Definite integral distance from volume

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
6 replies · 2K views
poopcaboose
Messages
33
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement

If you have a water tower that is spherical with a radius 20m, how far from the bottom will the water level be if it is filled to 1/4 of it's capacity.



2. Homework Equations [tex]\int_-20^20pi(400-y^2)dy=33510.32164m^3=3,351,032.164Liters[/tex]



The Attempt at a Solution

I can find 1/4 capacity=837,758.041 liters but don't know where to go from here to find the distance from the bottom
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I meant for it to be a definite integral from 20 to -20 not 20 squared
 
Instead of integrating from -20 to 20 to get the full volume, integrate from -20 to h. You'll get a cubic expression in h. Equate that to 1/4 of the full volume and try to solve for h.
 
BTW it looks like you have to use numerical techniques to get an answer. The cubic doesn't factor or anything for me.
 
Thanks for the help, I can use Newtons method to approximate f(y) at zero and solve it from there thanks I would have never thought to set it to y
 
By the way, two of the roots are complex numbers from what I got.. just a warning.
 
I figured it out its 13.054073m from the bottom you either solve for zero with Newtons method or graph it