MACT 2123: Calculus III

Multivariable
Calculus
• Arc Length and Curvature
Hany M. El-Hosseiny
Spring 2024
Integration
The definite integral of a continuous vector-valued function is
defined by: .

Writing , we get:
Indefinite Integrals
Definition: Given a function , defined on an interval , and with
values in 2-D space ( ) or 3-D space ( ), then an indefinite integral
of is any function that satisfies .
As in the case of real-valued functions, two indefinite integrals of
differ only by a constant, here the constant will be a vector.
Moreover, we have:
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus: For any continuous vector-
valued function defined on an interval , we have:
1. The function is an indefinite integral of .
2. Given any indefinite integral of , then .
Example
A ball with mass 0.8 Kg. is thrown southward with a speed of 30m./s. at
an angle of to the ground. A west wind applies a steady force of 4 N
to the ball in an easterly direction. Where will the ball land? And with
what velocity? Stewart, Exercise 32 (§ 13.4)

Solution: We use Newton’s second law to find the acceleration of the

ball. The resultant force applied to the ball is
So, the acceleration is .
We integrate to find the velocity:
is the initial velocity of the ball. We integrate again
to get
The ball will land when , at ???
Arc length
Definition: Given a function , defined on an interval , and with
values in 2-D space ( ) or 3-D space ( ), then the arc length of the
curve traversed by is given by .
Note that when , we have

Example: Consider the spiral

so
Since it’s constant, then the length traversed over any period of time
is .
The Arc length function
Definition: Given a function , defined on an interval , then the
arc length function associated with is the function

We note that if passes by each point of the curve only once, then
will be strictly increasing. Hance we may find an inverse function
and so we may reparametrize the curve as a function of arc length.
Example: For the spiral
, where is a constant. So,
we may reparametrize the curve by the function
The Curvature
Definition: Given a function , defined on an interval , then the
curvature of the curve is given by .
Remember that and that , hence:

Theorem:
Curvature of the graph of a function
Consider the graph of a function .
It can be represented by a vector-valued function
And we have:
Hence, from the last theorem we get:
.

Example: Find the curvature of the cosine curve. Where does it assume
extreme values?
Normal and Binormal vectors
Definition: Given a function , defined on an interval , then the
normal vector to the curve is the unit vector in the direction of :

The binormal vector is

Theorem: The three vectors are mutually orthogonal unit

vectors .
Thank You.