Finding the total mass in a 2D area

of non-uniform density
Mathematics Internal Assessment
1. Introduction

Although often mainly credited to Isaac Newton, the invention of calculus has had a long history

with many different mathematicians all contributing their own unique perspectives and theories to build

up to what we have today. One of the big names who contributed just as much, if not more, than

Newton to inventing calculus was Gottfried Leibniz. On November 11, 1675, Leibniz shook the world

with his brand-new creation: integral calculus. This sub-branch of math

I have always been interested in the concept of integrals, since there are many unique and

thought-provoking ways of representing the sum of the values in a function, either visually or

mathematically. Through watching videos on YouTube and reading educational articles, I have learned

the many real-world applications of integrals and their related concepts. It is often used in the world of

engineering and physics, where it is present in a plethora of equations and laws that help define the

rules of our world, as well as having practical applications like finding the average value of a curve.

The aim of this exploration is to investigate using double integrals to find the total mass in a 2D area of

non-uniform density while providing visual support. (let’s say it has a density)

Build-up

- Oftentimes, integrals are thought of simply as the area under the curve. However, in this IA, it

would be more useful to first offer a more detailed perspective on what they may represent by

looking at their notation to better understand the concepts that will be introduced. Commented [LZ1]: Introduced for what

- To begin with, we can revisit an earlier representation of integrals when they were first

introduced in the form of Riemann sums. These sums approximate the value of an integral by

dividing the area under a curve into a finite number of simple shapes, usually rectangles, whose

individual areas can be calculated easily and then summated to find the total area.
- In SL math, it was proved how a Riemann sum with a limit to infinity is essentially an integral, as

the accuracy of the approximation approaches infinity as the curve is divided into more and

more rectangles, which can be considered perfectly accurate.

- As a result, we can think inversely and realize that integrals are also just infinitely accurate

Riemann sums, meaning that similarly, integrals would divide the area under a curve into infinite

rectangles of infinitesimally small width and sum them to find the area.

- This can be shown in their notation, which will be relevant later.

- A standard example of the notation for a definite integral looks like this:

𝑏
- ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥

- Where:

o a and b are the lower and upper bounds of integration respectively (where to start and

stop integrating respectively).

o f(x) is the function of the curve to integrate.

o dx is an infinitesimally small change in x-value.

- The integral function essentially sums a close to infinite number of rectangles whose widths are

defined by dx and heights are defined by the y-value at each rectangle’s position/x-value on the

curve.

- INSERT IMAGE HERE

- This can be seen where f(x) is multiplied by dx in the integral, as the area of each rectangle

would be its height multiplied by its width.

𝑏
- ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 (f(x) times dx)

- The integral function starts at the lower bound and increments the x-value by dx while finding

the y-value at each increment until the upper bound is reached, allowing the area of the

rectangle at each x-value to be found and summated.

- This is just one method of visualizing how an integral works and will prove extremely useful to

understanding the ideas behind double integrals.

- With the context needed to start learning about double integrals, we can start addressing the

research question of this IA and how to find its answer.

- First, what are mass and density? For the purposes of this IA, we can assume that density is just

the measure of the amount of mass, or “matter” in any area or point, and that the total mass of

an area is just the sum of the masses in the smaller areas that it is composed of.

- In addition, we will be working with a 2D plane in this investigation. Therefore, using the terms

mass and density, which are usually only applicable for 3D volumes, will be slightly inaccurate.

So, if it is easier, the 2D plane can simply be thought of as an extremely thin sheet of metal or

any other material whose density is variable throughout. Commented [LZ2]: Define density as mass/area in 2d
plane
- The density throughout the area will be defined using a function that takes in both the x and y-

values of a point in the area, and then returns the density at that point. This ensures that the

density is variable throughout the area, as the x and y-values for each point directly influence

how dense it will be, as well as the total mass being computable using double integrals.

- To restate the aim of this IA, we are finding the total mass in a 2D area of non-uniform density.

The area and density functions will both be arbitrarily selected, based on how complicated the

integration process will be and how much learning value it will offer.

- Therefore, I decided to choose the following function to dictate the density at any one point as it

is continuous and provides a reasonable variation in density for our chosen area:

3𝑥 3
𝐷(𝑥, 𝑦) = cos ( ) + √4𝑦 +
2 2

- Where D(x,y) is the density at point (x,y) and has the unit kg/m2.
 - For our area, I chose a rectangular region 10 units wide and 5 units tall, situated on the cartesian

plane with the left side lying on the y-axis and the bottom lying on the x-axis. We can define the

length of each unit as one meter, so the rectangle would be 10 meters wide and 5 meters tall. Commented [LZ3]: Tall is actually the Z plane. Say 5
meters long

Figure 1. lol

- This is the area that the density function will be applied to, and the area that we will find the

total mass of, which will be in kilograms.

- We can begin by dividing this region into rectangles of infinitesimally small width and height and

finding each of their individual masses, as adding all these small regions’ masses will then return

the total mass of our original area.

- Due to how small each divided region will be, we can classify each one’s width and height as dx

and dy respectively.
-

- To understand how we can obtain the mass of one of these extremely small rectangles, we can

look at an example. Above, we have a black rectangle of height dy and width dx which contains

the point (2,2). Note that this diagram is not completely accurate as the black rectangle is

supposed to be much smaller, since dy and dx are both values very close to zero.

- Despite the variable density of the large area, the density of the black rectangle will come close

to being constant. This is because when the large area is divided into more and more rectangles,

each of their densities will approach the density at a single point (which is constant as defined

by our density function) as the rectangles themselves become increasingly close to being a

single point due to how small they are cut.

- This means that we can assume that the density throughout one of these rectangles would be

equal to the density at a point it contains. Since we also know that the density of an area
 multiplied by the area gives the mass of the area, we can construct an equation to find the mass

of our rectangle containing point (2,2).

- Let 𝑚 be the mass of the rectangle in kilograms.

𝑚 = 𝐷(2,2) 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦

3(2) 3
𝑚 = (cos ( ) + √4(2) + ) 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦
2 2

𝑚 = 3.34 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦

- Now that we know the method for figuring out the mass of any one rectangle when the area is

cut up, how do we sum all of the masses of all of the rectangles to find our total mass?

- Of course, we can use integration. As you may recall, at the beginning of the IA we revisited the

idea of viewing integrals as functions to sum up many infinitesimally thin rectangles. We can

apply a similar logic to this situation, except instead of a single standard integral we will need to

use double integrals, which can be considered a fusion of two standard integrals.

- We cannot use a single standard integral to solve for the total mass because the area we are

dealing with does not have a constant density. Standard integrals can only account for variation

on one axis (usually the y-axis), leaving variation on the other axis of the area unattended. As a

result, not all the variation in density is captured. In addition, standard integrals are unable to

integrate functions that have more than one variable, and since our density function takes in

both x-values and y-values, they would be incompatible with standard integrals. This is where

multivariable calculus and the concept of double integrals comes in.

- The process of using double integrals can be represented in many ways. I will first demonstrate

a visualization which remains on the 2D plane and is connected more to the idea of being just

two standard integrals.

- Let us start by imagining cutting a horizontal 𝑑𝑦-thin layer of our area off at the bottom. We can

then divide this layer into small rectangles which each have a width of 𝑑𝑥.

- With this, we eliminated the variation of density on the y-axis. This is because we fixed the layer

to one constant 𝑦-value and the layer itself is thin enough for every point that it contains to

have approximately the same 𝑦-value. We have created a situation where we can use a definite

integral to sum up all the tiny masses to find the total mass of this one layer.

So, let us try doing that: let 𝑚 be the total mass of the layer in kilograms.

- MAYBE ELABORATE ON HOW WE FOUND THE

INTEGRAL EQUATION
 10
3𝑥 3
𝑚=∫ (cos ( ) + √4𝑦 + ) 𝑑𝑥
0 2 2

Note that we can treat 𝑦 as a constant here since every rectangle in the layer is fixed to the same

constant 𝑦-value, so we can just integrate normally with respect to 𝑥.

To integrate this function, we will need to employ the “𝑢-substitution” technique since the function

3𝑥
contains cos ( ), which cannot be directly integrated.
2

3𝑥
𝑢=
2

𝑑𝑢 3
=
𝑑𝑥 2

2𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥 =
3

2 3
∫(cos (𝑢) + √4𝑦 + ) 𝑑𝑢
3 2

2 2 2 3𝑑𝑢
= ∫ cos(𝑢)𝑑𝑢 + ∫ √4𝑦 𝑑𝑢 + ∫
3 3 3 2

2 2 2 3𝑢 Commented [LZ4]: BEEPBOOP MORE EXPALINING

= sin(𝑢) + 𝑢√4𝑦 + ( )
3 3 3 2 Commented [LZ5R4]: Either allign at the equal sign or
left justify it since right now it is just everywhere
2 3𝑥 10 2 3𝑥 10 2 3 3𝑥 10
𝑚 = sin ( )] + ( )√4𝑦] + ( ∗ )]
3 2 0 3 2 0 3 2 2 0

2 3𝑥 10 10 3𝑥 10
= sin ( )] + 𝑥√4𝑦] + ]
3 2 0 0 2 0

= 0.43353 + 10√4𝑦 + 15

𝑚 = 15.43353 + 10√4𝑦 Commented [LZ6]: Try not to split the long

differentiation

This gives us a function for the determining the total mass of a layer at any 𝑦-value.
For example, if we wanted to find the total mass of the layer at the very bottom of the area, we

could just plug 𝑦 = 0 into the function, since the height of the layer is so small that any variation in 𝑦-

value in the layer is negligible.

Here is an example to showcase that: Let 𝑚 be the total mass of the bottom layer in kilograms.

𝑚 = 15.43353 + 10√4𝑦

𝑚 = 15.43353 + 10√4(0)

𝑚 = 15.43353

Therefore, the total mass of the bottom layer of our area would be around 15.43353 kg.

The function can also help us find the total mass of the entire area, since now we can integrate this

function with respect to 𝑦, summing up all the layers of the area along the 𝑦-axis.
We will divide the area into similarly horizontal 𝑑𝑦-thin layers, whose total mass is each represented

with this function. Through this, we can find the total mass of the area by summing all of these

layers using a definite integral.

Let 𝑚 be the total mass of the entire area.

5
𝑚 = ∫ (15.43353 + 10√4𝑦) 𝑑𝑦
0

Note that in our definite integral the lower bound is 0 and the upper bound is 5. This is because we

are integrating over the height of the area since this function is with respect to 𝑦 and, by extension,

the 𝑦-axis. We also need to employ “𝑢-substitution” again. Commented [LZ7]: No point in saying that you need to
employ u-sub if you don’t explain why you need to -> it will
only deduct from your understanding
𝑢 = 4𝑦
 𝑑𝑢
=4
𝑑𝑦

𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑦 =
4

1
∫(15.43353 + 10√𝑢) 𝑑𝑢
4

1 1
= ∫ 15.43353 𝑑𝑢 + ∫ 10√𝑢 𝑑𝑢
4 4

= 3.85838 ∫ 𝑑𝑢 + 2.5 ∫ √𝑢 𝑑𝑢

= 3.85838𝑢 + 1.66667√𝑢3

5 5
𝑚 = 3.85838(4𝑦)] + 1.66667√(4𝑦)3 ]
0 0

= 77.1676 + 149.0715

𝑚 = 226.2391

Therefore, the total mass of the entire area would be around 226.2391 kg.

The whole process of us solving for this value was facilitated using two standard integrals. In reality,

both were just a single double integral in disguise. The general notation for a double integral which

integrates over the 𝑥-axis before the 𝑦-axis looks like this:

𝑦2 𝑥2
∫ ∫ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝑦1 𝑥1

Anything look familiar? Everything here should, because we have seen it all before in the other parts

of this IA, maybe just as their individual forms. The initial function for the mass of an infinitesimally

thin layer was this:

 10
3𝑥 3
𝑚𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟 = ∫ (cos ( ) + √4𝑦 + ) 𝑑𝑥
0 2 2

However, notice that instead of evaluating this integral immediately, we can just combine it with the

function which integrates the layers across the height of the area. Nigga balls

5
𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∫ 𝑚𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑦
0

5 10
3𝑥 3
𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∫ ∫ (cos ( ) + √4𝑦 + ) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
0 0 2 2

Now, with the noticeable similarities in notation between this function and a double integral, it is

evident that this entire process was done through evaluating a double integral. The only change

being that we broke it down into its component integrals to give it a more intuitive visual

explanation. If we tried to evaluate the double integral straight away, the process would be about

the same. We would evaluate the inner integral first, which would return an identical function, and

then evaluate the outer integral, which would return the exact same total mass of the area. Note

that the order of integration itself is not important, as we can choose to switch the inner and outer

integrals with no effect on the result1. For example:

10 5
3𝑥 3
𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∫ ∫ (cos ( ) + √4𝑦 + ) 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
0 0 2 2

Since we switched the order of integration and the bounds which are evaluated first, this is

essentially the same as dividing the area into thin vertical layers instead of horizontal ones, and then

summing them up along the 𝑥-axis. An important thing to remember is that 𝑑𝑦 and 𝑑𝑥 must be in

the same position relative to their respective integrals. This means that if the integral that integrates

1
There are some examples of double integrals which are expertions to this rule.
with respect to 𝑦 is on the inside, 𝑑𝑦 must also be on the inside and vice versa. This is because

otherwise the double integral becomes impossible to evaluate.

Possibly use different variables for mass instead of all just 𝑚, to avoid confusion.

- Use subscripts

Decimals in the same equation as fractions? What do.

- Its fine

Rounding conventions? Do we round at all? How else do we preserve a bunch of decimals/irrational

numbers?

- Mention that its rounded to 5 decimal places cause its an irrational number

Add figure numbers and whatnot.

1. Blah blah blah