Calculating mass by double integral

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SUMMARY

The total mass of a hemispherical shell with mass distribution defined by \(\sigma = \frac{\sigma_0}{R^2}(x^2 + y^2)\) can be calculated using double integrals in spherical coordinates. The correct expression for the mass is \(\frac{4\pi R^2 \sigma_0}{3}\), as derived from integrating the density function over the upper half of the shell. The initial attempt using polar coordinates yielded an incorrect result of \(\frac{\pi R^2 \sigma_0}{2}\) due to misapplication of the integration limits and surface area differential.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of double integrals in calculus
  • Familiarity with spherical coordinates
  • Knowledge of surface area differentials for spherical shells
  • Basic concepts of mass distribution in physics
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  • Study the derivation of mass using double integrals in spherical coordinates
  • Learn about surface area differentials for various geometric shapes
  • Explore applications of mass distribution in physics
  • Review integration techniques for polar and spherical coordinates
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Students and educators in mathematics and physics, particularly those focusing on calculus, integral equations, and mass distribution problems in three-dimensional geometry.

Sami Lakka
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Homework Statement


The distribution of mass on the hemispherical shell z=(R2 - x2 -y2)1/2 is given by
[tex]\sigma[/tex]= ([tex]\sigma[/tex]0/R2)*(x2+y2)
where [tex]\sigma[/tex]0 is constant. Find an expression in terms of [tex]\sigma[/tex]0 and R for the total mass of the shell


Homework Equations


The mass is given by double integral over hemispherical shell


The Attempt at a Solution



[tex]\int\int[/tex][tex]\sigma[/tex]0/R2(x2+y2)dS
Switch to polar coordinates: x2+y2=r2

[tex]\int\int[/tex][tex]\sigma[/tex]0/R2*r2*r*dr*d0

After the iterated integral over region 0->2[tex]\Pi[/tex] and 0->R I get answer:
Mass = ([tex]\Pi[/tex]*R2*[tex]\sigma[/tex]0)/2

However the book that I'm studying (Div,Grad,Curl and all that, problem II-6) says that right answer is: (4*[tex]\Pi[/tex]*R2*[tex]\sigma[/tex]0)/3

What goes wrong?
 
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In spherical coordinates, with [itex]\rho= R[/itex] [itex]x= R cos(\theta)sin(\phi)[/itex] and [itex]y= R sin(\theta)sin(\phi)[/itex] so [itex]x^2+ y^2= R^2 sin^2(\phi)[/math] and your density function is given by <br /> [tex]\frac{\sigma_0}{R}\R^2 sin^2(\phi)[/tex]<br /> <br /> Since the integration is over the upper half spherical shell, the integration is for [itex]\theta[/itex] from 0 to [itex]2\pi[/itex] and for [itex]\phi[/itex] from 0 to [math]\pi/2[/math]. <br /> <br /> Finally, the "differential of surface area" for a sphere, of radius R, is [math]R^2 sin(\phi) d\theta d\phi[/math]. <br /> <br /> So the mass of the shell is given by <br /> [tex]\frac{\sigma_0}{R}\R^2 \int_{\theta= 0}^{2\pi}\int_{\phi= 0}^{\pi/2} sin^2(\phi)(R^2 sin^2(\phi) d\theta d\phi[/tex]<br /> [tex]= \sigma_0\int_{\theta= 0}^{2\pi}\int_{\phi= 0}^{\pi/2} sin^4(\phi)d\theta d\phi[/tex]<br /> since the "R<sup>2</sup>" terms cancel out.[/itex]
 

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