Sphere-Cylinder Volume: Using Cylindrical Shells Method for Solid Calculation

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The discussion focuses on calculating the volume of a solid remaining after a cylindrical hole is drilled through a sphere using the cylindrical shells method. The integral setup is confirmed as V = ∫2πrh dr, with adjustments made to include the correct integrand involving the square root of R² - x². The final volume expression derived is 4/3 * π(R² - 9)^(3/2), which is validated by participants in the thread. An interesting point raised is that knowing the length of the cylindrical hole allows for volume determination without additional dimensions. The conversation concludes with increased confidence in solving similar problems.
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Homework Statement


A cylindrical hole of radius R is drilled through the center of a sphere of radius 3. Use the method of cylindrical shells to find the volume of the remaining solid, given that the solid is 6 cm. high.


Homework Equations


V= ∫2* ∏rh dr (shell method)


The Attempt at a Solution



I think this is the form to be used for this problem, but I am probably mistaken.
2 * ∫2* ∏ * x (R^2 - x^2) dx with a= r and b= R
4∏ ∫x (R^2 - x^2) dx

Then I'm stumped on how to do this :/ Thank you for your help.
 
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Justabeginner said:

Homework Statement


A cylindrical hole of radius R is drilled through the center of a sphere of radius 3. Use the method of cylindrical shells to find the volume of the remaining solid, given that the solid is 6 cm. high.


Homework Equations


V= ∫2* ∏rh dr (shell method)


The Attempt at a Solution



I think this is the form to be used for this problem, but I am probably mistaken.
2 * ∫2* ∏ * x (R^2 - x^2) dx with a= r and b= R
4∏ ∫x (R^2 - x^2) dx

Then I'm stumped on how to do this :/ Thank you for your help.

You have a = r but there is no r in the problem. Do you mean a = 3? Otherwise your integral looks OK, so just integrate it.

[Edit] That should be ##\sqrt{R^2-x^2}## in that integrand.
 
Last edited:
Oh wow, I see what I did wrong. So my final answer turns out to be

4/3 * pi (R^2 - 9) ^(3/2)

Is this correct? Thank you.
 
Justabeginner said:
Oh wow, I see what I did wrong. So my final answer turns out to be

4/3 * pi (R^2 - 9) ^(3/2)

Is this correct? Thank you.

I didn't notice you left off the square root over the ##R^2-x^2## in your integral formula, but apparently you had it correct on your paper since that looks like the right answer.
 
Great, thank you so much! I feel more confident about how to do these problems now :)
 
One interesting corollary of this problem is that if you know the length of the cylindrical hole you can determine the volume remaining without knowing any other dimensions.
 
Thank you for your insight on that. I will keep that in mind if I ever come across such a problem again.
 

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