Question: If a string wound around a fixed circle is unwound while held taut in the plane of the circle, its end P traces an involute

If a string wound around a fixed circle is unwound while held taut in the plane of the circle, its end P traces an involute of the circle. In the accompanying figure, the circle in question is the circle x2 + y2 = 1 and the tracing point starts at (1, 0). The unwound portion of the string is tangent to the circle at Q, and t is the radian measure of the angle from the positive x-axis to segment OQ. Derive the parametric equations x = cos t + t sin t, y = sin t - t cos t, t > 0 of the point P(x, y) for the involute.y 0 QString 1 (1, 0) P(x, y) X

y 0 QString 1 (1, 0) P(x, y) X

Step by Step Solution

3.52 Rating (155 Votes )

There are 3 Steps involved in it

1 Expert Approved Answer
Step: 1 Unlock

We start by considering the point Q on the circle that is tangent to the unwound portion of t... View full answer

blur-text-image
Question Has Been Solved by an Expert!

Get step-by-step solutions from verified subject matter experts

Step: 2 Unlock
Step: 3 Unlock

Students Have Also Explored These Related Precalculus Questions!