How to find which z-value to cut at to get the appropriate volume of a sphere

AI Thread Summary
To determine the z-coordinate for cutting a unit sphere to achieve a specific volume, one must use the formula for the volume of a sphere, which is (4/3)πr³. For a unit sphere, the total volume is (4/3)π. To find the z-coordinate that results in cutting off 1/4 of this volume, the volume of the cut section needs to be calculated as (1/4)(4/3)π. The discussion highlights the need for understanding integrals to solve this problem, as integrating the volume of the sphere from the top down to the desired z-coordinate will yield the necessary cut location. A foundational knowledge of calculus, particularly integrals, is essential for solving this type of volume problem.
Pixel08
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Hi PF!

I've been trying to find out how one could find which z-coordinates to 'cut' at to get a specific volume of the sphere cut off.

i.e. I have a unit sphere, therefore the total volume is (4/3)*pi*r^3, where r = 1. Now I want to get 1/4 of that volume cut off. So, (1/4)*(4/3)*pi*r^3.

But the problem is, how do I find out where I made that single cut? (The cut has to be horizontal).
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
What is your mathematics background?
 
DivisionByZro said:
What is your mathematics background?

Hi DivisionByZro! I'm a first year student, just started post-secondary. Not much of a mathematics background - took a differential calculus course last term.
 
What do you know about integrals?
 
Suppose ,instead of the usual x,y coordinate system with an I basis vector along the x -axis and a corresponding j basis vector along the y-axis we instead have a different pair of basis vectors ,call them e and f along their respective axes. I have seen that this is an important subject in maths My question is what physical applications does such a model apply to? I am asking here because I have devoted quite a lot of time in the past to understanding convectors and the dual...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
Back
Top