Integral (area) of a revolved parabola

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the volume of a solid of revolution formed by revolving a parabola, specifically the function y = ax², around the x-axis. Participants explore different methods for deriving the volume and express concerns about dimensional consistency and the correctness of their approaches.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a formula for volume as $$V=\int_0^R\pi xdx\cdot y=\pi A\frac{R^4}{4}$$ and asserts that the volume should be proportional to R³.
  • Another participant questions the formula used, suggesting it should be $$V=\int_{0}^{R}\pi f^{2}(x)\,d\,x$$ instead.
  • Concerns are raised about the interpretation of the formula, particularly regarding the inclusion of the term ##x\cdot y##.
  • A participant describes the volume as the sum of vertical tubes with changing height and infinitesimal thickness, emphasizing the need to consider the area of disks when revolving the parabola.
  • Multiple methods are presented, with one participant calculating the volume using different approaches and arriving at the same result, but questioning the dimensional consistency of their findings.
  • Another participant highlights the importance of the dimension of the constant A, suggesting it must have a specific unit to ensure the volume calculation yields correct dimensional results.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correct formula and approach for calculating the volume of the solid of revolution. There is no consensus on the best method or the dimensional interpretation of the constant A.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential issues with dimensional consistency in their calculations, particularly regarding the units of the constant A and the resulting volume expressions.

Karol
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Whats's the volume under the revolving parabola y=ax2. R is xmax.
Snap1.jpg

$$V=\int_0^R\pi xdx\cdot y=\pi\int_o^R x\cdot Ax^2dx=\pi A\frac{R^4}{4}$$
Volume should be relative to R3. and if i had, for example, y=Ax3 then, according to my calculation i would get relative to R7 and so on.
 
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Karol said:
Volume should be relative to R3.
Indeed (proportional would probably be a better term).
Karol said:
and if i had, for example, y=Ax3 then, according to my calculation i would get relative to R7 and so on.
So clearly something is wrong here.

What formula are you using to find the volume of a solid of revolution?
 
Why there is ##x\cdot y## in your formula, this must be ##V=\int_{0}^{R}\pi f^{2}(x)\,d\,x##...
 
The volume is the sum of the vertical tubes of changing height y and infinitesimally small thickness dx. the perimeter of the tubes is πr.
$$V=\int dv=\int (\pi x)y\cdot dx$$
y, in turn, equals Ax2. but according to this approach i would get a bigger error if i had, for example, y=Bx3
 
Karol said:
Volume should be relative to R3
There is no reason for the volume to be proportional to ##R^3##. In fact you will discover that it isn't!
Karol said:
The volume is the sum of the vertical tubes of changing height y and infinitesimally small thickness dx. the perimeter of the tubes is πr.
$$V=\int dv=\int (\pi x)y\cdot dx$$
y, in turn, equals Ax2. but according to this approach i would get a bigger error if i had, for example, y=Bx3
I'm not sure why you are considering the perimeter of the disks centred about the x-axis. Would you not want to be using the area of the disks and then integrating over x? If you revolve your parabola about the x-axis, you get lots of solid disks centred about the x-axis which grow in radius as you move further along in x, right? What is the radius of a given disk as a function of x? Once you have this, you then know the area of each disk as a function of x. Once you have an expression for the disk area as a function of x, you can integrate over x, effectively summing up the infinitesimal cylinders centred about the x-axis. Does this make sense?
 
muscaria said:
Would you not want to be using the area of the disks
$$V=\int_0^{y=AR^2}\pi(R^2-x^2)dy=\pi\int_0^{AR^2}R^2-\frac{y}{A}dy=\pi\left[ R^2y-\frac{y^2}{2A} \right]_0^{AR^2}=\frac{\pi A}{2}R^4$$
Also with my previous method of tubes:
$$V=\int_0^R2\pi xdx\cdot y=2\pi\int_o^R x\cdot Ax^2dx=\frac{\pi A}{2}R^4$$
I found in a site the volume under a paraboloid, an inverse of mine, is ##V=\frac{\pi}{2}hr^2##, and according to that my volume is:
$$V=\pi R^2h-\frac{\pi}{2}hR^2=...=\frac{\pi A}{2}R^4$$
In all 3 methods i get the same.
But the units are ##R^4[m^4]## while volume is [m3]
 
Karol said:
$$V=\int_0^{y=AR^2}\pi(R^2-x^2)dy=\pi\int_0^{AR^2}R^2-\frac{y}{A}dy=\pi\left[ R^2y-\frac{y^2}{2A} \right]_0^{AR^2}=\frac{\pi A}{2}R^4$$
Also with my previous method of tubes:
$$V=\int_0^R2\pi xdx\cdot y=2\pi\int_o^R x\cdot Ax^2dx=\frac{\pi A}{2}R^4$$
I found in a site the volume under a paraboloid, an inverse of mine, is ##V=\frac{\pi}{2}hr^2##, and according to that my volume is:
$$V=\pi R^2h-\frac{\pi}{2}hR^2=...=\frac{\pi A}{2}R^4$$
In all 3 methods i get the same.
But the units are ##R^4[m^4]## while volume is [m3]
I made the same mistake as you. In what units is A?
 
Karol said:
Whats's the volume under the revolving parabola y=ax2. R is xmax.
View attachment 92398
$$V=\int_0^R\pi xdx\cdot y=\pi\int_o^R x\cdot Ax^2dx=\pi A\frac{R^4}{4}$$
Volume should be relative to R3. and if i had, for example, y=Ax3 then, according to my calculation i would get relative to R7 and so on.
Yes. Your trouble lies with the interpretation of the constant A. Since you are trying to find a volume, you are assigning a "length dimension" to x. Assume that x has the dimension m (meter). Then y also needs to have the dimension m. Using the formula y = Ax2 means that A must have the dimension m-1. With that in mind the dimension of your volume becomes m-1⋅m4 = m3.
 
I understood, thanks
 

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