Surface integral: Calculate the heat flow from a cylinder

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the heat flow across the boundary of a solid cylinder defined by the equation x^2 + y^2 ≤ 1 and 1 ≤ z ≤ 4. The temperature function is T(x,y,z) = (x^2 + y^2)z, with a thermal conductivity of 55. The calculated heat flow across the top and bottom surfaces is 55π/2 and -55π/2, respectively. The main issue arises in determining the heat flow across the cylindrical side, where discrepancies in the limits of integration lead to confusion regarding the correct answer of -110π as per the solutions manual.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of surface integrals in multivariable calculus
  • Familiarity with the concept of heat flow and thermal conductivity
  • Knowledge of vector calculus, specifically gradients and dot products
  • Ability to perform integration over cylindrical coordinates
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the application of the Divergence Theorem in heat flow calculations
  • Learn about cylindrical coordinates and their integration techniques
  • Review vector calculus concepts, particularly the gradient and surface integrals
  • Examine examples of heat transfer problems involving solid geometries
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in engineering, physics, and applied mathematics who are involved in heat transfer analysis and surface integral calculations.

krihamm
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Homework Statement
Calculate the heat flow from a cylinder
Relevant Equations
See below
Hi,

I am trying to calculate the heat flow across the boundary of a solid cylinder. The cylinder is described by x^2 + y^2 ≤ 1, 1 ≤ z ≤ 4. The temperature at point (x,y,z) in a region containing the cylinder is T(x,y,z) = (x^2 + y^2)z. The thermal conductivity of the cylinder is 55. The gradient of the temperature is nabla(T) = 2xzi + 2yzj + (x^2 + y^2)k.

I have calculated the heat flow across the bottom and top surfaces of the cylinder using the dot product of the gradient of T and the normal vector (e.g. the cross product of the tangent vectors in the u- and v-directions of the parameterized surface). They are 55pi/2 and -55pi/2, respectively. However, I am having trouble determining the heat flow across the cylindrical side.

According to the solutions manual (see figure below), the answer is -110pi. This is plausible based on the flow across the bottom and top surfaces of the cylinder. However, I do not understand the change of limits of integration in the solutions. I want to keep the limits as they are, but that results in a very high flow across the cylindrical side. Changing the limits of integration as the solution manual suggests yields a plausible answer, but I do not understand what justifies the change..

Any help is much appreciated!

1602528322279.png
krihamm
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
I have no physical background, but I believe the change of limits is incorrect. Basically they are claiming that
$$\int_1^4 2vdv = \int_0^1 2vdv$$
which is clearly wrong.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K