Calculating the intersection of a branching point

AI Thread Summary
Calculating the volume of an unconventional geometric shape, specifically the intersection of three conical frustums resembling a tree fork, poses significant challenges due to variable sizes and angles. The volume of each individual frustum can be calculated using a standard formula, but determining the volume of the internal space between them is complex. Suggestions include modeling the shape as a soap film connecting the orifices, which could minimize surface area, or using elliptical frustums to connect the smaller segments to the larger one. The discussion emphasizes the need for a method that accommodates the unique characteristics of the shape, as traditional volume calculations do not apply easily. Overall, the problem remains unresolved, highlighting the intricacies involved in calculating volumes of non-standard geometric forms.
MattRNR
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I am having trouble calculating the volume of an unconventional and variable geometric shape (the fork of a tree). I have a conical (frustum) segment which splits and merges at the smaller end into the larger end of 2 smaller conical (frustum) segments and need to calculate the volume of the internal space (using only the length measurements (for each conal frustum), radius measurements (for all 3) and angle measurements (between the middle lines of each of the 2 splitting conal frustums). A diagram (Branching Point) of this should be attached and will make significantly more sense than i do... (Note: i realize in the diagram my radius measurements are a bit displaced but i have the distance of these from the end points and can account for this with a little trigonometry)

Where I am stuck is calculating the volume of the area between the 3 segments, which is infuriating enough on its own, however is further complicated by the problem that (much like the branch of a tree) the two segments may not be the same size nor will the angle between the two segments be constant. Any resultant calculations will have to accommodate for these variables by incorporating them into the equation.

I really am quite stuck here, calculating the volume for each of the conal frustums individually is relatively straight forward, wherein volume can be calculated as [{((π*L)/3)*(R squared + (R*r) + r squared)} where V = Volume, L = Length, R = the largest radius and r = the smallest radius], however for the space in between I'm drawing a blank. The only strategy i can think of is to calculate the volume of the intersection using 4 segments each consisting of a conal frustum that is divided by 2 (this should make more sense in the diagram also (CF method)).

any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
 

Attachments

  • CF method.png
    CF method.png
    10.2 KB · Views: 516
  • branching intersection.png
    branching intersection.png
    31.9 KB · Views: 556
Mathematics news on Phys.org
There's no obvious definition for what the shape is, let alone its volume.
A natural choice might be the shape that would be taken by a soap film attached to the three circular orifices. That would give the least area, so may be quite treelike, but the equations for those can be quite nasty.
Another choice would be to connect each smaller orifice to its parent by some sort of frustrum of elliptical section, then take the union of the two.
 
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