Mass from density A thin 10-cm rod is made of an alloy whose density varies along its length according to the function shown in the figure. Assume density is measured in units of g/cm. In Chapter 6, we show that the mass of the rod is the area under the density curve.
(c) Find the mass of the entire rod (0 ≤ x ≤ 10) .

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the problem. The mass of the rod is given by the area under the density curve from x = 0 to x = 10. The graph shows the density function, which varies piecewise along the rod's length.
2. Step 2: Break the graph into sections based on the shape of the density curve. The graph consists of three distinct regions: (1) a horizontal line from x = 0 to x = 2, (2) a slanted line (linear increase) from x = 2 to x = 6, and (3) another horizontal line from x = 6 to x = 10.
3. Step 3: Calculate the area for each section. For the first section (x = 0 to x = 2), the area is a rectangle with height 2 and width 2. For the second section (x = 2 to x = 6), the area is a trapezoid with bases 2 and 6 and height 4. For the third section (x = 6 to x = 10), the area is a rectangle with height 6 and width 4.
4. Step 4: Use the formulas for area. For a rectangle, the area is width × height. For a trapezoid, the area is (1/2) × (base1 + base2) × height. Apply these formulas to each section of the graph.
5. Step 5: Add the areas of all sections together to find the total mass of the rod. This sum represents the integral of the density function over the interval [0, 10].

Key Concepts

Density Function

The density function describes how mass is distributed along the length of an object. In this case, the density of the rod varies with its length, as shown in the graph. Understanding this function is crucial for calculating the mass, as it provides the necessary values to integrate over the length of the rod.

Integration

Integration is a fundamental concept in calculus used to find the area under a curve. In this context, the mass of the rod can be determined by integrating the density function over the interval from 0 to 10 cm. This process allows us to sum up the infinitesimal contributions of mass along the length of the rod.

Area Under the Curve

The area under the curve of the density function represents the total mass of the rod. By calculating this area, we account for the varying density at different lengths. This concept is essential for solving the problem, as it directly links the graphical representation of density to the physical quantity of mass.