Year: 1993
Paper: 2
Question Number: 5
Course: UFM Pure
Section: Polar coordinates
No solution available for this problem.
Difficulty Rating: 1600.0
Difficulty Comparisons: 0
Banger Rating: 1500.0
Banger Comparisons: 0
\noindent \begin{center}
\psset{xunit=1.0cm,yunit=1.0cm,algebraic=true,dotstyle=o,dotsize=3pt 0,linewidth=0.5pt,arrowsize=3pt 2,arrowinset=0.25} \begin{pspicture*}(-0.57,-0.63)(8.51,6.23) \psline(0,0)(7,5) \psline(7,5)(7.75,1.98) \psline(7.75,1.98)(0,0) \parametricplot{-0.6740818217636368}{0.22208190190547994}{1*5.52*cos(t)+0*5.52*sin(t)+1.48|0*5.52*cos(t)+1*5.52*sin(t)+4.9} \psline(7,5)(5.79,1.45) \rput[tl](-0.4,-0.02){$O$} \rput[tl](5.76,1.29){$P$} \rput[tl](8.1,2.01){$R$} \rput[tl](7.2,5.26){$Q$} \psline(7.67,2.29)(7.37,2.22) \psline(7.37,2.22)(7.45,1.91) \end{pspicture*}
\par\end{center}
In the diagram, $O$ is the origin, $P$ is a point of a curve $r=r(\theta)$
with coordinates $(r,\theta)$ and $Q$ is another point of the curve,
close to $P$, with coordinates $(r+\delta r,\theta+\delta\theta).$
The angle $\angle PRQ$ is a right angle. By calculating $\tan\angle QPR,$
show that the angle at which the curve cuts $OP$ is
\[
\tan^{-1}\left({\displaystyle r\dfrac{\mathrm{d}\theta}{\mathrm{d}r}}\right).
\]
Let $\alpha$ be a constant angle, $0<\alpha<\frac{1}{2}\pi$. The
curve with the equation
\[
r=\mathrm{e}^{\theta\cot\alpha}
\]
in polar coordinates is called an \textit{equiangular spiral}. Show
that it cuts every radius line at an angle $\alpha.$ Sketch the spiral.
Find the length of the complete turn of the spiral beginning at $r=1$
and going outwards. What is the total length of the part of the spiral
for which $r\leqslant1$?
{[}You may assume that the arc length $s$ of the curve satisfies
\[
{\displaystyle \left(\frac{\mathrm{d}s}{\mathrm{d}\theta}\right)^{2}=r^{2}+\left(\frac{\mathrm{d}r}{\mathrm{d}\theta}\right)^{2}.}]
\]