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Total charge from a current function via the Net Change Theorem

The current flowing through a wire is given by I(t)=3t2+2tI(t) = 3t^2 + 2t amps, where tt is measured in seconds. Recall that current is the rate of flow of electric charge, so I(t)=Q′(t)I(t) = Q'(t), where Q(t)Q(t) is the total charge (in coulombs) that has flowed through the wire by time tt.

Using the Net Change Theorem, find the total charge QQ (in coulombs) that flows through the wire from t=0t = 0 to t=4t = 4 seconds.

Hint

Since I(t)=Q′(t)I(t) = Q'(t), the total charge on [0,4][0,4] is the definite integral ∫04I(t) dt\int_0^4 I(t)\, dt. Just integrate 3t2+2t3t^2 + 2t term by term; no substitution is needed here.

Step-by-step solution

By the Net Change Theorem, the total charge is Q=∫04I(t) dt=∫04(3t2+2t) dt.Q = \int_0^4 I(t)\,dt = \int_0^4 (3t^2 + 2t)\, dt. This directly applies ∫abF′(t) dt=F(b)−F(a)\int_a^b F'(t)\,dt = F(b)-F(a), treating I(t)I(t) as the rate of change of charge.

An antiderivative of 3t2+2t3t^2 + 2t is F(t)=t3+t2F(t) = t^3 + t^2. Evaluating gives Q=F(4)−F(0)=(43+42)−(03+02)=64+16−0=80.Q = F(4) - F(0) = (4^3 + 4^2) - (0^3+0^2) = 64 + 16 - 0 = 80. So the total charge that flows through the wire over [0,4][0,4] seconds is 8080 coulombs.

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