# Volume of Revolution question

1. Feb 27, 2013

### icesalmon

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A torus is formed by revolving the region bounded by the circle x2 + y2 = 1 about the line x = 2. Find the volume of the solid.

3. The attempt at a solution
I've actually got the answer correct. I'm using shell method. My height, h(x), I believe is double the area of the semi-circle, I have 2(1-x2)1/2 and my radius p(x) was 1. I'm integrating over the interval [-1,1] and I got 4pi2 I'm curious if this was the right thing to do or if it makes sense to more knowledgeable people out there. Thanks

2. Feb 27, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

If you got the right answer, I don't see how. Using the shell method, a typical volume element would be 2$\pi$ * radius * height * Δx

The height is 2√(1 - x2), as you say, but the radius is not a constant - it is 2 - x. The radius of the circle is 1, but that doesn't have anything directly to do with the volume of the torus, other than playing a role in the height.

3. Feb 27, 2013

### icesalmon

so the height is 2(1-x2)1/2 and the radius is 2-x
thanks, got it.

Last edited: Feb 27, 2013
4. Feb 27, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

Can you show how you did the integration? I'm getting 4$\pi^2$, which is the answer you showed in post 1.

You should break the integral into two integrals. One of them would be somewhat difficult if you actually tried to find an antiderivative, but it's easy when you use the geometry that the integral represents. The other integral is an easy substitution.

5. Feb 27, 2013

### icesalmon

I have 4(1-x2)1/2 -2x(1-x2)1/2 for my first integrand after factoring. integrating -2x(1-x2)1/2 I believe goes to 0. so i'm left with 4(1-x2)1/2 to integrate so, I factor out the 4 and use trig subs to finish off the integral letting x = sin(θ) my bounds change to [-pi/2,pi/2] and I end up with 8pi/2(theta + sin(theta)) the sin(theta) is zero at both pi and -pi so I have 4pi(pi/2-(-pi/2)) = 4pi(pi) = 4pi2

6. Feb 27, 2013

### icesalmon

i'm not "supposed" to know how to use trigonometric substitution at this point. The (1-x2)1/2 is the area under the upper portion of the circle but i'm not sure what kind of techniques are being used to reduce it down to pi2

edit: the integrand (1-x2)1/2 represents half of the area of a circle so I would multiply 8pi by pi(r)2/2 with r = 1
I would get 8pi(pi(1)/2) = 4pi2

Last edited: Feb 27, 2013
7. Feb 28, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

Right, that's exactly what you're supposed to do. That's what I meant when I said that the integral was easy if you use the geometry that it represents.

And yes, the other integral's contribution is 0.

8. Feb 28, 2013

### icesalmon

yes, of course. Thank you