MHB Roisin's question at Yahoo Answers regarding the volume of a torus

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The discussion focuses on calculating the volume of a torus generated by rotating a circle of radius a, centered at (b, 0), around the y-axis. The expected volume formula is V = 2π²a²b. Two methods are used to derive this result: the washer method and the shell method, both leading to the same volume calculation. The washer method involves integrating the area of washers, while the shell method calculates the volume using cylindrical shells. Ultimately, both methods confirm that the volume of the solid generated is indeed V = 2π²a²b.
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Here is the question:

Volume by integration help please?

A circle of radius a is centered on the x–axis at the point with co–ordinates
(b, 0), where b > a > 0. The circle is rotated around the y–axis. Determine
(with proof) the volume of the solid so generated.

I have posted a link there to this thread so the OP can see my work.
 
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Hello roisin,

The equation describing the circle to be rotated is:

$$(x-b)^2+y^2=a^2$$

Now, so that we know what our goal is, using the formula for the volume of a torus, we should expect to find the volume of the solid of revolution to be:

$$V=2\pi^2a^2b$$

Let's use both the washer and shell methods. We'll begin with the washer method.

Washer Method

The volume of an arbitrary washer is:

$$dV=\pi\left(R^2-r^2 \right)\,dy$$

where:

$$R=b+\sqrt{a^2-y^2}$$

$$r=b-\sqrt{a^2-y^2}$$

Hence:

$$R^2-r^2=(R+r)(R-r)=(2b)\left(2\sqrt{a^2-y^2} \right)=4b\sqrt{a^2-y^2}$$

And so the volume of the arbitrary washer can be written as:

$$dV=4\pi b\sqrt{a^2-y^2}\,dy$$

Now, summing the washers, we get the volume of the solid:

$$V=4\pi b\int_{-a}^a \sqrt{a^2-y^2}\,dy$$

Using the even-function rule, this becomes:

$$V=8\pi b\int_0^a \sqrt{a^2-y^2}\,dy$$

Using the substitution:

$$y=a\sin(\theta)\,\therefore\,dy=a\cos(\theta)\,d \theta$$

We have:

$$V=8\pi b\int_{\theta(0)}^{\theta(a)}\sqrt{a^2-a^2\sin^2(\theta)}\,a\cos(\theta)\,d\theta$$

Now, to change the limits of integration, observe we have:

$$\theta(x)=\sin^{-1}\left(\frac{y}{a} \right)$$ and so:

$$\theta(0)=\sin^{-1}\left(\frac{0}{a} \right)=0$$

$$\theta(a)=\sin^{-1}\left(\frac{a}{a} \right)=\frac{\pi}{2}$$

Now, on the interval $$\left(0,\frac{\pi}{2} \right)$$, we have the sine and cosine functions being non-negative, hence we may write the integral as:

$$V=8\pi b\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}a\sqrt{1-\sin^2(\theta)}\,a\cos(\theta)\,d\theta$$

$$V=8\pi a^2b\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}cos^2(\theta)\,d\theta$$

Now, using the identity $$\cos^2(x)=\frac{1+\cos(2x)}{2}$$ we have:

$$V=4\pi a^2b\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}1+\cos(2\theta)\,d \theta$$

Hence:

$$V=4\pi a^2b\left[\theta+\frac{1}{2}\sin(2\theta) \right]_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}=4\pi a^2b\left(\frac{\pi}{2} \right)=2\pi^2a^2b$$

Okay, this is the result we expected. Now let's look at the shell method.

Shell Method

The volume of an arbitrary shell is:

$$dV=2\pi rh\,dx$$

where:

$$r=x$$

$$h=2\sqrt{a^2-(x-b)^2}$$

And thus the volume of the arbitrary shell is:

$$dV=4\pi x\sqrt{a^2-(x-b)^2}\,dx$$

Summing up the shells, we get the volume of the solid:

$$V=4\pi\int_{b-a}^{b+a} x\sqrt{a^2-(x-b)^2}\,dx$$

Using the substitution:

$$x-b=a\sin(\theta)\,\therefore\,dx=a\cos(\theta)\, d\theta$$

we obtain:

$$V=4\pi\int_{-\frac{\pi}{2}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \left(a\sin(\theta)+b \right)\sqrt{a^2-a^2\sin^2(\theta)}\,a\cos(\theta)\,d\theta$$

$$V=4\pi a^2\int_{-\frac{\pi}{2}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \left(a\sin(\theta)+b \right)\sqrt{1-\sin^2(\theta)}\,\cos(\theta)\,d\theta$$

$$V=4\pi a^2\int_{-\frac{\pi}{2}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \left(a\sin(\theta)+b \right)\cos^2(\theta)\,d\theta$$

$$V=4\pi a^3\int_{-\frac{\pi}{2}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \sin(\theta)\cos^2(\theta)\,dx+4\pi a^2b\int_{-\frac{\pi}{2}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}\cos^2(\theta)\, d\theta$$

Using the odd and even function rules, we obtain:

$$V=8\pi a^2b\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}\cos^2(\theta)\, d\theta$$

Now, using the identity $$\cos^2(x)=\frac{1+\cos(2x)}{2}$$ we have:

$$V=4\pi a^2b\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}1+\cos(2\theta)\,d \theta$$

Hence:

$$V=4\pi a^2b\left[\theta+\frac{1}{2}\sin(2\theta) \right]_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}=4\pi a^2b\left(\frac{\pi}{2} \right)=2\pi^2a^2b$$

Here we have also obtained the desired result.
 
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