COMPUTING WORK DONE BY A VARIABLE FORCE FUNCTION

The following problems will use integration to find the Volume of a Solid of Revolution. We start with a region $R$ in the $xy$-plane, which we "spin" around the $y$-axis to create a Solid of Revolution. Imagine the solid composed of thin concentric "shells" or cylinders, somewhat like layers of an onion, with centers of the shells being the $y$-axis. This process is called the Shell Method. The details of the Shell Method are posted below.


tex2html_wrap_inline125


tex2html_wrap_inline125


tex2html_wrap_inline125


When doing problems we will first sketch a graph of the function on a specific interval. If we are revolving the graph of $ y=f(x) $ about the $x$-axis, we will mark the radius $r=f(x)$ at $x$ on the $x$-axis for $ a \le x \le b $. If we are revolving the graph of $ x=g(y) $ about the $y$-axis, we will mark the radius $r=g(y)$ at $y$ on the $x$-axis for $ c \le x \le d $. Then the total Surface Area of the Surface of Revolution is either $$ Surface \ Area = 2 \pi \int_{a}^{b} (radius) \sqrt{ 1 + \Big({dy \over dx}\Big)^2 } \ dx = 2 \pi \int_{a}^{b} (f(x)) \sqrt{ 1 + \Big({dy \over dx}\Big)^2 } \ dx $$ or $$ Surface \ Area = 2 \pi \int_{c}^{d} (radius) \sqrt{ 1 + \Big({dx \over dy}\Big)^2 } \ dy = 2 \pi \int_{c}^{d} (g(y)) \sqrt{ 1 + \Big({dx \over dy}\Big)^2 } \ dy $$

EXAMPLE 1: Consider the graph of $ y=x^3 $ on the interval $ 0 \le x \le 2 $. Compute the Area of the Surface of Revolution formed by revolving this graph about the $x$-axis.

Solution: Here is a carefully labeled sketch of the graph with a radius $r$ marked together with $x$ on the $x$-axis.

tex2html_wrap_inline125


Thus the total Area of this Surface of Revolution is $$ Surface \ Area = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{2} (radius) \sqrt{ 1 + \Big({dy \over dx}\Big)^2 } \ dx $$ $$ = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{2} (x^3) \sqrt{ 1 + (3x^2)^2 } \ dx $$ $$ = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{2} (x^3) \sqrt{ 1 + 9x^4 } \ dx $$ $$ = 2 \pi {2 \over 3} \cdot {1 \over 36} (1 + 9x^4)^{3/2} \Big|_{0}^{2} $$ $$ = 2 \pi {1 \over 54} (1 + 9x^4)^{3/2} \Big|_{0}^{2} $$ $$ = {2 \pi \over 54} (1 + 9x^4)^{3/2} \Big|_{0}^{2} $$ $$ = { \pi \over 27 } \Big( (1 + 9(2)^4)^{3/2} - (1 + 9(0)^4)^{3/2} \Big) $$ $$ = { \pi \over 27 } \Big( (145)^{3/2} - (1)^{3/2} \Big) $$ $$ = { \pi \over 27 } \Big( (145)^{3/2} - 1 \Big) $$

EXAMPLE 2: Consider the graph of $ y=x^2 $ on the interval $ 0 \le x \le 2 $. Compute the Area of the Surface of Revolution formed by revolving this graph about the $y$-axis.

Solution: First solve the equation for $x$ getting $ x=y^{1/2} $. Here is a carefully labeled sketch of the graph with a radius $r$ marked together with $y$ on the $y$-axis.

tex2html_wrap_inline125


Thus the total Area of this Surface of Revolution is $$ Surface \ Area = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{4} (radius) \sqrt{ 1 + \Big({dx \over dy}\Big)^2 } \ dy $$ $$ = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{4} (y^{1/2}) \sqrt{ 1 + ((1/2)y^{-1/2})^2 } \ dy $$ $$ = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{4} (y^{1/2}) \sqrt{ 1 + (1/4)y^{-1} } \ dy $$ $$ = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{4} (y^{1/2}) \sqrt{ 1 + {1 \over 4y} } \ dy $$ $$ = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{4} (y^{1/2}) \sqrt{ {4y \over 4y}+ {1 \over 4y} } \ dy $$ $$ = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{4} (y^{1/2}) \sqrt{ {4y +1 \over 4y} } \ dy $$ $$ = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{4} (y^{1/2}) { \sqrt{ 4y +1 } \over \sqrt{4y} } \ dy $$ $$ = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{4} (y^{1/2}) { \sqrt{ 4y +1 } \over 2 y^{1/2} } \ dy $$ $$ = 2 \pi \int_{0}^{4} { \sqrt{ 4y +1 } \over 2 } \ dy $$ $$ = {2 \pi \over 2 } \int_{0}^{4} \sqrt{ 4y +1 } \ dy $$ $$ = \pi \cdot {2 \over 3} \cdot {1 \over 4} (4y+1)^{3/2} \Big|_{0}^{4} $$ $$ = { \pi \over 6 } (4y+1)^{3/2} \Big|_{0}^{4} $$ $$ = { \pi \over 6 } \Big( (4(4)+1)^{3/2} - (4(0)+1)^{3/2} \Big) $$ $$ = { \pi \over 6 } \Big( (17)^{3/2} - (1)^{3/2} \Big) $$ $$ = { \pi \over 6 } \Big( (17)^{3/2} - 1 \Big) $$

Most of the following problems are average. A few are somewhat challenging. All are "algebra intensive" and will require that you remember your integration techniques. Many answers will have "messy numbers so be patient.




Click HERE to return to the original list of various types of calculus problems.


Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please e-mail any correspondence to Duane Kouba by clicking on the following address :

kouba@math.ucdavis.edu


A heartfelt "Thank you" goes to The MathJax Consortium and the online Desmos Grapher for making the construction of graphs and this webpage fun and easy.

Duane Kouba ... October 12, 2020