Calculating Volume Under Implicit Surface: Cartesian Coordinates

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the volume under an implicit surface defined by the function f(x, y, z) = 0 in Cartesian coordinates. The original poster attempts to compute the volume under a sphere using integration, but reports obtaining an incorrect result. The function considered is f(x, y, z) = x² + y² + z² - 1.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of the volume integral and the limits of integration. There is a suggestion to use spherical coordinates for simplification, although the original poster emphasizes the complexity of their specific function. Questions arise about the correctness of the integration approach and the interpretation of the surface area calculation.

Discussion Status

Some participants provide guidance on the integration setup and suggest alternative methods, such as spherical coordinates. Others question the assumptions made regarding the function definitions and the integration limits. The discussion remains open with multiple interpretations being explored, particularly regarding the surface area and the nature of the functions involved.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of homework constraints that may limit the methods used, as well as confusion regarding the definitions of functions involved in the surface area calculations. The original poster expresses uncertainty about achieving the expected results, indicating a need for further clarification.

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Homework Statement


calculating volume under a surface, defined by implicit function f(x, y, z)=0 (in cartesian coordinates, strictly not in polar). Because the function that i need to integrate is quite complicated and there would be no obvious way to double check the result i first tried to calculate volume under sphere, but i get the wrong result.

Homework Equations


so let it be f(x, y, z)=x^2+y^2+z^2-1

The Attempt at a Solution


V=8*\int dxdydz
where dz is integrated from 0 to \sqrt{1-x^2-y^2}, dy from 0 to 1 and the same with dx. The multiplication factor 8 is added to get the whole volume.
I use Mathematica for solving the equation and get \frac{2}{3}(2\pi - i*(-4 + \log{16}))

what am I doing wrong?
 
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crox said:

Homework Statement


calculating volume under a surface, defined by implicit function f(x, y, z)=0 (in cartesian coordinates, strictly not in polar). Because the function that i need to integrate is quite complicated and there would be no obvious way to double check the result i first tried to calculate volume under sphere, but i get the wrong result.


Homework Equations


so let it be f(x, y, z)=x^2+y^2+z^2-1


The Attempt at a Solution


V=8*\int dxdydz
where dz is integrated from 0 to \sqrt{1-x^2-y^2}, dy from 0 to 1 and the same with dx. The multiplication factor 8 is added to get the whole volume.
I use Mathematica for solving the equation and get \frac{2}{3}(2\pi - i*(-4 + \log{16}))

what am I doing wrong?
This should work for you.
8 \int_{x = 0}^1 \int_{y = 0}^{\sqrt{1 - x^2}} \int_{z = 0}^{\sqrt{1 - x^2 - y^2}} dz~dy~dx

The first (inner) integration calculates the volume of a stack of small cubes, from the x-y plane up to the surface. The middle integration makes a wall of those stacks, going from y = 0 to the circle in the x-y plane. The final (outer) integration integrates those walls to give the volume of 1/8 of the sphere.
 
Wouldn't it be easier, since you're integrating a sphere, to use spherical coordinates?
 
Thanks, Mark.

@Char. Limit
Yes, it would be easier in this case, but not in general (sphere served only as an example)
 
I'd have one more question regarding this sphere example - how could I rigorously calculate the surface area?
If I got the formula correctly, this could be done with:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area - general formula (bottom of the page)

again in the case of sphere: f(x, y)=R^{2}-x^{2}-y^{2}
and the boarders are determined by x^{2}+y^{2}=R^{2}

but I still don't get the predicted result - 4\pi R^2

I could really use some help again:)
 
crox said:
I'd have one more question regarding this sphere example - how could I rigorously calculate the surface area?
If I got the formula correctly, this could be done with:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area - general formula (bottom of the page)

again in the case of sphere: f(x, y)=R^{2}-x^{2}-y^{2}
The graph of this function is not a sphere - it's a paraboloid. For a sphere of radius R, centered at (0, 0, 0), the equation is x2 + y2 + z2 = R2.

If you solve for z, you get
z = \pm \sqrt{R^2 - x^2 - y^2}

If you define f(x, y) to be the positive square root of the above, you get a function whose graph is the upper hemisphere.
crox said:
and the boarders are determined by x^{2}+y^{2}=R^{2}
I think you mean borders:wink:
crox said:
but I still don't get the predicted result - 4\pi R^2

I could really use some help again:)
 
back again (thanks Mark44 for fas reply), but I still have questions.
Let's say that I have a surface defined by x^2+y^2=f(z) or rewritten x=\pm\sqrt{f(z)-y^2}=f(z, y).
The formula for surface area is in this case: P=\int\int\sqrt{ (\frac{\partial f(y, z)}{\partial y})^2+(\frac{\partial f(y, z)}{\partial z})^2 +1 } dy dz,
where we first integrate dy from y=\pm\sqrt{f(z)}.
The borders (:)) for dz are then defined by the zeros of function f(z).

is this OK?
 
crox said:
back again (thanks Mark44 for fas reply), but I still have questions.
Let's say that I have a surface defined by x^2+y^2=f(z) or rewritten x=\pm\sqrt{f(z)-y^2}=f(z, y).
I'm not sure what you mean above. The expression on the left is a function of x and y, but the one on the right is a function of z alone.

In your integral below you have f(y, z), so is f a function of one variable or two?
crox said:
The formula for surface area is in this case: P=\int\int\sqrt{ (\frac{\partial f(y, z)}{\partial y})^2+(\frac{\partial f(y, z)}{\partial z})^2 +1 } dy dz,
where we first integrate dy from y=\pm\sqrt{f(z)}.
The borders (:)) for dz are then defined by the zeros of function f(z).

is this OK?
 
Sorry, when I read it again I saw that it is unclear:
f(z) is any function, that depends on z - for example: x^2+y^2=(z-1)^2 - this is some given function.
In the case of f(y, z) I just wanted to stress the dependence and f(y, z) serves only as an abbreviation.
 
  • #10
Instead of complicating things by having f(z) on one side and a different function of x and y on the other, can you just solve for z to get z in terms of x and y?

In your example, x2 + y2 = (z - 1)2, so

z - 1 = \pm \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}
\Rightarrow z = 1 \pm \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}

Here z is NOT a function, but the upper half of the graph is a function (of x and y), and the lower half is a function as well.

The upper half of the graph uses the positive square root; the lower half uses the negative square root.
 
  • #11
Looking at your example and previous posts about the iterated integral some more, you could have x as a function of y and z. Using your example, x = (z - 1)2 - y2. Solving for x gives
x = \pm \sqrt{(z - 1)^2 - y^2}

Here, x is in terms of y and z, but is not a function. If we restrict x to be nonnegative, then we get a function:
x = + \sqrt{(z - 1)^2 - y^2} = f(y, z)

For x <= 0, we get another function
x = - \sqrt{(z - 1)^2 - y^2} = -f(y, z)
 

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