Volume of a cone using integrals

In summary, the problem is asking for the work required to pump water from an inverted cone-shaped tank with a height of 6 m and base radius of 1.5 m to the top of the tank and out. The solution involves using the integral of (density * acceleration due to gravity * area of cross section * change in height) from 0 to 6, with g = 9.8 m/s^2 and change in height as (y-6). The cross-sectional area of a cone can be calculated using trigonometry, and the solutions manual gives the area as pi * (y^2)/16.
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Homework Statement



A water tank is shaped like an inverted cone with height 6 m and base radius 1.5 m

If the tank is full, how much work is required to pump the water to the level of the top of the tank and out of the tank?


Homework Equations



Integral of ( density * g (acceleration due to gravity) * A(y) (area of a cross section ) * change in y )

The Attempt at a Solution



The integral is from zero to 6 since this strange cone-shaped tank is 6 m high. g = 9.8 m/s^2, times the change in y which is (y-6) since the cone is 6m high

My problem is that I have no idea how to compute the cross-sectional area of a cone. The cuts are circles which have an area of pi*r^2. The tricky thing with this problem though is the radius does not remain constant from top to bottom.

My solutions manual gives the area as pi * (y^2)/16. I have no idea how they got to this. Any help would be very much appreciated.
 
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  • #2
Draw the cone on your paper as a triangle facing down. Pick some point along the center axis. The radius is the distance from the center to the edge, and the height is the distance from the bottom to the current location.

Now you can use trigonometry to solve for the radius in terms of the height.
 

1. What is the formula for finding the volume of a cone using integrals?

The formula for finding the volume of a cone using integrals is V = ∫abπr2h dx, where r is the radius of the base, h is the height of the cone, and a and b are the limits of integration.

2. How is the integral used to find the volume of a cone?

The integral is used to find the volume of a cone by breaking the cone into infinitesimally thin disks, calculating the volume of each disk, and then adding them all together using the integral.

3. Can the volume of a cone be found using other methods besides integrals?

Yes, the volume of a cone can also be found using the formula V = ⅓πr2h, where r is the radius of the base and h is the height of the cone.

4. What does the variable "x" represent in the integral for finding the volume of a cone?

The variable "x" represents the distance from the base of the cone to the infinitesimally thin disk being calculated. It is used to determine the limits of integration and to calculate the radius of each disk.

5. Can the formula for finding the volume of a cone using integrals be used for any type of cone?

Yes, the formula for finding the volume of a cone using integrals can be used for any type of cone, as long as the cone has a circular base and a constant slope from the base to the apex.

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