Solid of Revolution of an arcsin graph

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
8 replies · 4K views
e to the i pi
Messages
20
Reaction score
0
1. Consider the function f(x) = arcsin(2x^2 - 1).
Write down, but do not attempt to solve, a definite integral in terms of y, which when evaluated will give the volume of the solid of revolution formed by rotating the graph about the y-axis.




2. Endpoints are at (-1, pi/2) and (1, pi/2).
x-intercepts are at (-1/sqrt(2), 0) and (1/sqrt(2), 0).
y-intercept is at (0, -pi/2).
The equation looks like a "bowl" shape.




3. I know that there are two main methods: the disc method and the shell method. Unfortunately, I don't know how to apply them very well. I'm used to having functions only in one quadrant, but this function is in all 4 quadrants at once!
My best attempt would be something like this:
Trying to put it in the form: 2pi*r*h
Integral from -1 to 1 of: 2pi * arcsin(2x^2 - 1) * dy
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You need of course, to write that integrand in terms of the variable of integration, y.

If y= arcsin(2x^2- 1, then 2x^2- 1= sin(y), 2x^2= 1+ sin(y), x= sqrt{(1+ sin(y)/2). By symmetry, it is sufficent to find the volume generated by rotating the graph in the first quadrant around the y- axis and then multiply by two.
 
So once I have it in the form x = sqrt((sin(y) + 1)/2), do I then have to change the numbers on the top and bottom of the integral? So instead of going from -1 to 1, I am now going from -pi/2 to +pi/2? And by doing that, I am now wrapping it around the x-axis? So I can change it to become:
y = sqrt((sin(x) + 1)/2) from -pi/2 to pi/2 around the x-axis?
If that is correct, what do I do from then on to create the definite integral?
 
You said I should cut it in half and then calculate half of that. Does that mean I am only going from 0 to +pi/2 or from -pi/2 to 0, rather than the full way?
So would the integral be like this:
Integral from 0 to +pi/2 of: (sqrt((sin(x) + 1)/2)) * dx
Is that the answer?
 
Please someone help me! It's been literally weeks and I still can't solve this problem :(
 
Okay, my new attempt at the solution is to use the formula:
V = Integral from a to b of [f(y)]^2 * dy
By transposition we get:
x = sqrt((sin(y) + 1) / 2)
Since x = f(y), then [f(y)]^2 = (sin(y) + 1) / 2
Now I thought that since an arcsin graph is symmetrical, I can just simply calculate it from -pi/2 to pi/2 since when it rotates it's going to cover the other half anyway.
So the definite integral goes from -pi/2 to pi/2
V = Integral from -pi/2 to pi/2 of (sin(y) + 1) / 2 * dy
Is that correct?
 
Please tell me if I'm doing it right or wrong because I am still confused!
 
It's been almost a month and I still haven't solved it! Please help me!
 
I think what happens is people see a list of answers and just assume it's answered. Just use volume by shells along the y-axis where the volume of the i'th shell is just [itex]\pi r^2 dy[/itex] right? but keep in mind, wish to have the radius always positive so when you solve for the radius in terms of x, you get:

[tex]x^2=1/2 \sin(y)+1[/tex]

but y goes from -pi/2 to pi/2 and the negative values would give a negative value of the sine. So once you get that straight, you can write the volume as:

[tex]V=\pi \int_{-\pi/2}^0 (1/2\sin(-y)+1)dy+\pi \int_0^{\pi/2}(1/2\sin(y)+1)dy[/tex]

think so anyway. You go through it and make sure everything makes sense to you.