INTRODUCTION

Packing problems are concern in storing objects in a container. Usually the goods and

containers are of fixed shape and size. Many packing problems arise in industrial packaging,

storage and transport and tiny molecular pipes. These problem usually arises when an object with

a shape of sphere is involve The researchers focused on the real life packing problems

that involves spherical objects. The aim of this project is to determine the volume of the object

that can put in the container or where ever they wish to put it. The following are the researchers’

objectives:

 To find the height of the close-packed spheres.

 To find the total number of spheres
 To use close-packing spheres in real-life situations.

ANALYSIS
 ITERATION 1 2 3 4 ®®® n
TOTAL NUMBER OF 1 3 6 10 ®®® 1 2 1
n + n
SPHERES ADDED PER 2 2
ITERATION

PROOF: By Finite Difference

1 3 6 10

2 3 4

1
1
an3 + bn2 + cn= total number of spheres added

If n=1 If n=2 If n=3

a13 + b12 + c1=1 a23 + b22 + c2 = 3 a33 + b32 + c3 = 6

a + b + c=1 8a + 4b +2c = 3 27a + 9b +3c = 6

4b + 6c = 5 36b + 30c = 33

24c = 12

C= 1/2

Substitute C= 1/2 to the equation 4b + 6c =5 a + 1/2 1/2 = 1

4b + 6(1/2) =5 a+1=1

4b + 3 = 5 a=0

4b = 5 - 3

4b = 2

b = 1/2

Substitute C= 1/2 and b= 1/2 to the equation

a + b + c=1
Thus the formula for the total number per iteration is
1 2 1
n + n = total number of spheres added per iteration
2 2

ITERATION 1 2 3 4 ®®® n
Length of the line 0 2s 4s 6s ®®® 2(n-1)s
segment between the
center of the vertex
spheres with radius s.

Notice that the stacked spheres with radius ‘A’ can form a tetrahedron by connecting all the
center points as shown in the figure below.

ITERATION 1 2 3 4 ®®® n
HEIGHT OF THE 2s 2s+
2s√3
2s+
4s√3
2s+
6s√3 ®®® 2s +
2s(n−1)√3
PYRAMIDAL PACKED 3 3 3 3

SPHERE with radius s

In finding the height of the close-packed-spheres, we must find first the vertical height of the
tetrahedron and add it to the diameter or twice the radius of the sphere.
 To find the height of the tetrahedron through Pythagorean theorem, we should first solve for
the apothem of the triangle formed by the center of vertex spheres.

Since it is an equilateral triangle, dividing It through one of its

perpendicular bisector will lead to 30-60-90 triangle. Thus the height of
the equilateral triangle is equal to (n − 1)s√3. And the apothem length
(n−1)s√3
is equal to 3
.

To find the vertical height of the tetrahedron by Pythagorean Theorem:

2
(n − 1)s√3
Height of the tetrahedron = √((n − 1)s)2 +( )
3

3 · s 2 (n − 1)2
Height of the tetrahedron = √s 2 (n − 1)2 +
9

s 2 (n − 1)2
Height of the tetrahedron = √s 2 (n − 1)2 +
3

4s 2 (n − 1)2
Height of the tetrahedron = √
3
2s(n − 1)
Height of the tetrahedron =
√3
2s(n − 1)√3
Height of the tetrahedron =
3