# Homework Help: Sphere/cone volume problem

1. Mar 14, 2007

### th0rbahn

Here is an assigned problem:

As it is a problem for my integral calculus class, I assume some integral calculus would be required to solve it, possibly dealing with the rate of change of the sphere as it descends down into the cone, but I'm not sure.

I'm not exactly looking for a complete solution, more of a thought process that would lead me in the right direction. Any help or thoughts on this is appreciated.

Thanks.

Last edited by a moderator: May 2, 2017
2. Mar 14, 2007

### AKG

Case 1: the whole ball goes in.
If the ball has radius R, it displaces a volume of water of $\frac{4}{3}\pi R^3$.

Case 2: the whole ball doesn't go in, but at least half does.
Let R be the radius of the ball. Part of the ball sticks out above the opening of the cone. Say the part that sticks out above has volume v. Then the amount of water displaced is $\frac{4}{3}\pi R^3 - v$. You need to find an expression for v in terms of R, h, and r, where h and r are the height and radius of the cone, respectively.

Case 3: less than half the ball goes in.
The idea is the same as case 2, but the expression for v will be different.

3. Mar 14, 2007

### th0rbahn

Thank you, that's quite helpful. Will the expression for 'v' in case 2 require an integral? Also, once we have an expression for water displaced in terms of the geometries of the cone and sphere, what technique would be used to find the radius which maximizes the volume of water? Would that be using optimization techniques from differential calculus?

4. Mar 15, 2007

### AKG

Using integrals will be a good approach.
Yes.

5. Mar 19, 2007

### th0rbahn

Hi again, I've worked through a lot of this but haven't quite been able to reach an answer yet.

The problem is when I reach the following integral:

http://thorbahn.net/misc/cone_integral.jpg [Broken]

can such a thing be done to solve for volume only in terms of R, the radius of the sphere? That integral equal to v, the volume of the region of the sphere above the cone when the sphere is more than half "submerged".

Here is a scan of my work to reach this point:
http://thorbahn.net/misc/cone_problem.jpg [Broken]

I commend anyone who takes the time to look at this for me.
Thanks.

Last edited by a moderator: May 2, 2017
6. Mar 19, 2007

### Werg22

AKG, it is impossible for a ball to get half way in. Case 2 doesn't exist. For case 3, we have to note that the surface of the cone will be tangential to the ball. I'm thinking about the problem, but I can't find the condition for which a ball is either in case 1 or 3.... thinking....

7. Mar 19, 2007

### th0rbahn

I believe I have solved it since my last post, the work on the scanned page was correct and a more meticulous method for finding the integral made it solvable. For what it's worth, the radius which maximized the amount of water displaced was a value just a bit less than 1, yielding a displaced volume of 7.49. Half submerged resulted in 6.28 while completely submered was 5.30.

8. Mar 19, 2007

### Werg22

You would have to show that because I'm convinced that it is impossible for a sphere to be half submerged.

Edit: sorry to be blunt, but I believe your work is wrong all around. Let me give you a pointer:

Find a function of the radius of the sphere vs the its width when its derivative is parallel to the a segment of the cone. To do this, simply illustrate the problem with a line (and its slope) and a circle. Let's call this width threshold width. If the threshold width is smaller than diameter of the cone, then, the cone will be tangential to the sphere. If the threshold width is larger than the diameter of the cone, then the ball gets "stuck". This means you need two functions for the displaced volume. Finally find the respective maxima and compare them.

Last edited: Mar 19, 2007
9. Mar 19, 2007

### AKG

It's impossible for at least half the ball to be submerged? You think a pea wouldn't fit in an ice cream cone?

10. Mar 19, 2007

### Werg22

No, not at all. It's impossible for exactly half of it to be submerged. See my proposed solution, it doesn't exclude all or most of the sphere being submerged.

Edit: ok rereading case 2, I realize that you meant "more than half". A misunderstanding. Sorry.

Last edited: Mar 19, 2007
11. Mar 20, 2007

### Werg22

Okay. It is possible for exactly half of the ball to be submerged, I wasn't thinking right. What needs to be remembered is that the fact that the cone will be tangential to the ball.

12. Mar 20, 2007

### AKG

If the cone is tangential to the ball and the ball is exactly half way in, then the vertex of the cone goes to infinity.

13. Mar 20, 2007

### Werg22

Yes, that is if the cone is tangential to the ball at the radius. Funny, because this is why I kept on saying it's impossible for exactly half the ball to go in. However, it is possible - in the case the cone is tangential to the ball at some z, and then the lateral section of the cone extents the level of the radius of the ball.

14. Mar 20, 2007

### AKG

You calculated r wrong. I've attached something, it should help you figure out how to calculate r.

EDIT: actually, as Werg22 points out below, you're assuming the ball touches the cone at it's half-way point. This is wrong.

#### Attached Files:

• ###### untitled.JPG
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Views:
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Last edited by a moderator: May 2, 2017
15. Mar 20, 2007

### Werg22

AKG, do you agree that there is a problem with his method? The ball does not get stuck at it's radius, like he assumed.

16. Mar 20, 2007

### AKG

Yes, I agree.

17. Mar 21, 2007

### th0rbahn

hm. now I'm in a pickle because this is due tomorrow and for the last while I thought I was finished. any comments you have to add to your previous ones to help work through this would be appreciated, because right now it's not coming together.

18. Mar 21, 2007

### Werg22

Hummm PM me.

19. Mar 21, 2007

### JasonRox

Man, I laughed out loud. :rofl:

20. Mar 21, 2007

### th0rbahn

No more assistance needed -- it has been solved. Maybe even correctly, too.