How Do You Calculate the Rate of Change in a Hemispherical Tank?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the rate of change of volume in a hemispherical tank as water flows in. The original poster seeks to compute dV/dh when the water depth h is 5 feet and also to find dr/dt, the rate at which the radius of the water surface is changing.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to express the volume in terms of the water depth h and derives a formula for dV/dh, but questions the correctness of their result. Some participants suggest considering the spherical cap volume formula instead of the hemispherical volume formula.

Discussion Status

Participants have explored different volume formulas and some have successfully derived correct results for the first part of the problem. There is ongoing discussion about the correct approach for the second part, particularly regarding the relationship between volume and the radius of the water surface.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of potential confusion between the hemispherical and spherical cap volume formulas, and the original poster acknowledges a mistake in their variable notation. The problem also involves a constant inflow rate of water, which is a key aspect of the calculations.

AndersCarlos
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Homework Statement



Apostol, Vol 1: Section 4.12 Problem 26

Water flows into a hemispherical tank of radius 10 feet (flat side up). At any instant, let h denote the depth of the water, measured from the bottom, r the radius of the surface of the water, and V the volume of the water in the tank. Compute dV/dh at the instant when h=5 feet. If the water flows in at a constant rate of 5√3 cubic feet per second, compute dr/dt, the rate at which r is changing, at the instant t when h=5 feet.


Homework Equations



Hemispherical Volume: [2π(r^3)]/3

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried to rewrite the volume in terms of h. If we consider the circle equation, its possible to say that the radius of the water volume is: r' = √[100 - (h^2)], where 100 is the radius of the tank squared and h is the height. So, we can rearrange the volume formula to: V = {2π{[100 - (h^2)]^3/2}}/3, if we derive this with respect to h, we can find: dV/dh = -2πh√[100 - (h^2)], if we change h for 5, it gives that dV/dh = -10π√75. However, according to the answers at the end, the correct answer would be 75. Sorry if I made any mistakes. I would really appreciate any tip, correction or solution. Thank you.
 
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AndersCarlos said:

Homework Statement



Apostol, Vol 1: Section 4.12 Problem 26

Water flows into a hemispherical tank of radius 10 feet (flat side up). At any instant, let h denote the depth of the water, measured from the bottom, r the radius of the surface of the water, and V the volume of the water in the tank. Compute dV/dh at the instant when h=5 feet. If the water flows in at a constant rate of 5√3 cubic feet per second, compute dr/dt, the rate at which r is changing, at the instant t when h=5 feet.


Homework Equations



Hemispherical Volume: [2π(r^3)]/3

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried to rewrite the volume in terms of h. If we consider the circle equation, its possible to say that the radius of the water volume is: r' = √[100 - (h^2)], where 100 is the radius of the tank squared and h is the height. So, we can rearrange the volume formula to: V = {2π{[100 - (h^2)]^3/2}}/3, if we derive this with respect to h, we can find: dV/dh = -2πh√[100 - (h^2)], if we change h for 5, it gives that dV/dh = -10π√75. However, according to the answers at the end, the correct answer would be 75. Sorry if I made any mistakes. I would really appreciate any tip, correction or solution. Thank you.

..."If we consider the circle equation, its possible to say that the radius of the water volume is: r' = √[100 - (h^2)], where 100 is the radius of the tank squared and h is the height."​
This is not a hemisphere when r' < r .
 
So I would have to consider the spherical cap volume formula instead of hemispherical one?
 
AndersCarlos said:
So I would have to consider the spherical cap volume formula instead of hemispherical one?
Yes.
 
I was able to achieve the correct result in first part. Thank you very much. Also, I made a little mistake, and r and r' are the same thing. Although I got the right answer using spherical cap formulas.
However, when I got into the second part, I've got another problems. It asks for dr/dt. It says that dV/dt equals 5√3. I take dV/dt and rewrite it as (dV/dr)*(dr/dt). V = (π/6)*h*(3(r^2) + h^2). So I try to rewrite it in terms of 'r', using the formula: 10 = (r^2 + h^2)/2h, where 10 is the radius of the tank. I solve this equation for 'h', using quadratic formula e substitute 'h' in the volume formula for 'r'. The derivative was very long and even solving it, the result was not correct.
 
SammyS:
After some searching, looking for spherical cap's formulas, I was able to derive the correct answer. Thank you very much again.
 
AndersCarlos said:
SammyS:
After some searching, looking for spherical cap's formulas, I was able to derive the correct answer. Thank you very much again.
You're welcome.

I'm glad you found the answer.
 

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