Double Integrals in polar coordinates setup

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around setting up double integrals in polar coordinates to find the volume of a solid defined by the intersection of a sphere and a cylinder. The sphere is described by the equation x² + y² + z² = 16, while the cylinder is defined by x² + y² = 4.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the setup of the integral for the volume inside the sphere and outside the cylinder, questioning the bounds for integration. There is discussion about the necessity of considering the z-dimension and the implications of using double versus triple integrals.

Discussion Status

Some participants confirm the original poster's understanding of the region of integration, while others suggest considering the symmetry of the shapes involved. There is an ongoing exploration of how to properly account for the cylinder within the sphere using double integrals, with some guidance provided on the integration limits and the structure of the integrand.

Contextual Notes

The problem explicitly requires the use of double integrals, which has led to some confusion regarding the treatment of the z-dimension and the overall setup of the integration bounds.

r_swayze
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Use polar coordinates to find the volume of the given solid inside the sphere x^2 +y^2 + z^2 = 16 and outside the cylinder x^2 +y^2 = 4

I know how to set up the the integral to find the volume inside the sphere but I am not quite sure how to also find the outside of the cylinder. Can someone confirm if this right or wrong?

x^2 + y^2 +z^2 = 16

z^2 = 16 - x^2 - y^2

z = sqrt( 16 - r^2 )

since the problem asks for volume of the sphere z = 2*sqrt( 16 - r^2 )

x^2 + y^2 = 4

r^2 = 4

r = 2

so 2 < r < 4, and 0 < theta < 2pi

are my bounds set up correct?
 
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That seems ok so far.
 
r_swayze said:
Use polar coordinates to find the volume of the given solid inside the sphere x^2 +y^2 + z^2 = 16 and outside the cylinder x^2 +y^2 = 4

I know how to set up the the integral to find the volume inside the sphere but I am not quite sure how to also find the outside of the cylinder. Can someone confirm if this right or wrong?

x^2 + y^2 +z^2 = 16

z^2 = 16 - x^2 - y^2

z = sqrt( 16 - r^2 )

since the problem asks for volume of the sphere z = 2*sqrt( 16 - r^2 )

x^2 + y^2 = 4

r^2 = 4

r = 2

so 2 < r < 4, and 0 < theta < 2pi

are my bounds set up correct?

No, since you aren't taking z into account. I'm assuming that you're going to use a triple integral to find this volume. What you would likely get is the volume between a sphere of radius 2 and a sphere of radius 4.

Because of the symmetry of the cylinder and the sphere, you can take a shortcut and find the volume of the portion of the region in the first octant, and then multiply that result by 8.

If you haven't drawn a sketch of the region you're integration, you should do so. The circular cylinder is partially inside the sphere.
 
I think r_swayze is planning on integrating 2*sqrt(16-r^2) over the domain 2<=r<=4 in 2 dimensional polar coordinates, not spherical coordinates. Admitted, the statement is a little flawed, but that's what I was reading through the lines.
 
I confess to missing the thread title, which clearly states his intention to use double integrals.
 
Mark44 said:
No, since you aren't taking z into account. I'm assuming that you're going to use a triple integral to find this volume. What you would likely get is the volume between a sphere of radius 2 and a sphere of radius 4.

Because of the symmetry of the cylinder and the sphere, you can take a shortcut and find the volume of the portion of the region in the first octant, and then multiply that result by 8.

If you haven't drawn a sketch of the region you're integration, you should do so. The circular cylinder is partially inside the sphere.


The problem asks to only use double integrals though. I see what you mean by the sphere of radius 2 and 4. How can I account for the cylinder inside the sphere then using double integrals?
 
r_swayze said:
The problem asks to only use double integrals though. I see what you mean by the sphere of radius 2 and 4. How can I account for the cylinder inside the sphere then using double integrals?

I think you already had it right! Maybe I'll let Mark44 finish this one.
 
r_swayze,
Yes, you had the description of the region over which integration is taking place correct. To follow up on my earlier comment on the symmetry of both the sphere and the cylinder, I will integrate over the region in the first quadrant between two circles: r = 2 and r = 4, and for [itex]\theta[/itex] ranging between 0 and [itex]\pi/2[/itex]. We need to remember to multiply our result by 8, since the actual solid is above all four quadrants as well as below all four.

Now to the integration. Imagine two rays extending out from the z-axis in the x-y plane, one at an angle of theta, and the other at an angle of [itex]\theta[/itex] + d[itex]\theta[/itex]. Imagine also that these rays are divided up into subintervals of length dr. We have small area elements that are not quite square, each of area r*dr*[itex]d\theta[/itex]. These elements run along the rays between r = 2 and r = 4. Now, at each of these small area elements, extend a line segment vertically from the x-y plane up to the sphere. Each of these line segments is z = sqrt(16 - r2) in height.

We now have everything we need for the iterated integral: the integrand and the limits of integration.
[tex]V~=~8~\int_{\theta = 0}^{\pi/2} \int_{r = 2}^4 \sqrt{16 - r^2}~r~dr~d\theta[/tex]

I hope that with my explanation you understand where the integrand came from, and that you can finish this off.
 

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