Surface Area of a Sphere by Integration

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the surface area of a sphere using integration techniques. The original poster describes a method involving the integration of circular rings with a specified radius and height, aiming to derive the surface area through trigonometric substitution.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of the integral for the surface area, questioning the validity of integrating the circumference of rings to obtain area. There are attempts to clarify the relationship between the circumference and the area of the surface being calculated.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the need to adjust limits of integration and reconsider the formula being used for surface area. There is an ongoing exploration of the correct approach to integrating the area of the surface of revolution, with multiple interpretations being discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of ensuring that the integration method accurately reflects the geometry of the surface being analyzed, particularly in relation to the orientation of the rings and the assumptions made about the area calculation.

IBY
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Homework Statement



Say the sphere of radius "a" is made out of various rings with height R(x) and thickness dx. Adding up all of the rings will form a sphere, and in order to do that, I have to integrate.

Homework Equations



Trigonometric Substitution:
\frac{x}{a}=sin \theta
dx=a cos \theta d\theta

Function of ring height related to position in cartesian plane:
R(x)=\sqrt(a^2-x^2)

The Attempt at a Solution


Set up the integral, I just want to make my life simpler and integrate half a circle:
A=\int_0^a 2\pi R(x) dx
Substitute R(x):
\int_0^a 2\pi \sqrt(a^2-x^2) dx
Now using trigonometric substitution and factoring out a:
\int_0^a 2\pi a \sqrt(1-sin^2 \theta) dx
Using pythagorean trig identity and trig substituting for dx:
\int_0^a 2\pi a cos\theta (a cos\theta d\theta)
\int_0^a 2\pi a^2 cos^2\theta d\theta
Putting out all the constants, and integrating, using tables of integral, I get:
2\pi a^2\int_0^a cos^2\theta d\theta
2\pi a^2\int_0^a cos^2\theta d\theta
2\pi a^2 (\frac{\theta}{2}+\frac{sin(2\theta)}{4})|_0^a

The problem is, how do I solve the final part of the definite integral? What I know is that the parenthesis should be equal to 1 because the surface area is 4 pi r^2 and I integrated half a sphere.
 
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Don't forget to change your limits of integration when you make your substitution.
 
You might also want to take note that integrating ring circumference DOES NOT give you area. You might want to find a real formula for surface area before you put too much work into this.
 
@dick
But isn't (circumference*dx) the tiny little area I need?
 
Dick said:
You might also want to take note that integrating ring circumference DOES NOT give you area. You might want to find a real formula for surface area before you put too much work into this.

Oh, I think it should work just fine. For a circular ribbon of infinitesimal thickness dx and cirumference 2\pi R(x), dA=2\pi R(x)dx gives the area of one face of the ribbon.
 
gabbagabbahey said:
Oh, I think it should work just fine. For a circular ribbon of infinitesimal thickness dx and cirumference 2\pi R(x), dA=2\pi R(x)dx gives the area of one face of the ribbon.

Wanna think about that again? It gives you the area of the ribbon if it's vertical (i.e. parallel to the direction dx). If not it ignores the horizontal component. That's not a good enough approximation. Look up the formula for area of a surface of revolution.
 
Dick said:
Wanna think about that again? It gives you the area of the ribbon if it's vertical (i.e. parallel to the direction dx). If not it ignores the horizontal component. That's not a good enough approximation. Look up the formula for area of a surface of revolution.

Right, whoops... gotcha.
 
So first I have to solve the following for rings?
dA=2\pi y\sqrt(1+(\frac{dy}{dx})^2)dx
 
IBY said:
So first I have to solve the following for rings?
dA=2\pi y\sqrt(1+(\frac{dy}{dx})^2)dx

Yes. You have to do some algebra to reduce it to a simple form. But once you get that form the integral is super easy.
 

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