6.

2: Volume
Uses of volume in daily life
Big question
How can we determine the volume of a solid?

?
Goals

At the end of this section, you’ll be able to

Use integral to find the volume of a solid with known
cross-sections by cross-section method

Use integral to find the volume of a solid of revolution by
washer or shell method
Contents

Solids with known cross-section:

Method of cross-sections

Solids of revolution:

Method of washers

Method of shells
Free your IMAGINATION.

Trying to memorize the formulas

WON’T WORK.
Cross-section method
S
Find the volume of a solid S where each z y
cross-section perpendicular to the x-axis
A( x)
at x has area A( x). a x b x

1) Divide S into thin slabs with thickness

x1, x 2 ,..., x n along the x-axis.
Approximate each slab by a prism.
2) The volume of the kth prism is
Vk =A(x*k )x k .

3) Take the sum Vn  V1  V2  …  Vn .

n b

The volume V is the limit V  lim Vn  lim  A(x*k )x k   A( x)dx.

n n
k 1 a
 Example: Find the volume of the right circular cone with
height h and base radius R.
Solution
O
Set up the Ox axis such that O is at the cone vertex
and Ox goes through the center of the base.
r
x Each cross-section perpendicular to Ox at x is a
circle with radius r, so its area is A( x)   r 2 .
h
R Using similar triangles, we have:
r x Rx
 r 
x R h h
2
 Rx  R2 h3  R2h
h h
The volume of the cone is V= A( x)dx      dx   2 
0 0  h  h 3 3
Example: Consider a solid whose base is the region
bounded by y=1-x, y=2x+5, x=0 and x=3.
If the cross sections (perpendicular to the x-axis)
are squares, set up an integral to find volume.
Solution
Let A(x) be the area of the cross-section at x,
b

L then the volume V is computed by  A( x)dx.

a

The cross-sections are squares, so A(x)=L2 .

L is the segment joining two points (x,y=1-x) and (x,y=2x+5). So,

L=(2x+5)-(1-x)=3x+4
3
The volume of the solid is V=  (3x  4) 2 dx.
0
DIY : What if the cross-sections are equilateral triangles?

L x

y  1 x
y  2x  5
Solids of revolution
A solid of revolution S is obtained by revolving a planar
region about a line.
 Method of washers
Find the volume of a solid S obtained by revolving a region D
between the curves y  f ( x) and y  g( x) on [a,b] about the x- axis.
1) Divide D into thin trips with width
x1, x2 ,..., xn along the x-axis.
Approximate each strip by a rectangle.
x k 2) Revolving each strip about the x-axis yields a
WASHER.
The volume of the kth washer is
f ( x)
 2 2

Vk =  f  xk     g xk   xk .

3) Take the sum Vn  V1  V2  Vn

g( x)
The volume V is the limit

   f ( x)  g( x)  dx.

n b
lim Vn  lim    f  xk     g  xk   xk   
2 2 2 2

n n
k 1 a
Method of shells
Find the volume of a solid S obtained by revolving a region D
between the curves y  f ( x) and y  g( x) on [a,b] about the y- axis.
1) Divide D into thin trips with width
x
x1, x2 ,..., xn along the x-axis.
Approximate each strip by a rectangle.
x
2) Revolving each strip about the y-axis yields a SHELL.

The volume of the kth shell is

x Cut and f ( x)  g ( x )
Vk =2 xk  f  xk   g  xk   xk .
f ( x)  g( x) unwrap

x

Take the sum Vn  V1  V2  Vn . The volume V is the limit V=lim Vn
n
n b
 lim  2 xk  f  xk   g xk   xk = 2  x  f ( x)  g ( x)  dx.
n
k 1 a
Example: Find the volume of the solid S formed by revolving
the region bounded by the curves y=x 2 and y=x about
a) the x-axis.
b) the y-axis. Giải:
a) Step 1: Sketch the region and a vertical strip.

Revolving this strip about the x-axis gives a washer.

x

The volume of the washer is

yx
y  x2
x V=  x2  ( x2 )2  x.
x2

Step 2: We find the points of intersection by solving x=x 2 , which gives x=0, x=1.
1 1
2
 
1
Step 3: V     x  x  dx     x 2  x 4 dx    x3  x5  
 2 1 1
2 2

0  3
0
5  0 15
The volume is about 0.42 cubic units.
b) Sketch the region and a vertical strip.

yx
y  x2

Revolving this strip about the y-axis gives a shell.

x
x  x 2 The volume of the shell is V  2 x  x  x2  x.
 

The volume of the whole solid is

1
1 3 1 4  
1 1

V  2  x( x  x )dx  2   x  x  dx  2  x  x  
2 2 3

0 0 3 4 0 6
The volume is about 0.52 volume unit.
DIY : Find the volume of the solid S formed by revolving the
region D between the curves y  x 2 and y   x 2  4 x about:
a) The x-axis
b) The y-axis
DIY : Find the volume of the solid S formed by revolving the
region D between the curves y  x 2 and y   x 2  4 x about:
a) The line y=6
b) The line x=3
Quiz

1 Given a region under the curve y  f ( x). Rotate this region about the y-axis
to obtain a solid S. To find the volume of S you would use:
a) The DISK-WASHER method b) The SHELL method
2 Given a region under the curve y  f ( x). Rotate this region about the line x=5
to obtain a solid S. To find the volume of S you would use:
a) The DISK-WASHER method b) The SHELL method
3 Given a region under the curve y  f ( x). Rotate this region about the line y=-5
to obtain a solid S. To find the volume of S you would use:
a) The DISK-WASHER method b) The SHELL method
4 Given a region D under the curve y  f ( x). A solid S has base D
and each cross-section perpendicular to the x-axis is a semicircle.
To find the volume of S you would use:
a) The DISK-WASHER method b) The SHELL method
c) The CROSS-SECTION method
Summary

Now, you’re able to

Find the volume of a solid with know cross-sections

Find the volume of a solid of revolution using either
washer method or shell method
Questions?