Work done by gravity to fill truncated cone.

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the work done by gravity while filling a truncated cone with sand, the approach involves considering a disc of radius 'x' and thickness 'dy'. The force on this disc is expressed as 'd(π)(x^2)(dy)g', with the total height to be raised against gravity being 'H'. The integration should be performed with respect to the vertical height 'y', not the slant height, leading to the integral ∫₀ᴴ ρ π x² g y dy. The correct limits for the integration depend on expressing 'x' as a function of 'y', simplifying the calculation without needing cylindrical coordinates. The discussion emphasizes the importance of correctly identifying the limits and variables in the integration process.
Dr.Brain
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Ok i need to calculate the work done by gravity , while filling a truncated cone of bottom radius R and upper radius r (R>r) and height H , with sand of density 'd' , if we start filling the cone from bottom..

What i did was , I considered a disc of radius 'x' as a part of the cone and with thickness 'dy' , this dy is not vertical but slanting as per the contour of the cone , so the force on this disc would be 'd(pie)(x^2)(dy)g' and the total height to be raised against gravity is H //

So i guess work done should be : (d)(pie)(x^2)(dy)g .H , now because dy is slanting and not vertical ,should I integrate this expression from 0 to the 'total slanting height of the cone' ? ..hwo shud i integrate ..??
 
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I suggest using cylindrical coordinates for your integration.
 
any reference website , for using cylindrical coordinates...its been a long time i used them//?
 
You could also use basic trigonometric functions to make the integration simpler( use the semi vertical angle).
 
Ok i used the cylindrical coordinates ... The work done would be

/dW = / g.dm.z (because z is the distance to be transversed in vertical direction while filling the sand)

then dm = d.dV where d is the density of the sand

in cylindrical coordinates:

/dV = / r dr dO dz

i integrated dr from R to r
and dz from 0 to H ...

I got the wrong answer..
 
Limits!

For a given z, what are the correct limits for the integration over the radial variable?, Not r nor R.
 
I think limits for z would be 0 to H
 
  • #10
Dr.Brain said:
Ok i need to calculate the work done by gravity , while filling a truncated cone of bottom radius R and upper radius r (R>r) and height H , with sand of density 'd' , if we start filling the cone from bottom..

What i did was , I considered a disc of radius 'x' as a part of the cone and with thickness 'dy' , this dy is not vertical but slanting as per the contour of the cone , so the force on this disc would be 'd(pie)(x^2)(dy)g' and the total height to be raised against gravity is H //

So i guess work done should be : (d)(pie)(x^2)(dy)g .H , now because dy is slanting and not vertical ,should I integrate this expression from 0 to the 'total slanting height of the cone' ? ..hwo shud i integrate ..??
While the edges of your discs are slanted, that does not mean "dy" is slanted. Since the discs are infinitesimally thin, the slant of the edges is irrelevant: The volume of each disc is still \pi x^2 dy.

Now consider that each disc is raised by a height of "y", not H, so your integral becomes:
\int_0^H \rho \pi x^2\,gy \,dy

Evaluating this is easy. First find an equation expressing x as a function of y. (No need for cylindrical coordinates.)
 
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