Finding the volume inside a cone bounded by the edge of a sphere

In summary: I will try the cylindrical again. I think I see what you mean though. Thanks for your help!In summary, the conversation involves finding the volume of a region in R^3 bounded by a sphere and a cone. The suggested approach is to find the corresponding projection onto the x-y plane and then calculate the volumes under each surface and subtract them. There is some confusion about the use of polar and cylindrical coordinates, but it is determined that the problem should be solved using spherical coordinates. The final answer is calculated to be [16 \pi(\sqrt{2} -1)]/(3\sqrt{2}).
  • #1
Fractal20
74
1

Homework Statement


Find the volume of the region D in R^3 which is inside the sphere x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 4 and also inside the cone z = sqrt (x^2 + y^2)



Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


So I decided that the best approach might be finding the area under the sphere and then subtracting the area under the cone. The first step then seemed to be to find the corresponding projection onto the x-y plane that both of these have. Since the cone defines z as the sqrt (x^2 + y^2) plugging this into the equation for the sphere yields x^2 + y^2 = 2. I took this to mean that the projection is the circle of radius two centered on the origin.

Now for the area under the sphere. In polar coords, r varies from 0 to 2, and ∅ from 0 to 2∏. Translating the equation for the sphere into polar coords I got z = sqrt (4 - r^2). So then altogether I have [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2\pi}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2}_{0}[/itex]sqrt(4 - r^2)r dr d∅.

For the cone it seemed like cylindrical coords would be the way to go. I thought z varies from 0 to r, r from 0 to 2, and ∅ from 0 to 2∏. So I had the integrand [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2\pi}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2}_{0}[/itex] [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{r}_{0}[/itex] r dz dr d∅.

Then I would just subtract the two. I'm really rusty on this stuff so I'm unsure in particular about my limits in the integration and the projection space. Does this seem correct? Is there an easier approach? This is a question from an old placement exam. Thanks!
 
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  • #2
I'm not entirely sure what you're doing. But it might be easier if you first figured out where the sphere and the cone intersect. Then calculating the volume should be straightforward, as the volume is bounded by the cone below this value, and by the sphere above it.
 
  • #3
clamtrox said:
I'm not entirely sure what you're doing. But it might be easier if you first figured out where the sphere and the cone intersect. Then calculating the volume should be straightforward, as the volume is bounded by the cone below this value, and by the sphere above it.
That is what I was trying. So the cone being defined as z = sqrt (x^2 + y^2) -> z^2 = x^2 + y^2. Plugging this into the equation for the sphere yields x^2 + y^2 + x^2 + y^2 = 4 → x^2 + y^2 = 2. Hence that is where they intersect (x^2 + y^2 = 2 and z = sqrt of 2). This also defines the domain on the xy plane that it is being integrated over: the circle of radius 2.
 
  • #4
Oh, I think I see what you mean now. I will try playing with it. Thanks, sorry for my misunderstanding.
 
  • #5
OK, and now you want to calculate the volume of the sphere which is above the intersection. It's probably easiest to do in polar coordinates (although surely spherical coords would work as well). So in polar coordinates you'd integrate something like
V = [tex]\int_0^{2\pi} d \theta \int_{\sqrt{2}}^2 dz \int dr r [/tex]
where the limits for r you get from the requirement that the volume is a sphere.
 
  • #6
Is that Cylindrical Coords then? That is something I keep confusing, I thought Polar would be a function f(∅,r) where the z is the output rather than an input.

Okay, so I thought that ∅ varies from 0 to 2\pi, z varies from r to sqrt (4 - r^2), and r from 0 to sqrt(2). So then [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{\sqrt{2}}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2\pi}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{\sqrt{4-r^2}}_{r}[/itex] r dz d∅ dr. Does that seem correct? I also have a hard time deciding the order in which to do the integration. Thanks so much for your help!
 
  • #7
@Fractal20 This problem is best done in spherical coordinates. You can calculate the required volume directly with one triple integral with constant limits on all three integrals. The angle at the base of the cone tells you the ##\phi## limit and the radius of the sphere gives you the ##\rho## limit.
 
  • #8
Okay, in spherical coords I thought it would be [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{\pi/4}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2 \pi}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2}_{0}[/itex] p^2 sin[itex]\varphi[/itex] dp d[itex]\vartheta[/itex] d[itex]\varphi[/itex]. Upon evaluating this I got [16 [itex]\pi[/itex]([itex]\sqrt{2}[/itex] -1)]/(3[itex]\sqrt{2}[/itex]).

I wanted to check this with my attempt in cylindrical. First off I realized that I neglected to actually put the function into my earlier attempt. So I thought x^2 + y^2 + z^2 translates to r^2 + z^2 in cylindrical. Then I would have: [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{r}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2\pi}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{\sqrt{2}}_{0}[/itex] (r^2 + z^2)r dr d[itex]\vartheta[/itex] dz. But evaluating this yielded 8 [itex]\pi[/itex]/3. So I am at least doing one of these wrong but probably both.

It is probably a lot to ask to check my work on this level. But if anybody feels up for it, it is greatly appreciated. Thanks for everything y'all!
 
  • #9
Fractal20 said:
Okay, in spherical coords I thought it would be [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{\pi/4}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2 \pi}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2}_{0}[/itex] p^2 sin[itex]\varphi[/itex] dp d[itex]\vartheta[/itex] d[itex]\varphi[/itex]. Upon evaluating this I got [16 [itex]\pi[/itex]([itex]\sqrt{2}[/itex] -1)]/(3[itex]\sqrt{2}[/itex]).

That is correct. See how easy the appropriate setup makes it?

I wanted to check this with my attempt in cylindrical. First off I realized that I neglected to actually put the function into my earlier attempt. So I thought x^2 + y^2 + z^2 translates to r^2 + z^2 in cylindrical. Then I would have: [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{r}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{2\pi}_{0}[/itex][itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{\sqrt{2}}_{0}[/itex] (r^2 + z^2)r dr d[itex]\vartheta[/itex] dz. But evaluating this yielded 8 [itex]\pi[/itex]/3. So I am at least doing one of these wrong but probably both.

Your first mistake is in the integrand. When calculating a volume with a triple integral you always use ##1\, dV## for the integrand. There should be no ##r^2+z^2## there. Next, you don't want to integrate in the ##r## direction first because if you do, you will have to break the problem into two parts for ##r## on the cone and ##r## on the sphere, an unnecessary complication. Try setting it up in the order ##dzdrd\theta##. Your ##z## limits won't be constant.

[Edit] Didn't you already do that in post #6?
 
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  • #10
Hmm, now I am confused about the 1 dV thing. For the spherical coord expression I had meant to include an additional p^2 since p^2 = x^2 + y^2 + z^2 but I guess my oversight was actually correct.

So in my book Calculus (Boyce and Diprima) Cylindrical is defined as in general by triple integral f(r,theta,z) dV and Spherical as triple integral f(p, theta, phi) dV. That being said, most of the examples were then about center of masses and rather than f in the integral they just have a density expression. But they are really expicit about representing f in terms of the respective terms and including them in the integral?
 
  • #12
Fractal20 said:
Hmm, now I am confused about the 1 dV thing. For the spherical coord expression I had meant to include an additional p^2 since p^2 = x^2 + y^2 + z^2 but I guess my oversight was actually correct.

So in my book Calculus (Boyce and Diprima) Cylindrical is defined as in general by triple integral f(r,theta,z) dV and Spherical as triple integral f(p, theta, phi) dV. That being said, most of the examples were then about center of masses and rather than f in the integral they just have a density expression. But they are really expicit about representing f in terms of the respective terms and including them in the integral?

First, if you work out the cylindrical version you have in post #6 you will get the same answer as the one in spherical coordinates.

Now, as to your confusion about the integrand:$$
\iiint_V 1 dV$$always gives volume. If ##\delta## is a mass density function, then$$
\iiint_V \delta\, dV$$gives the mass. If ##f = x^2+y^2 = r^2## then$$
\iiint_V f\, dV$$gives the second moment about the ##z## axis, and so on. What is in the integrand determines what the integral is calculating. And, of course, you always express the integrand and ##dV## in terms of the variables you are using for the integration.
 
  • #13
Fractal20 said:
For example, example 2 at the bottom of this website http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcIII/TISphericalCoords.aspx has an additional p^2 term because x^2 + y^2 + z^2.

But he isn't claiming that is a volume. It is just a practice integral he made up. You could think of that ##\rho^2## as a density function, which would mean the volume is heavier away from the origin. With that interpretation, he would be calculating the mass.
 
  • #14
Thanks that really clears it up. I forgot the whole point is that you are adding up those little volumes that are determined by all those d's (dx dy dz boxes in normal cartesian, dr etc... in others). It is funny how plug and chug problems remove you from the fundamental idea.
 

Related to Finding the volume inside a cone bounded by the edge of a sphere

1. What is the formula for finding the volume inside a cone bounded by the edge of a sphere?

The formula for finding the volume inside a cone bounded by the edge of a sphere is (1/3)πr2h, where r is the radius of the sphere and h is the height of the cone.

2. How do you determine the radius of the sphere in this scenario?

The radius of the sphere can be determined by measuring the distance from the center of the sphere to any point on its surface. This will be equal to the radius of the cone, as they share the same center.

3. Can the volume inside a cone bounded by the edge of a sphere be negative?

No, the volume inside a cone bounded by the edge of a sphere cannot be negative. Volume is a measure of space and cannot be negative in any scenario.

4. Is there a specific unit for the volume inside a cone bounded by the edge of a sphere?

The unit for volume will depend on the units used for the radius and height of the cone. However, the most commonly used unit for volume is cubic units, such as cubic meters or cubic centimeters.

5. Can this formula be used to find the volume of any cone and sphere combination?

Yes, the formula can be used to find the volume of any cone and sphere combination, as long as the cone is bounded by the edge of the sphere and the dimensions of the cone and sphere are known.

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