Calculus II Discussion Set (Week 1) Fall 2021

1. A helicopter with a rotor speed of N rpm (rotations per minute) is 4. Recall that the parametric equations
flying horizontally at the speed of v m/s. We can model this situation
on the xy-plane as in the picture below. x(t) = t − sin t, y(t) = 1 − cos t
define a curve known as cycloid.

Let P denote the tip of one rotor, and let L denote the radius (in
meters) of the rotor. Find the position of P at time t (in seconds).
Assume that, at time t = 0, the helicopter is passing through the (a) Is this a smooth curve?
origin with P at the point (L, 0).
dy
(b) Find dx
. (Express it in terms of t only.)

d2 y
(c) Evaluate dx2
when t = π3 .

(d) Find the length of one arch of this cycloid.

(e) Find the area under one arch of this cycloid.

√
2. Find a parametrization for the curve y = x with terminal point (0, 0)
using the angle θ indicated in the picture below.

5. Find the Cartesian equation equivalent to the polar equation given by:

r = 4 tan θ sec θ

3. The “rotated ellipse” shown below is described by the Cartesian equa- 1

tion x2 + xy + y 2 = 1. 6. Consider the curve C on the xy-plane defined by r = 1+cos θ
where r
and θ are the polar coordinate variables.
1
(a) Sketch the graph of r = 1+cos θ
on the rθ-plane. Then, using this
graph, sketch the curve C on the xy-plane.

dy
(b) Find dx
at θ = π2 .

Find an equivalent polar equation for this curve.