ARC LENGTH

Parametric Equations of the Curve

In general, the parametric equation of the curve in 3–dimensional space is a function
of t, i.e.,
x = f (t), y = g(t), z = h(t)
If all the functions are linear function, then the line equation describes a straight line.
If any one of them is not a linear function, then the line equation describes a curve line.

•
(x, y, z)

. y

Arc Length
In 2–dimensional space, the arc length s of the parametric curve

x = f (t), y = g(t), (a ≤ t ≤ b)

is given by v
ˆ bu
u
( )2 ( )2
t dx dy
s= + dt
a dt dt
d⃗r dx dy
Since ⃗r(t) = x(t)î + y(t)ĵ, then = î + ĵ
dt dt dt
the magnitude of it is v
w w
w d⃗ w ˆ bu (
u dx 2
) ( )2
w wr t dy
w w= +
w dt w a dt dt
Then, the arc length
v
ˆ bu ( )2 ( )2 ˆ bw
w
w
u
t dx dy rw
w d⃗ w
s= + dt = w wdt
a dt dt a
w dt w

Similarly, in 3–dimensional space the arc length of the parametric curve

x = x(t), y = y(t), z = z(t), (a ≤ t ≤ b)

1
 v
ˆ bu( )2 ( )2 ( )2 ˆ bw
w
w
u
t dx dy dz rw
w d⃗ w
s= + + dt = w wdt
a dt dt dt a
w dt w

§ Example

Find the arc length of the parametric curve

t 1 1
x = , y = (1 − t)3/2 , z = (1 + t)3/2 ; −1 ≤ t ≤ 1
2 3 3

§ Example

Find the arc length for the curve

⃗r(t) = t2 î + (cos t + t sin t)ĵ + (sin t − t cos t)k̂; 0≤t≤π

The Chain Rule

Let ⃗r(t) be a vector-valued function in 2– and 3–dimensional space, i.e., it is differen-
tiable with respect to t. If t = g(τ ) is a change of parameter (from t → τ ) in which g is
differentiable with respect to τ , then
d⃗r d⃗r dt
=
dτ dt dτ

§ Example
d⃗r ⟨ ⟩
Calculate by Chain Rule for the vector function ⃗r(t) = et , 4e−t , t = τ 2 .
dτ

Arc Lenth Parameterization

Parameter is used to identify a characteristic, a feature, a measurable factor that can

help in defining a particular system. We know that the parametric equations for a curve
are expressed as a function of the parameter t, i.e., x = f (t), y = g(t), z = h(t). It is
often useful to parameterize a curve with respect to arc length because arc length arises
naturally from the shape of the curve and does not depend on a particular coordinate
system.
The line equation can be expressed in terms of arc length, s, as the parameter. In
other word, we want to convert ⃗r(t) ⇒ ⃗r(s). The arc length parameterization allows us
to parameterize the curve in terms of distance traveled along the curve (i.e., parameter-
ized by an odometer reading), which makes it valuable in many applications.

2
To parameterize a curve by arc length, the procedure is as follows:

• Rename t to u, so that ⃗r(t) ⇒ ⃗r(u)

ˆ tww d⃗
w
w
w rw
• Calculate s = w wdu = s(t)
w du w
t0

• Find the inverse of the function s = s(t) to get t = t(s). (This gives you the value
of t that specifies the point on the curve that is s units from the initial point at
which t = t0 ).

• Replace all t by t(s). Now ⃗r(s) has arc length parameterization.

§ Example

Find an arc length parameterization of the curve

⟨ ⟩
⃗r(t) = cos3 t, sin3 t , 0 ≤ t ≤ π/2

that has the same orientation as the given curve and has t = 0 as the reference point.

§ Example

Find an arc length parameterization of the curve

π
⃗r(t) = et cos î + et sin tĵ; 0≤t≤
2
Solution:
√ t
s = 2{e − 1}
{ s }
t = ln √ + 1
2
( ) ( { }) ( ) ( { })
s s s s
⃗r(s) = √ + 1 cos ln √ + 1 î + √ + 1 sin ln √ + 1 ĵ
2 2 2 2
√ π
0≤s≤ 2{e 2 − 1}

3
§ Example

Find the arc length parameterization of the line

x = 1 + t; y = 3 − 2t; z = 4 + 2t

that has the same direction as the given line and from a reference point (1,3,4). If an
ant starts at the reference point and walks up the line for a distance of 25 centimeter,
what will be the ant’s final coordinates(position)?

Solutions:
The ant traveled 25 centimeters from (1, 3, 4) to (28/3, −41/3, 62/3) along the line.
Therefore, final position of the ant is (28/3, −41/3, 62/3)

§ Example

Reparametrize the curve

( )
2 2t
⃗r(t) = 2
− 1 î + ĵ + k̂
1+t 1 + t2

with respect to arc length measured from the point where t = 0 in the direction of
increasing t.