How much work is required to empty a spherical tank buried underground?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Winzer
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the work required to empty a spherical tank, specifically the bottom half of a sphere with a radius of 10 feet, which is buried underground. The tank is filled with oil and has a valve located 1 foot above the ground. The discussion revolves around the setup of the problem, including the geometry of the tank and the forces involved.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of the problem, including the dimensions of the tank and the distances involved in lifting the oil. There are attempts to derive the work integral based on the geometry of the tank and the weight density of the oil. Questions arise regarding the correct interpretation of variables and the limits of integration.

Discussion Status

Several participants provide feedback on the original poster's approach, questioning the clarity of variable definitions and the correctness of the integrand. There is a recognition of the need to clarify the distance each element of oil must travel and to ensure that the integration limits are appropriate. Some participants suggest corrections to the expressions used in the calculations, indicating a productive exploration of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of correctly identifying the distances involved in the work calculation, particularly the distance from the oil to the valve and the implications of the tank's geometry on the calculations. There is an ongoing discussion about the assumptions made regarding the variables and the integration process.

Winzer
Messages
597
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A tank in the shape of the bottom half of a sphere of radius 10ft. is buried so that the top of the tank is 5ft. below the surface of the ground. If the tank is intially filled woth oil ( with wieght density [tex]\delta=40\frac{lbs}{ft^3}[/tex] determine how much work is required to empty the tank through a valve 1ft above the ground.

Homework Equations


[tex]W=FD[/tex]
[tex]x^2+y^2=100[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


Ok so I drew a picture with a half circle with the top at -5 and the valve at 1. So I decided to slice out an element [tex]x_{i}[/tex] which looks like a disk . The ith volume of that disk is [tex]V_{i}\approx \pi (r_{i})^2\Delta Y[/tex] I let [tex]x_{i}=-\sqrt(100-(y_{i})^2)[/tex] be equall to [tex]r_{i}[/tex].
[tex]V_{i}\approx \pi (100-(y_{i})^2) \Delta Y[/tex]. Multiplying that quantity by [tex]/delta[/tex] I get [tex]m_{i}[/tex]. I then multiply that by 32ft/sec^2 which is my g. Then my [tex]D_{i}=1-y_{i}[/tex] since each element will be traveling this distance. So [tex]W_{i}\approx 32\delta\pi\ (100-y_{i})^2(1-y_{i}) \Delta Y[/tex] As [tex]\Delta Y \rightarrow 0[/tex]
I finally have [tex]W=32\pi\delta\int_{5}^{15} (100-y^2)(1-y)dy[/tex]
Sound reasonable?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
mmm ... maybe that [tex]D_{i}=1-y_{i}[/tex] should be [tex]D_{i}=1+y_{i}[/tex]?
 
I could add a picture if that is helpful
 
Nope, doesn't sound reasonable. And no picture necessary, you described it pretty well. And you've got all the right parts, but the solution is all jumbled up. You don't seem to be really clear on what y or y_i is. The clue something is wrong is that the integrand changes sign. So parts of it contribute negative work and parts positive? I don't think so. And you are already given a 'weight density' which is a 'force density' so there is no need for a g in the problem. Tell us what is the y you are integrating over, is it distance from the ground to the sphere section, distance from the sphere section to the exit point, distance from the sphere section to the top of the sphere? I think you may have just used all of those for the same variable.
 
Last edited:
Dick said:
Nope, doesn't sound reasonable. And no picture necessary, you described it pretty well. And you've got all the right parts, but the solution is all jumbled up. You don't seem to be really clear on what y or y_i is. The clue something is wrong is that the integrand changes sign. So parts of it contribute negative work and parts positive? I don't think so. And you are already given a 'weight density' which is a 'force density' so there is no need for a g in the problem. Tell us what is the y you are integrating over, is it distance from the ground to the sphere section, distance from the sphere section to the exit point, distance from the sphere section to the top of the sphere? I think you may have just used all of those for the same variable.

Oh! ok that's true I definatley do not need g, lol. [tex]y_{i}[/tex] is just an element, a slice takin out, it doesn't become y till I take the reimman some and n->infinity. Yes so I am intergrating y over the bottom of the of the sphere, to the top of the sphere because that is the section containing the oil.
So my limits of intergrations should be negitive right and switched around?
[tex]W=\pi\delta\int_{-15}^{-5} (100-y^2)(1-y)dy[/tex] which becomes
[tex]W=-\pi\delta\int_{5}^{15} (100-y^2)(1-y)dy[/tex]

I know I am close.
Edit: is [tex]D_{i}=1-y_{i}[/tex] right?
 
y is the distance from what to what?
 
Ok, let's say, judging by the (100-y^2) term that y is the distance from the top of the hemisphere to the disk you are lifting. The range on your integral is 0-10. Then how far does a disk at y have to be lifted? As I read the question a disk at y=0 goes up 6ft. A disk at y=10ft goes up 16ft. What does this tell you about the linear factor in your integral?
 
Last edited:
No.! [tex]x=-\sqrt(100-y^2)[/tex] is the raduis of the sphere. Then
[tex]y=\sqrt(100-x^2)[/tex] would be the hieght.
But I chose [tex]x_{i}=-\sqrt(100-y^2)[/tex] because [tex]r_{i}=x_{i}[/tex]. This [tex]r_{i}[/tex] is the radius of the partioned disk so: [tex]r_{i}=-\sqrt(100-y^2)[/tex]
Yes I see now: so [tex]D_{i}=1+y_{i}[/tex].
I don't think it would be on the interval 0-10. The half sphere is 5ft below the surface with a radius of 10ft so the bottom of the tank would be -15, and the flat top is -5.
 
Last edited:
This attachment should clear things up
 

Attachments

  • calc.jpg
    calc.jpg
    32.6 KB · Views: 413
  • #10
Ok so r^2=(100-y^2). If y=(-15), which you say is the bottom of the tank, then r^2 is negative. You haven't convinced me this is correct. Even without looking at the attachment.
 
  • #11
correct. R^2 is the raduis of the tank we can chose it to be +/-, either way when we plug it into our volume equation and square we get [tex]V_{i}=\pi (r_{i})^2\Delta y\longrightarrow V_{i}=\pi (-/+\sqrt(100-y^2))^2\Delta Y\longrightarrow V_{i}=\pi (100-y^2)\Delta Y[/tex]
 
  • #12
You aren't listening. You may be able to choose +/- but for y=-15 sqrt(100-225) is neither. It's IMAGINARY. If you mean to say something like sqrt(|100-225|), then that's larger than 10. An unusual radius of a hemisphere of radius 10.
 
  • #13
mmmmm...
 
  • #14
My picture I drew looks correct right? yah I see where you are saying it is imaginary.
 
  • #15
Ah...now I get it
how about [tex]x_{i}=+/-\sqrt(100-(y-5)^2)=r_{i}[/tex]
That looks way better.

So instead of [tex]x^2+y^2=100[/tex]
it should be [tex]x^2+(y+5)^2=100[/tex]
 
Last edited:
  • #16
I also think my [tex]D_{i}[/tex] is wrong. since each element will have to travel between my partition interval of [-15,-5], to 1,
So i should be [tex]D_{i}=6+y_{i}[/tex]
 
  • #17
If you are going from y=-15 (bottom of tank) to y=-5 top of tank) I'm ok with r=sqrt(100-(y+5)^2). y=-15, r=0 and y=-5, r=10. Seems ok. But now look at your D=6+y. y=-5, D=1? Shouldn't that be 6?
 
  • #18
I guess I am confused finding [tex]D_{i}[/tex]
 
  • #19
You've picked y=-5 to be the coordinate of the top of the tank. D should be the distance the oil has to travel to get out. At y=-5 that is D=6ft. At y=-15 that is D=16ft. So you want a linear expression in y that evaluates to those D's at those values of y.
 
  • #20
But doesn't each slab have to travel so shouldn't it be D= 6+Y.?
If it was d=6, then that would just be the top slab.
 
  • #21
Yes! 6 is the distance for top slab. 16 is the distance for the bottom slab. What then is it for some y in between? 6+y does not work for either the top slab (gives 1) or the bottom slab (gives -9).
 
  • #22
ok so [tex]D_{i}=1-Y_{i}[/tex]
 
  • #23
Winzer said:
ok so [tex]D_{i}=1-Y_{i}[/tex]

Yes. Perfect.
 
  • #24
So can I state that:
[tex]W=\pi\delta\int_{-15}^{-5} (100-(y+5)^2)(1-y)dy[/tex]
 
  • #25
Now it looks right.
 
  • #26
Thank you dick, I really appreciate your patience
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
10K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
9K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
11K