Pappus' Theorem: Mass of Lampshade Calculation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the mass of a lampshade made of steel, focusing on the application of Pappus' Theorem and the interpretation of the geometry involved. Participants explore various approaches to the problem, including potential miscalculations and the implications of the thickness of the material.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express uncertainty about their calculations, indicating that their initial answers seem implausibly high.
  • A participant points out a significant error in unit conversion, noting a discrepancy between mm² and m².
  • Another participant suggests that the interpretation of the Pappus Centroid Theorem may have been misapplied and recommends considering the lampshade as composed of three segments for calculation.
  • Some participants propose calculating the lengths of straight line segments to determine the centroid and apply Pappus' Theorem for volume calculation.
  • There is a discussion about the need to account for the midthickness of the radii in the calculations, with some expressing uncertainty about how to incorporate this into their approach.
  • One participant believes they may have arrived at a correct answer by chance, despite not following the suggested method, raising questions about the reliability of their solution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct method to apply or the accuracy of their calculations. Multiple competing views on how to approach the problem remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential misunderstandings of the Pappus Centroid Theorem, unresolved mathematical steps regarding the centroid calculations, and the implications of the thickness of the steel on the overall mass calculation.

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Homework Statement


The lampshade shown is constructed of [itex]0.6 \hspace{1 mm} mm[/itex] thick steel and is symmetric about the z-axis. Both the upper and lower ends are open. Determine the mass of the lampshade. Take the radii to be to midthickness.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


KadhpYu.jpg
 
Last edited:
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Sorry about the image...I'm trying to figure out how to fix it :(
 
Obviously my answer is wayyy off (unless this is the worlds heaviest lampshade) but I'm not entirely sure where I'm going wrong..
 
_N3WTON_ said:

Homework Statement


The lampshade shown is constructed of [itex]0.6 \hspace{1 mm} mm[/itex] thick steel and is symmetric about the z-axis. Both the upper and lower ends are open. Determine the mass of the lampshade. Take the radii to be to midthickness.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


KadhpYu.jpg
I haven't checked all of your numbers, but there's one thing that stands out. 42,181 mm2 ≠ 42.181 m2. You're way off (by a factor of 1000) here.
 
Mark44 said:
I haven't checked all of your numbers, but there's one thing that stands out. 42,181 mm2 ≠ 42.181 m2. You're way off (by a factor of 1000) here.
Wow thank you, so after editing the calculation I get:
[itex]42000 \hspace{1 mm} mm \hspace{1 mm} / 1000000 = 0.042 \hspace{1 mm} m[/itex]
[itex](0.042m^{2})(7830\frac{kg}{m^{3}})(6x10^{-4}m) = 0.197 \hspace{1 mm} kg[/itex] This answer makes a whole lot more sense, but I am still off by about .1 kg, the answer given is: [itex]0.293\hspace{1 mm} kg[/itex]. Is there something I need to do with the radii of the shade? I have a hunch that when they mention the radii to be midthickness that I should account for that somehow, but I'm not entirely sure how...
 
_N3WTON_ said:

Homework Statement


The lampshade shown is constructed of [itex]0.6 \hspace{1 mm} mm[/itex] thick steel and is symmetric about the z-axis. Both the upper and lower ends are open. Determine the mass of the lampshade. Take the radii to be to midthickness.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


KadhpYu.jpg

If this lampshade is a body of revolution, like most lampshades, you have seriously misinterpreted the Pappus Centroid Theorem in order to calculate the area of the surface of revolution:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pappus's_centroid_theorem

Since the shade is fabricated from steel with a thickness of 0.6 mm, you want to calculate the arclength of the shape of the shade and figure out its centroid from the z-axis, not what you have done.

You should pretend the shade is laid out as 3 skinny rectangles, with each rectangle having a width equal to the thickness of the steel, 0.6 mm. IOW, the top and bottom of the shade are cylinders and the middle portion is the frustum of a cone.

The centroid of each segment is going to lie somewhere inside the corresponding skinny rectangle, which is why the OP gives the hint, "Take the radii to be to midthickness."
 
Last edited:
SteamKing said:
If this lampshade is a body of revolution, like most lampshades, you have seriously misinterpreted the Pappus Centroid Theorem in order to calculate the area of the surface or revolution:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pappus's_centroid_theorem

Since the shade is fabricated from steel with a thickness of 0.6 mm, you want to calculate the arclength of the shape of the shade and figure out its centroid from the z-axis, not what you have done.

You should pretend the shade is laid out as 3 skinny rectangles, with each rectangle having a width equal to the thickness of the steel, 0.6 mm. IOW, the top and bottom of the shade are cylinders and the middle portion is the frustum of a cone.

The centroid of each segment is going to lie somewhere inside the corresponding skinny rectangle, which is why the OP gives the hint, "Take the radii to be to midthickness."
Ok I believe I have solved it (or I came to the correct answer by mistake). I didn't exactly use the method prescribed by SteamKing because I was having trouble setting up the proper equations, this is what I did instead:
Z5D68zj.jpg
 
_N3WTON_ said:
Ok I believe I have solved it (or I came to the correct answer by mistake). I didn't exactly use the method prescribed by SteamKing because I was having trouble setting up the proper equations, this is what I did instead:
Z5D68zj.jpg

There's almost no equations to set up. You're dealing with straight line segments. And yes, the answer you got was fortunately close to the correct one. The next time, you may not be so lucky.

All you have to do is calculate the lengths of three lines. The lengths of the top and bottom lines can be determined by inspection. The length of the middle line requires the use of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Similarly, the distance of the centroid of each of the three lines can be easily determined. The centroids of the top and bottom lines are equal to the radii measured from the z-axis; the centroid of the middle line requires that you be able to calculate the mean radius of the endpoints of this line.

Once you have the basic data determined, you can find the total length of the three lines and their centroid and then apply the Theorem of Pappus to find the volume of metal required to fabricate the lampshade.
 
SteamKing said:
There's almost no equations to set up. You're dealing with straight line segments. And yes, the answer you got was fortunately close to the correct one. The next time, you may not be so lucky.

All you have to do is calculate the lengths of three lines. The lengths of the top and bottom lines can be determined by inspection. The length of the middle line requires the use of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Similarly, the distance of the centroid of each of the three lines can be easily determined. The centroids of the top and bottom lines are equal to the radii measured from the z-axis; the centroid of the middle line requires that you be able to calculate the mean radius of the endpoints of this line.

Once you have the basic data determined, you can find the total length of the three lines and their centroid and then apply the Theorem of Pappus to find the volume of metal required to fabricate the lampshade.
Ok, so the problem is basically a calc 1 problem (rotating surface)? Also, just to be clear you're saying the method I used is incorrect and that I found the correct answer by coincidence? I'm going to try the problem and I'll post my results, thanks for the help
 
  • #10
_N3WTON_ said:

Homework Statement


The lampshade shown is constructed of [itex]0.6 \hspace{1 mm} mm[/itex] thick steel and is symmetric about the z-axis. Both the upper and lower ends are open. Determine the mass of the lampshade. Take the radii to be to midthickness.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


View attachment 174127
_N3WTON_ said:
Ok I believe I have solved it (or I came to the correct answer by mistake). I didn't exactly use the method prescribed by SteamKing because I was having trouble setting up the proper equations, this is what I did instead:
View attachment 174132
IMG_20200103_122657.jpg
 

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