Can't figure my mistake in calculating volume

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the volume of a region defined by the inequalities {(x,y,z)|x^2+(y-1)^2<1, 0

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the integration of the function √(4-r²) and question the correctness of the original poster's integral setup. There are concerns about the mapping of the integral to the actual volume and the implications of substituting variables like u=sinθ.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the original poster's reasoning, pointing out potential mistakes in the integral setup and variable substitutions. There is a recognition of the need to split the integral based on the sign of cosθ, and some guidance has been offered regarding the handling of absolute values in the context of the integral.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may impose specific methods or approaches that need to be adhered to. There is an ongoing exploration of the assumptions behind the volume calculation and the integral's limits.

estro
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Can't figure out my mistake in calculating volume

I'm trying to calculate the volume of {(x,y,z)|[itex]x^2+(y-1)^2<1[/itex], [itex]0<z<\sqrt{4-x^2-y^2}[/itex]}:

[tex]\int_0^{\pi}d\theta \int_0^{2sin(\theta)}\sqrt{4-r^2}rdr=\frac {-1}{3}\int_0^\pi ((4-4sin^2\theta)^{3/2}-8)d\theta=\frac{-8}{3}(\int_0^\pi (1-sin^2\theta)\sqrt{1-sin^2\theta}d\theta-\pi)=\frac{-8}{3}(\int_{sin(0)}^{sin(\pi)} (1-u^2)du-\pi)=\frac{8\pi}{3}[/tex]

However on Wolfram Alpha I get different answer for the same integral.
What I'm doing wrong?
 
Last edited:
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Hi estro!

You seem to have integrated ##\sqrt{4-r^2}## as ##{-1 \over 3}(4-r^2)^{3/2}##.
But that is not its primitive.
You can see this if you calculate the derivative, applying the chain rule.

Btw, I have the impression that your integral does not represent the volume that it's supposed to.
Your volume is a cylinder bounded asymmetrically by a sphere.
How does that map to your integral?
 
Hi and thanks for the quick answer.
Indeed I made a mistake in writing the integral, it should be [tex]\int_0^{\pi}d\theta \int_0^{2sin(\theta)}\sqrt{4-r^2}rdr[/tex]

Fixed in original post as well.
 
Okay... I still don't see how that maps to your volume...

And it looks like you substituted u=sinθ.
Did you consider that cosθ does not have the same range as the square root?
 
Up to you.
I still suspect your integral does not represent your volume.

But your mistake appears to be that cosθ becomes negative for θ>pi/2.
You will need to split your final integral in a part where cosθ is positive and a part where it is negative.
 
I like Serena said:
Okay... I still don't see how that maps to your volume...

And it looks like you substituted u=sinθ.
Did you consider that cosθ does not have the same range as the square root?

I'm looking for the volume which is under top half ball of radius 2 and above circle x^2+(y-1)^2=1

indeed I used u=sinθ so the limits of integration became [itex]\int_{sin(0)}^{sin(\pi)} so the integral becomes 0 which is strange, however I can't pinpoint where is the problem.[/itex]
 
I like Serena said:
Up to you.
I still suspect your integral does not represent your volume.

But your mistake appears to be that cosθ becomes negative for θ>pi/2.
You will need to split your final integral in a part where cosθ is positive and a part where it is negative.

Oh, maybe it is it. Let me check...
 
As I said the square root equals |cosθ|, while you assumed it equals cosθ.

Btw, substitutions of any kind are always the trickiest parts in calculations.
Hint: always do substitutions without doing anything else (no matter how cumbersome that seems to be at first).
That makes it easier to do them right and it makes it especially easier to track mistakes (also for us ;)).
After a substitution you can make a step as big as you want.
 
Ok so here is the problem:

[tex]\int_0^\pi sin^2\theta \sqrt{1-sin^2\theta}d\theta=\int_0^\pi sin^2\theta cos\theta d\theta=\int_{sin(0)}^{sin(\pi)} u^2du=0[/tex]

Seems like this is wrong, but why?
 
  • #10
Try:
$$\int_0^\pi \sin^2 θ \sqrt{1-\sin^2 θ}\ dθ = \int_0^\pi \sin^2 θ |\cos θ|\ dθ
= \int_0^{\pi/2} \sin^2 θ \cos θ\ dθ + \int_{\pi/2}^{\pi} \sin^2 θ \cdot -\cos θ\ dθ$$
 
  • #11
I like Serena said:
Try:
$$\int_0^\pi \sin^2 θ \sqrt{1-\sin^2 θ}\ dθ = \int_0^\pi \sin^2 θ |\cos θ|\ dθ
= \int_0^{\pi/2} \sin^2 θ \cos θ\ dθ + \int_{\pi/2}^{\pi} \sin^2 θ \cdot -\cos θ\ dθ$$

You're right, I get it now, HUGE thanks!
I'm pretty much used to do the substitutions in auto mode without thinking, sometimes it comes costly...

Thanks again!
 

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