What is the work done in emptying a half-full cylindrical tank through a pipe?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the work done in emptying a half-full cylindrical tank of olive oil through a pipe. The tank is described as a right circular cylinder with specific dimensions and weight density, and the outlet is positioned above the tank.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to set up the problem using calculus, specifically integrating to find the work done, but expresses confusion regarding the integration steps and the use of a semicircle area in the solution manual.
  • Some participants suggest an alternative approach involving the center of mass of the oil, questioning the necessity of 3D integration versus 2D integration due to symmetry.
  • Questions arise about the inclusion of gravitational acceleration in the calculations and the interpretation of the weight of the oil.
  • Another participant poses a related problem involving a full tank and seeks clarification on the limits of integration and the distance to be calculated for work done.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different methods to approach the problem. There is no explicit consensus on the best method, but various lines of reasoning are being examined, and some guidance has been offered regarding the integration process and the physical principles involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that they are working under constraints of their current understanding of calculus and physics, particularly regarding 3D objects and integration techniques. There is also mention of a solutions manual that may differ from the original poster's approach.

kuahji
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A storage tank is a right circular cylinder 20ft long and 8 ft in diameter with its axis horizontal. If the tank is half full of olive oil weighing 57 lb/ft^3, find the work done in emptying it through a pipe that runs from the bottom of the tank to an outlet that is 6 ft above the top of the tank.

My work
I set the bottom of the tank at the point (0,0) & then drew a circle with a radius of 4.
dV=2x(20)dy
then solved the the circle's equation for x, x=[tex]\sqrt{(16-y^2)}[/tex]
dV=40[tex]\sqrt{(16-y^2)}[/tex]
F(y)=57(40)[tex]\sqrt{(16-y^2)}[/tex]
10-y should be the distance the work must do
W=2280 [tex]\int[/tex](10-y)[tex]\sqrt{(16-y^2)}[/tex]
Then I distributed the (10-y)
W=22800[tex]\int[/tex][tex]\sqrt{(16-y^2)}[/tex]- 2280[tex]\int[/tex]y[tex]\sqrt{(16-y^2)}[/tex]

For part two, I set u=16-y^2 & got
W=22800[tex]\int[/tex][tex]\sqrt{(16-y^2)}[/tex]+ 1140[tex]\int[/tex]y[tex]\sqrt{(16-y^2)}[/tex]

This is the part where I get lost, I did it a bit differently from the solutions manual, but at this point the manual shows inserting 4[tex]\pi[/tex] as follows
22800(4[tex]\pi[/tex])+ 1140[tex]\int[/tex]y[tex]\sqrt{(16-y^2)}[/tex] (evaluated from 0 to -4), I tried from (0 to 4) in my solution.

I don't understand why the solutions manual is doing this particular step, it says its the area of a semicircle, but can anyone explain why I use it in this problem & where the integral disappears to?
 
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The problem can be solved easily in a different way if you calculate position of the centre of mass of the oil by integration. After that, work done = Mgh, where M is the total mass and h the height the CM has to rise. This would be the Physicist's approach.
 
Wouldn't you have to calculate it for a 3d object though? I don't have those skills yet. So far all I've dealt with was thin plats, 2d objects.
 
Yes, for 3d objects, but you have to do that anyway. And because of symmetry, the integration would be only for 2d.

I don't notice any value of g in your calcs? Also, I'm not very sure what you are trying to do.

Let me know if you need more help, but after explaining what is the method you are following.
 
Shooting star said:
Yes, for 3d objects, but you have to do that anyway. And because of symmetry, the integration would be only for 2d.

I don't notice any value of g in your calcs? Also, I'm not very sure what you are trying to do.

Let me know if you need more help, but after explaining what is the method you are following.

The value of g should already be in the 57 lbs, as weight. Guess I'm kind of lost myself, but up unto there, I everything the solution manual has.
 
Hi everyone.

I have a very similar problem to the one kuahji posted, but my problem is a storage tank completely full of oil. Would I then calculate using (6+8 -y) or (14-y) or would I use the same (10-y)? Also, wouldn't my integral be from -4 to 4 ( or 2* [0 to 4])? Thanks for any help!
 

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