MA1102R CALCULUS

Lesson 21
Wang Fei

matwf@nus.edu.sg

Department of Mathematics
Office: S14-02-09
Tel: 6516-2937

Solids of Revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Volumes by Cylindrical Shells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Arc Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Surface Area of Revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

1
Solids of Revolution
■ Suppose the solid is obtained by rotating the region under the curve y = f (x) from a to b
about the x-axis.
√
◆ For example, y = x from 0 to 1:

y y
1
√
y= x O

x
√
x

O 1 x
Z
1 1 Z
√ 2 π
A(x) = π( x) . Then V (x) = A(x) dx = πx dx = .
Z b 0 0 2
2
■ A(x) = π(f (x)) , so V = π(f (x))2 dx. Washer method.
a

2 / 17

Examples
■ Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating the region bounded by y = x3 , y = 8 and
x = 0 about the y-axis.
y
y

√
x= 3 y
y = x3

x
O 2 x

√ √
◆ Integrate along the y-axis: y = x3 ⇒ x = 3 y. A(y) = π( 3 y)2 .
Z 8 Z 8
√ 2 96
■ V = π( y) dy =
3
πy 2/3 dy = π.
0 0 5
3 / 17

2
Volumes by Cylindrical Shells
■ Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region bounded by
y = 2x2 − x3 and y = 0.
y

y = 2x2 − x3
32
27 r2
r1
y

O r1 r2 2 x

◆ A(y) = π(r22 − r12 ) = · · · =?

◆ Let y ′ = 4x − 3x2 = 0. Then x = 4/3. y = 32/27.
Z 32/27
■ V = A(y) dy = · · · · · · .
0
■ It seems that we cannot continue using washer method.

4 / 17

Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

■ Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region bounded by
y = 2x2 − x3 and y = 0.
y y
y = f (x)
y = 2x2 − x3

f (x)

x
O x
∆x

◆ ∆V = π[(x + ∆x)2 − x2 ] · f (x) = π(2x + ∆x)f (x) · ∆x.

| {z } |{z}
base area height
dV ∆V
◆ = lim = lim π(2x + ∆x)f (x) = 2πx f (x).
dx ∆x→0 ∆x ∆x→0

5 / 17

3
Volumes of Cylindrical Shells
■ In general, let f be a continuous function such that f (x) ≥ 0 for all x ∈ [a, b], (0 ≤ a < b).
◆ Then the volume of the solid obtained by rotating the region under the curve y = f (x)
from a to b about the y-axis is
Z b
V = 2πx f (x) dx.
a
◆ This is called the method of cylindrical shells.
◆ In the previous example, f (x) = 2x2 − x3 on [0, 2].
Then the volume of the solid obtained by rotating the region under the curve y = f (x),
0 ≤ x ≤ 2 about the y-axis is
Z 2  x=5
2 3 4 2 5 16π
■ V = 2πx(2x − x ) dx = π x − x = .
0 5 x=0 5

6 / 17

Examples
■ Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region between
y = x and y = x2 .
y

y=x

y = x2

O 1x

◆ Find the lower and upper limit of integral:

x = x2 ⇒ x = 0 or x = 1. The integral is from 0 to 1.
■
Z
◆ V = 2πradius · height dx.
Z 1  3 x=1
2 x x4 π
■ V = 2πx(x − x ) dx = 2π − = .
0 3 4 x=0 6

7 / 17

4
Examples
■ Use cylindrical shell method
√ to find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating the region
under the curve y = x from 0 to 1 about the x-axis.

y
1
√
y= x

y
1 − y2
y

O x
y2 1

Z 1  y=1
1 π
◆ V = 2π y · (1 − y ) dy = π y − y 4
2 2
= .
0 |{z} | {z } 2 y=0 2
radius height

8 / 17

The Arc Length

■ A function f called smooth if f ′ is continuous.
◆ How to measure the arc length of a smooth curve?
B b

p
∆L = (∆x)2 + (∆y)2
s 2 
∆L ∆y
=
1+
∆L
b
∆x ∆x
∆y s  2
dL ∆L dy
b
= lim = 1+
∆x dx ∆x→0 ∆x dx
A b
b

◆ The arc length of the curve y = f (x) from x = a to x = b is

Z bp
L= 1 + (f ′ (x))2 dx.
a

9 / 17

5
Example
√
■ Find the length of the arc of y = x from (0, 0) to (1, 1).
Z 1r Z 1r
dy 1 1 1
◆ = √ . L= 1+ dx = lim+ 1+ dx.
dx 2 x 0 4x a→0 a 4x
√
■ Useru = x (x > 0).r Then u2 = x.
Z Z Z √
1 1
■ 1+ dx = 1 + 2 2u du = 1 + 4u2 du.
4x 4u
Z √ √ Z √
1 + 4u du = u 1 + 4u − u( 1 + 4u2 )′ du
2 2

Z
√
2
4u2
= u 1 + 4u − √ du
Z 1 + 4u2 Z
√ √ 1
= u 1 + 4u2 − 1 + 4u2 du + √ du.
Z √ 4u2 + 1
1 √ 1
1 + 4u2 du = u 1 + 4u2 + sinh−1 (2u) + C.
2 4
10 / 17

Example
√
■ Find the length of the arc of y = x from (0, 0) to (1, 1).
Z 1r  u=1
1 1 √ 2
1 −1
L = lim+ 1+ dx = lim+ u 1 + 4u + sinh (2u)
a→0 a 4x a→0 2 4 √
u= a
√ √
5 1 5 1 √
= + sinh−1 (2) = + ln(2 + 5).
2 4 2 4
√ 2 dx
◆ Alternatively, y = x ⇔ x = y . Then = 2y.
dy
p
dL ∆L (∆x)2 + (∆y)2
= lim = lim
dy ∆y→0 ∆y ∆y→0 ∆y
s s
 ∆x 2  dx 2
= lim +1= + 1.
∆y→0 ∆y dy
Z 1p √
5 1 √
◆ L= (2y)2 + 1 dy = + ln(2 + 5).
0 2 4
11 / 17

6
Surface Area of Revolution
■ Let’s now consider the surface area problem of a 3D object.
◆ For example, what is the surface area of the unit sphere?
y
√
y= 1 − x2

√
◆ The surface of the unit sphere can be viewed as the rotation of the curve y = 1 − x2
about the x-axis.

12 / 17

Surface area of a Cone

■ Question: How to evaluate the surface area of revolution?
◆ What is the surface area of a cone?

L
2πR A
L

Area of the Wedge Area of the circle

◆ = .
Length of the Arc Length of the circle
A πL2 L
◆ = = ⇒ A = πRL .
2πR 2πL 2
13 / 17

7
Frustum of a cone
■ What is the surface area of a frustum of a cone?

∆L L
R

◆ A = π(LR − rℓ) = π[L(R − r) + Lr − rℓ]

= π(R ∆L + r ∆L) = π(R + r) ∆L.
L ℓ L−ℓ ∆L
■ = = = ⇒ L(R − r) = R ∆L.
R r R−r R−r
14 / 17

Surface Area of Revolution

■ We now approximate the surface by the frustums of a cone:
y

y = f (x)

O
x x
x + ∆x

◆ ∆A = π(f (x) + f (x + ∆x)) × ∆L .

|{z}
|{z} | {z }
base base slant height
∆A ∆L
◆ = π · (f (x) + f (x + ∆x)) .
∆x ∆x
dA ∆A p
■ = lim = π · 2f (x) · 1 + (f ′ (x))2 .
dx ∆x→0 ∆x

15 / 17

8
Surface Area of Revolution
■ Let f be a smooth function such that f (x) ≥ 0 on [a, b]. Then the area of the surface
obtained by rotating the curve y = f (x), a ≤ x ≤ b, about the x-axis is
Z b p
A= 2πf (x) 1 + (f ′ (x))2 dx.
a
√
■ In particular, recall that the surface of the unit sphere is obtained by rotating y = 1 − x2 ,
−1 ≤ x ≤ 1, about the x-axis.
x p 1
◆ f ′ (x) = − √ ⇒ 1 + (f ′ (x))2 = √ .
1 − x2 1 − x2
Z 1 √ Z 1
2
1
◆ A= 2π 1 − x √ dx = 2π dx = 4π.
−1 1 − x2 −1
■ Therefore, the surface area of the unit sphere is 4π.

16 / 17

Example
■ Find the area of the surface generated by rotating the curve y = ex , 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, about the
x-axis.
y

y = ex

O 1

Z 1 p 1 Z p
x
◆ A= 2π e 1 + ((ex )′ )2 dx = 2π ex 1 + (ex )2 dx
0 Z e√ 0
√ −1
u=e

= 2π 2 2
1 + u du = π(u 1 + u + sinh u) = ···.
1 u=1

17 / 17