | 6

 That ends our Module 9: Arc Length and Surfaces of Revolution. We hope that
you did analyzed and internalized the discussions, and accomplished all SAQs.
To further check your learning, try answering the following assessment.

“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”

― Winston S. Churchill

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