Calculating Mass of Solid Using Spherical Coordinates

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In summary, the problem involves calculating the mass of a solid, denoted as W, bounded above by rho=3 and below by phi=pi/3, with a density that is directly proportional to the square of its distance above the xy plane. The use of spherical coordinates is suggested, with the integral being taken over rho from 0 to 3, phi from 0 to pi/3, and theta from 0 to 2pi. The density function is determined to be proportional to z^2, which can be expressed as (rho*cos(phi))^2 in spherical coordinates. The resulting integral should be broken apart into three separate integrals, with the angle in the z and dV parts being the same (the polar
  • #1
hils0005
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Homework Statement


W is the solid bounded above by [tex]\rho[/tex]=3 and below by[tex]\phi[/tex]=[tex]\pi[/tex]/3, calculate the mass W if the density at each point is directly proportional to the square of its distance above the xy plane.


The Attempt at a Solution



I am having a difficult time starting out this problem, I am assuming I need to use spherical coordinates considering the problem is given in terms of rho and phi, however it says bounded above by rho=3 and below by phi =pi/3, I thought phi determined the angle from the z axis to rho??

Any thoughts direction would be appreciated
 
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  • #2
They didn't describe that very well, but it looks to me like they want you to integrate rho from 0 to 3 and phi from 0 to pi/3 and over all theta. The region looks like a cone with a spherical cap on it. I think by above and below they mean relative to the z axis.
 
  • #3
I completely stuck
How do I determine what my density function will be?

[tex]\int[/tex][tex]\int[/tex][tex]\int[/tex] [tex]\delta[/tex](x,y,z)[tex]\rho[/tex]^2sin[tex]\theta[/tex]d[tex]\rho[/tex]d[tex]\phi[/tex]d[tex]\theta[/tex]
0[tex]\leq[/tex][tex]\rho[/tex][tex]\leq[/tex]3
0[tex]\leq[/tex][tex]\leq[/tex][tex]\pi[/tex]/3
0[tex]\leq[/tex][tex]\theta[/tex][tex]\leq[/tex]2pi

would I use [tex]\rho[/tex]^2??
 
Last edited:
  • #4
No. They tell you that the density is proportional to z^2. What's z in spherical coordinates?
 
  • #5
z=[tex]\rho[/tex]cos[tex]\phi[/tex]

z^2=([tex]\rho[/tex]cos[tex]\phi[/tex])^2 ??
 
  • #6
Why the question marks?? Sounds right to me. They only said 'proportional to', so you might want to call it C*z^2, just for generality.
 
  • #7
[tex]\int[/tex][tex]\int[/tex][tex]\int[/tex] [tex]\rho[/tex]^2cos^2[tex]\theta[/tex][tex]\rho[/tex]^2sin[tex]\theta[/tex]d[tex]\rho[/tex]d[tex]\phi[/tex]d[tex]\theta[/tex]
0[tex]\leq[/tex][tex]\rho[/tex][tex]\leq[/tex]3
0[tex]\leq[/tex][tex]\leq[/tex][tex]\pi[/tex]/3
0[tex]\leq[/tex][tex]\theta[/tex][tex]\leq[/tex]2pi
 
  • #8
Looks ok so far. But be careful about theta and phi. You said z=r*cos(phI) and then you put in cos(theta). theta and phi tend to get mixed up. There are two different conventions for this. Is theta the polar angle or phi?
 
  • #9
my mistake, should be p^2cos^2(phi) p^2sin(theta)
can this be broken apart:

(Integral rho^4 from 0 to 3)*(Integral Cos^2 phi from 0 to pi/3)*(Integral sin theta from 0 to 2pi)

(1/5rho^5) * (pi/6 + .5sin(pi/3)cos(pi/3)) * (-cos(2pi) - -cos(0))

(48.6)(.2165)(0)=0 ?
 
Last edited:
  • #10
The angle in the z and the angle in the dV part of the integral should both be the same angle (the polar angle), shouldn't they? I'm just worried you are mixing formulas.
 

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