CHAPTER 73 MEAN AND ROOT MEAN SQUARE VALUES

EXERCISE 286 Page 778

1. Determine the mean value of (a) y = 3 x from x = 0 to x = 4

π
(b) y = sin 2θ from θ = 0 to θ = (c) y = 4et from t = 1 to t = 4
4

4
1 4 1 4 1 4 1/2 1  3 x3/2  1  34
4 − 0 ∫0 4 ∫0 4 ∫0
(a) Mean=
value, y = y d x = 3 x d x = 3 x d x =   x
4  3 / 2  0 2   0

=
1
2
( )
=
43
1 3
=
2
2
1
2
(8) = 4( )
π /4
1 π /4 4 π /4 4  cos 2θ  2 π  
(b) Mean value, y =
π ∫0 y d θ =
π ∫ 0
sin 2θ d θ =
π −
2 0  =
− cos 2   − cos 0 
π 4 
−0
4
2 2
=– ( 0 − 1) = or 0.637
π π

1 4 1 4 t 1 4 4 1
∫ ∫
t 4
=
(c) Mean value, y y=
dx 4 e=
dt  4 e= e − e  = 69.17
4 −1 1 3 1 3 1 3

2. Calculate the mean value of y = 2x2 + 5 in the range x = 1 to x = 4 by (a) the mid-ordinate rule and

(b) integration.

(a) A sketch of y = 2 x 2 + 5 is shown below.

1146 © 2014, John Bird

 Using 6 intervals each of width 0.5 gives mid-ordinates at x = 1.25, 1.75, 2.25, 2.75, 3.25 and

3.75, as shown in the diagram

x 1.25 1.75 2.25 2.75 3.25 3.75

y = 2 x 2 + 5 8.125 11.125 15.125 20.125 26.125 33.125

Area under curve between x = 1 and x = 4 using the mid-ordinate rule with 6 intervals

≈ (width of interval)(sum of mid-ordinates)

≈ (0.5)( 8.125 + 11.125 + 15.125 + 20.125 + 26.125 + 33.125)

≈ (0.5)(113.75) = 56.875

area under curve 56.875 56.875

and mean value = = = = 18.96
length of base 4 −1 3

4
1 4 1 4 2 1  2 x3  1  128  2 
(b) By integration, =
y
4 −1 ∫1
y d=x
3 ∫1
2 x + 5 d=x 
3 3
+ 5 x =  
 1 3  3
+ 20  −  + 5  
 3 

1
= ( 57 ) = 19
3

This is the precise answer and could be obtained by an approximate method as long as sufficient

intervals were taken

3. The speed v of a vehicle is given by: v = (4t + 3) m/s, where t is the time in seconds. Determine

the average value of the speed from t = 0 to t = 3 s.

1 3 1 2 1 1
∫ ( ) [(18 + 9) − (0)=] ( 27 ) = 9 m/s
3
Average speed, =
v 4t + 3 =
d t 
 2t + 3t 
=
3−0 0 3 0 3 3

4. Find the mean value of the curve y = 6 + x – x2 which lies above the x-axis by using an

approximate method. Check the result using integration.

6 + x – x2 = (3 – x)(2 + x) and when y = 0 (i.e. the x-axis), then (3 – x)(2 + x) = 0

from which, x = 3 and x = –2 Hence the curve y = 6 + x – x2 cuts the x-axis at x = –2 and at x = 3

and at x = 0, y = 6

1147 © 2014, John Bird

A sketch of y = 6 + x – x2 is shown below.

3
1 x 2 x3 
1 1 3
( )
3

3 − −2 ∫ − 2 5 ∫ −2
Mean value, =
y y =
d x 6 + x − x 2
=
d x  6 x + − 
5 2 3  −2

1 8 
=  (18 + 4.5 − 9 ) −  −12 + 2 +  
5  3 

1
= (13.5 ) − ( −7.3333) 
5

= 4.17

5. The vertical height h km of a missile varies with the horizontal distance d km, and is given by

h = 4d – d2. Determine the mean height of the missile from d = 0 to d = 4 km.

4
1  2 d3  1  64  
1
( )
4
Mean height, h= ∫ − = 2d −  = 32 −  − (0)  = 2.67 km
2
4 d d d d   
4−0 0 4 3  0 4  3  

6. The velocity v of a piston moving with simple harmonic motion at any time t is given by:

π
v = c sin ωt, where c is a constant. Determine the mean velocity between t = 0 and t =
ω

π /ω
1 π /ω ω  c cos ωt  c   π  
Mean velocity, v =
π ∫0 ( c sin ωt ) d t =
π 
−
ω  0
−  cos ω    − (cos 0) 
=
π   ω  
−0
ω
c 2c
=− (−1 − 1) =
π π

1148 © 2014, John Bird

EXERCISE 287 Page 779

1. Determine the r.m.s. values of: (a) y = 3x from x = 0 to x = 4

(b) y = t2 from t = 1 to t = 3 (c) y = 25 sin θ from θ = 0 to θ = 2π

 1  1 4  9 4 2   9  x3  4 
( 3x ) d x 
4
∫ ∫  ∫0 x d x 
2
(a) R.m.s value =  = y2 d x = =    
4 − 0 0  4 0  4   4  3  0 

 9  64   144  12
=  =   =
  = 6.928
 4  3   3  3

 1 3 2  1 3 2 2  1 3 4   1  t 5  3 
(b) R.m.s value =  = ∫ y d x 
 3 −1 1
=
2 1
( )
∫ t d x   ∫1 t d x 
=
2 
   
 2  5  1 

 1  243 1    1  242   121  11

=   − =    =  =  = 4.919
2  5 5   2  5   5  5

(c) R.m.s value =

 1 2π   252 2π 2   252 2π 1 
∫ ( θ ) dθ  ∫ sin θ d θ  ∫ (1 − cos 2θ ) d θ 
2
 =
25sin  = 
 2π − 0 0
  2π 0   2π 0 2 

2π
 252  sin 2θ    252   252  25
=  θ − =   [(2π − 0)=
− (0) ]   = or 17.68
 4π 2  0   4π   2  2

π
2. Calculate the r.m.s. values of: (a) y = sin 2θ from θ = 0 to θ =
4
(b) y = 1 + sin t from t = 0 to t = 2π (c) y = 3 cos 2x from x = 0 to x = π

1
(note that cos2 t = (1 + cos 2t), from Chapter 44).
2

  π /4
 1 π /4   4 π /4 1   2  sin 4θ  
(a) R.m.s value = π ∫0 sin 2θ d θ  =
2
 ∫0 (1 − cos 4θ ) d θ  =  θ − 
 −0   π 2   π  4  0 
4 

 2  π   1  1
=   − 0  − ( 0 ) =
  = or 0.707
 π  4   2 2
1149 © 2014, John Bird
  1   1 
∫ (1 + 2sin t + sin t ) d t 
2π 2π
∫ (1 + sin t ) =
2 2
(b) R.m.s value =  dt 
 2π − 0 0   2π 0

 1 2π  1   1 2π 3 1  
=  ∫ 1 + 2sin t + (1 − cos 2t )
= d t    ∫  + 2sin t − cos 2t  d t 
 2π 0 2   2π 0
2 2  
2π
 1  3t sin 2t    1 
=   − 2 cos t − =   ( 3π − 2 − 0 ) − ( 0 − 2 − 0 )  
 2π  2 4  0   2π 

 1  3
=  ( 3π )  = = 1.225
 2π  2

 1 π  9 π  9 π1 
∫ ( 3cos=
2x) d x ∫ ∫ 2 (1 + cos 4 x ) d x 
2
(c) R.m.s value =   =
cos 2
2x d x 
π − 0 0
 π 0
 π 0

π
 9  sin 4 x    9
( 0 ) 
9
=  x + 4 =    (π + 0 ) −= or 2.121
 2π   0   2π  2

[Note that cos 2x = 2 cos 2 x − 1 and cos 4x = 2 cos 2 2 x − 1

1
from which, cos 2 =
2x (1 + cos 4 x ) ]
2

3. The distance p of points from the mean value of a frequency distribution are related to the
1
variable q by the equation p = + q. Determine the standard deviation (i.e. the r.m.s. value),
q
correct to 3 significant figures, for values from q = 1 to q = 3

 1 3  1  1 3 1 
2
 2

3 − 1 ∫1  q
Standard deviation = r.m.s. value =   +=q  dq   ∫1  2 + 2 + q  dq 
   2  q  

 1  q q 3  
3
−1
 1  1   1  
=   + 2q + =      − + 6 − 9  −  −1 + 2 +   
 2  −1 3 1 
  2  2   3  

1 
=  (13.3333)  = 2.58
2 

4. A current, i = 30 sin 100πt amperes is applied across an electric circuit. Determine its mean and

r.m.s. values, each correct to 4 significant figures, over the range t = 0 to t = 10 ms.

1150 © 2014, John Bird

 10×10−3
1 10×10−3  30 
Mean value = ∫ ( )
30sin100π t = d t 100  − cos100π t 
 100π
−3
10 ×10 − 0 0 0

100(30)
= − cos(100π ×10 ×10−3 ) − cos 0 

100π

30 30 60
= − [cos π − cos 0] =− [ −1 − 1] =
π π π

= 19.10 A

1 10×10−3 10×10−3 1
r.m.s. value = −3
10 ×10 − 0 ∫ 0
= 302 sin 2 100π t d t (100)(30) 2 ∫
0 2
(1 − cos 200π t ) d t

1
since cos 2A = 1 – 2sin 2 A from which, sin 2=
A (1 − cos 2 A)
2

10×10−3
(100)(30) 2  sin 200π t  (100)(30) 2  −3 sin 2π  
= t − 200
=
π  0  10 ×10 −
200π
 − (0 − sin 0) 
2  2   

(100)(30) 2 302 30
= 10 ×10−3  = = = 21.21 A
2 2 2

5. A sinusoidal voltage has a peak value of 340 V. Calculate its mean and r.m.s. values, correct to 3

significant figures.

For a sine wave,

2 2
mean value = × peak value = × 340 = 216 V
π π

1 1
and r.m.s. value = × peak value = × 340 = 240 V
2 2

6. Determine the form factor, correct to 3 significant figures, of a sinusoidal voltage of maximum

r.m.s.value
value 100 volts, given that form factor =
average value

For a sine wave,

1151 © 2014, John Bird

 2 2
average value = × peak value= ×100 = 63.66 V
π π

1 1
r.m.s. value = × peak value= ×100 = 70.71 V
2 2

r.m.s.value 70.71
and form factor = = = 1.11
average value 63.66

7. A wave is defined by the equation:

v = E1 sin ωt + E3 sin 3ωt

where E1 , E3 and ω are constants.

π
Determine the r.m.s. value of v over the interval 0 ≤ t ≤
ω

π
1
∫ ( E sin ωt + E sin 3ωt ) d(ωt )
2
r.m.s. value = ω
π 0 1 3
−0
ω

ω ωπ 2 2
=
π ∫ 0
( E1 sin ωt + 2 E1 E3 sin ωt sin 3ωt + E32 sin 2 3ωt ) d(ωt )

π
π π
1 − cos 2ωt  t sin 2ωt  ω  π   π
∫ ω
0
sin 2 ωt d t = ∫ ω
0 2
dt =  2 − 4ω  =  2ω − 0  − (0 − 0)  = 2ω
0  

π
π π
1 − cos 6ωt  t sin 6ωt  ω  π   π
∫ ω
0
sin 2 3ωt d t = ∫ ω
0 2
dt =  2 − 12ω  =  2ω − 0  − (0 − 0)  = 2ω
0  

π π π
1
∫ ω
0 ∫0
sin ωt sin 3ωt d t = ∫0 2 ( cos 4ωt − cos 2ωt ) d t
ω sin 3ωt sin ωt d t = ω −

π
1  sin 4ωt sin 2ωt  ω 1
=−  −  =− [ (0 − 0) − (0 − 0) ] =0
2  4ω 2ω  0 2

ω  π 2 π 2  E12 E32 
Hence, r.m.s. value = E + E =  + 
π  2ω 1 2ω 3   2 2 

 E12 + E32 
=  
 2 

1152 © 2014, John Bird