# (Iterated Integrals) Volume between a Cone and a Sphere

1. Mar 15, 2013

### MrMaterial

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
This is a book problem, as follows: Find the volume between the cone x = $\sqrt{y^{2}+x^{2}}$ and the sphere x$^{2}$+y$^{2}$+z$^{2}$ = 4

2. Relevant equations
spherical coordinates:
p$^{2}$=x$^{2}$+y$^{2}$+z$^{2}$
$\phi$ = angle from Z axis (as I understand it)
$\theta$ = angle from x or y axis

3. The attempt at a solution

I am confused on what solid they are referring to, so I will do it in two different ways.

I will first solve it assuming it is the volume of the cone (cone with spherical top)

It seems obvious that this is best solved using spherical coordinates.

First looking at the cone, it is a cone that appears on its side as it travels in the direction of the x axis.
Looking at the sphere, it is simply a sphere centered at the origin with a radius of $\sqrt{4}$

At this point I start setting up the triple integral.

$\int\int\int$p$^{2}$sin($\phi$)dpd$\phi$d$\theta$

p is going to go from 0 to $\sqrt{4}$
$\phi$ is going to go from $\pi$/4 to 3$\pi$/4
θ is going from -$\pi$/4 to $\pi$/4

Then i punch it into the calculator and I get 4$\pi$($\sqrt{2}$/3)

The book answer is 16$\pi$(($\sqrt{2}$-1)/(3$\sqrt{2}$))

For my second answer I will assume they want me to find the volume of the sphere, then subtract my former answer (the cone with spherical top)

First I will find the volume of the sphere

p is going to go from 0 to $\sqrt{4}$
$\phi$ is going to go from 0 to $\pi$
θ is going from 0 to 2$\pi$

punch it into the ol' calculator and I get 32$\pi$/3

then I subtract my previous answer and I get

27.59

The book answer to this problem in decimal form is 9.815

So I must have found the volume of the wrong solid, or i set up my integrals wrong? Can any of you tell by looking at my work?

thanks!

2. Mar 16, 2013

### tiny-tim

Hi MrMaterial!
(btw, you do know what √4 is don't you? )

(i assume you mean x = √(y2 + z2))

i] You've missed a fundamental feature of limits in multiple integrals …

only the first limits are always between fixed values,

the next limits usually depend on the value of the first variable

ii] Also, in this case wouldn't it be a lot easier if you took your x axis as φ = 0 instead of the usual z axis ?

3. Mar 16, 2013

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
For x, y, z (rectangular) coordinates the limits on all three integrals are constants only if the region is a rectangular solid. For cylindrical coordinates the limits on all three integrals are constants only if the region is a cylinder. For spherical coordinates, the limits on all three integrals are constants only if the region is a sphere.

4. Mar 16, 2013

### MrMaterial

ok so it turns out that i was actually finding more of a square cone (piece of a sphere) rather than an actual cone with a spherical top.

Now taking the comments into consideration i will find where both functions intersect.

After substituting and whatnot I get that the sphere and the cone intersect at 2 = z$^{2}$+y$^{2}$

Now i am going to reset the bounds on my dpd$\phi$d$\theta$ integral.

well I converted x = $\sqrt{y^{2}+z^{2}}$ to spherical coordinates and solved for p and here's my guess as to what that bound will look like:
p goes from $\sqrt{(1-tan(\theta)^{2})/(cos(\phi)^{2})}$ to 2

I couldn't seem to find $\phi$ in terms of $\theta$ so i set the remaining bounds to

$\phi$ goes from $\pi$/4 to 3$\pi$/4
$\theta$ goes from $\pi$/4 to -$\pi$/4

I also decided to do cartesian coordinates at one point!

for an integral of dxdydz I have the bounds:

x goes from $\sqrt{z^{2}+y^{2}}$ to $\sqrt{4-y^{2}-z^{2}}$
y goes from -$\sqrt{2-z^{2}}$ to $\sqrt{2-z^{2}}$
and z goes from 0 to $\sqrt{2}$

do any of these look right? I would evaluate them but my classpad isn't up to the task and I dont feel like doing all the pencil work if they aren't going to be right!