Finding Volume of Solid Cut by Cylindrical Coordinates: Is My Solution Correct?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the volume of a solid defined by the intersection of a cylinder and a sphere, specifically using cylindrical coordinates. The original poster presents an equation and limits for integration, but there are discussions about the correct equation for the sphere and the limits for theta.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the limits of integration for theta and question the original equation for the sphere, with some suggesting corrections to the limits based on the geometry of the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the limits for theta and the implications of the equations presented. Some guidance has been offered regarding the correct limits and the equation for the sphere, but no consensus has been reached on the final solution.

Contextual Notes

There is confusion regarding the equation of the sphere, with references to both a cubed and squared term. Additionally, participants are considering the implications of the limits of integration in relation to the geometry of the cylinder and sphere.

squeeky
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Homework Statement


Use Cylindrical Coordinates.
Find the volume of the solid that the cylinder [tex]r=acos\theta[/tex] cuts out of the sphere of radius a centered at the origin.


Homework Equations


Sphere = x2+y2+z2=a3


The Attempt at a Solution


I think that the limits are from -pi/2 to positive pi/2 for theta, 0 to acos(theta) for r, and negative (a3-r2)1/2 to positive (a3-r2)1/2. This gives me the equation:
[tex]\int^{\pi/2}_{-\pi/2}\int^{acos\theta}_0\int^{\sqrt{a^3-r^2}}_{-\sqrt{a^3-r^2}} dzrdrd\theta[/tex]
Solving this, I get a volume of [tex]\frac{4\pi}{3}a^{9/2}+\frac{8}{9}a^3[/tex]
But is this right?
 
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Welcome to PF!

squeeky said:
Sphere = x2+y2+z2=a3

Hi squeeky! Welcome to PF! :smile:

erm … you need oiling! :biggrin:

i know it's three-dimensional, but still …

it should be x2+y2+z2=a2 :redface:
 
squeeky said:

Homework Statement


Use Cylindrical Coordinates.
Find the volume of the solid that the cylinder [tex]r=acos\theta[/tex] cuts out of the sphere of radius a centered at the origin.


Homework Equations


Sphere = x2+y2+z2=a3


The Attempt at a Solution


I think that the limits are from -pi/2 to positive pi/2 for theta, 0 to acos(theta) for r, and negative (a3-r2)1/2 to positive (a3-r2)1/2. This gives me the equation:
[tex]\int^{\pi/2}_{-\pi/2}\int^{acos\theta}_0\int^{\sqrt{a^3-r^2}}_{-\sqrt{a^3-r^2}} dzrdrd\theta[/tex]
Solving this, I get a volume of [tex]\frac{4\pi}{3}a^{9/2}+\frac{8}{9}a^3[/tex]
But is this right?
No, it's not. The the graph of the equation [itex]r= acos(\theta)[/itex], in polar coordinates is a circle with center at (0, a/2) and radius a/2. Since it lies only in the upper half plane, [itex]\theta[/itex] ranges from 0 to [itex]\pi[/itex], not [itex]-\pi/2[/itex] to [itex]\pi/2[/itex].
 
HallsofIvy said:
No, it's not. The the graph of the equation [itex]r= acos(\theta)[/itex], in polar coordinates is a circle with center at (0, a/2) and radius a/2.

Hi HallsofIvy! :smile:

No, that would be r = a sintheta. :wink:
 
Oops! Well, I'll just go back and edit it so it looks like I never made that mistake!
 


tiny-tim said:
Hi squeeky! Welcome to PF! :smile:

erm … you need oiling! :biggrin:

i know it's three-dimensional, but still …

it should be x2+y2+z2=a2 :redface:

Ah! That's right, I don't know how I got that cube, I must have been seeing things when I looked up the formula.

And so now I get a an equation of [tex]\int^{\pi}_0\int^{acos\theta}_0\int^{\sqrt{a^2-r^2}}_{-\sqrt{a^2-r^2}}dzrdrd\theta[/tex]
which (unless I did my math wrong) gives me a somewhat nice value of [tex]V=(\frac{2a^3}{3})(\frac{4}{3}-\pi)[/tex]
Is this right now?
 
squeeky said:
And so now I get a an equation of [tex]\int^{\pi}_0\int^{acos\theta}_0\int^{\sqrt{a^2-r^2}}_{-\sqrt{a^2-r^2}}dzrdrd\theta[/tex]
which (unless I did my math wrong) gives me a somewhat nice value of [tex]V=(\frac{2a^3}{3})(\frac{4}{3}-\pi)[/tex]
Is this right now?

yes, that looks right …

except doesn't theta go from -π/2 to π/2, as in your original post? :smile:
 
tiny-tim said:
yes, that looks right …

except doesn't theta go from -π/2 to π/2, as in your original post? :smile:

That's what I thought at first, but HallsofIvy pointed out that it's actually from 0 to pi. Was I right at first then? Because it does make more sense to me if it is from -pi/2 to pi/2, since I see the limits as lying in the xz-plane.
 
squeeky said:
Was I right at first then? Because it does make more sense to me if it is from -pi/2 to pi/2, since I see the limits as lying in the xz-plane.

Yes! :biggrin:

The circle has centre (a/2,0) …

for example, the point (0,1) obviously doesn't lie on it. :wink:
 

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