Need to find the volume of a rounded cube.

  • Thread starter Thread starter alf_garnett
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Cube Volume
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the volume of a cube with rounded corners, specifically a cube measuring 8 cubic meters with corners rounded at 406mm. The user seeks a formula to help with this calculation and confirms that the rounded corners form a sphere. After some guidance, they calculate the volume by subtracting the volume of the sphere from the volume of a larger cube, arriving at an approximate volume of 7.755 cubic meters. The importance of consistent units in the calculations is also emphasized. The user expresses gratitude for the assistance and confirms they feel more confident in their approach.
alf_garnett
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Hello everyone. I'm currently working on a project (independent study and not homework) and I find myself having to calculate the volume of a cube with rounded corners and I'm stumped. Any help would be really appreciated.

The cube itself is 8 cubic meters (2m on each side) and the rounded corners are 406mm from what would otherwise be a corner point to the end of the curve in all three directions spreading out from the would-be corner point. I need to be fairly precise with this calculation but I'm afraid my mathematics know-how isn't getting me very far. I appreciate the fact that this a learning forum and so I do not expect a direct answer to this but if somebody would be good enough to provide me with a formula into which I can put these figures I would really be very grateful. I've included an image of my problem in case I'm not being very well understood. Thank you all for reading.

1. Find the volume of a cube with rounded corners
Volume of un-rounded cube 2³ = 8 cubic meters.
Length of rounding = 406mm


2. Width * Height * Depth ... after that I just dunno.



3. Completely Stumped.
 

Attachments

  • roundedcube.jpg
    roundedcube.jpg
    2.9 KB · Views: 1,195
Physics news on Phys.org
Is the curve describing your rounded corner a circle?
 
It is, yes. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.
 
If you took all 8 rounded corners of the cube and put them together you would have a sphere of radius 406 mm wouldn't you? And that sphere plus the part that was shaved off would be a little cube, right? So you can figure out how much was shaved off...
 
Ahhhh - how simple it all seems when it's spelled out :D lol - I feel so thick. Thank you very very much LCKurtz. I really appreciate that. I do believe I can work this out now. I'll get back and post my result soon. Thank you.
 
So I came up with the answer 7.755 square meters (rounded off). I calculated the volume of the sphere of radius 406mm, subtracted that from the volume of a 812mm cube and then subtracted the result of that from my 8 square meters to get the answer above. 7.754941. I have to ask ... did I follow the right process?
 
alf_garnett said:
So I came up with the answer 7.755 square meters (rounded off). I calculated the volume of the sphere of radius 406mm, subtracted that from the volume of a 812mm cube and then subtracted the result of that from my 8 square meters to get the answer above. 7.754941. I have to ask ... did I follow the right process?

I didn't check your numbers but the process looks OK. Be sure about your units -- you have mm and m and volume is m3.
 
Back
Top