Chapter 12: Problem 12
Describe the graph of the equation. $$ \mathbf{r}=3 \mathbf{i}+2 \cos t \mathbf{j}+2 \sin t \mathbf{k} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The graph is a circle of radius 2 centered at (3,0,0) parallel to the yz-plane.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Equation
The vector equation given is \( \mathbf{r}(t) = 3 \mathbf{i} + 2\cos(t) \mathbf{j} + 2\sin(t) \mathbf{k} \). This represents a parametric equation in 3D space where \( t \) is the parameter, and the coefficients of the unit vectors \( \mathbf{i}, \mathbf{j}, \mathbf{k} \) correspond to the x, y, and z coordinates respectively.
02
Analyze the Components
The x-component is constant at 3, which means the graph is fixed at x = 3. The y-component is \( 2\cos(t) \) and the z-component is \( 2\sin(t) \), both having a range from -2 to 2 as \( t \) varies.
03
Recognize the Circle in yz-plane
The y-component and z-component form parametric equations \( y = 2\cos(t) \) and \( z = 2\sin(t) \), which describe a circle centered at origin in the yz-plane with radius 2.
04
Transform to 3D Path
Since x is constantly 3, the path described by the vector \( \mathbf{r} \) is a circle lying in a plane perpendicular to the x-axis (yz-plane) but offset to the position where x is constantly 3.
05
Describe the Graph
The graph is a circle of radius 2 in the yz-plane that is parallel to the yz-plane but shifted 3 units along the x-axis.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Vector Equations in 3D
A vector equation is a mathematical statement that provides a vector at each point in space, defined through parameters. In this case, the equation \( \mathbf{r}(t) = 3 \mathbf{i} + 2 \cos(t) \mathbf{j} + 2 \sin(t) \mathbf{k} \) is such a vector equation. This uses the unit vectors \( \mathbf{i}, \mathbf{j}, \mathbf{k} \) to describe movement in three-dimensional space. Here's how each component translates:
- \( x \)-Component: The equation includes a constant term of 3 for \( \mathbf{i} \), indicating it doesn’t change with \( t \). Hence, this shows a constant alignment along the x-axis, effectively pinning the path at \( x = 3 \).
- \( y \)-Component: The \( 2 \cos(t) \) term linked with \( \mathbf{j} \) indicates oscillation along the y-axis, a cyclical pattern that mirrors the cosine wave.
- \( z \)-Component: Similarly, \( 2 \sin(t) \) attached to \( \mathbf{k} \) shows mobility up and down the z-axis in a sinusoidal manner.
Understanding Circular Motion
Circular motion is central to interpreting the graph of the provided vector equation. When movements on a plane exhibit periodic motion (like a circle), this is known as circular motion. This is characterized by:
- Radius: The distance from the circle's center to any point on its circumference. Here, the values 2 in both \( 2 \cos(t) \) and \( 2 \sin(t) \) denote a radius of 2.
- Periodicity: Both cosine and sine functions are periodic with cycles of \( 2 \pi \), completing full rotations, which is evident in the graph's circular form.
Coordinate Geometry: YZ-Plane
In coordinate geometry, mapping paths or curves involves looking at how points align in space. Here, the focus is the yz-plane—a flat surface described by y and z coordinates. For this equation:
- Each point on the path remains on this plane because of having specific y and z values dictated by \( t \).
- The circular path described by \( y = 2 \cos(t) \) and \( z = 2 \sin(t) \) can be seen as a circle centered at the origin \((0,0)\) within the yz-plane. This plane's orientation means any linear shift along another axis (in this case, x) doesn’t alter the plane's essence.