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Lindsey Shereda

Mrs. Tallman

AP Calculus

10 February 2020

Solids of Revolution Essay

For many, finding the volume of 3D shapes like spheres, cylinders, cones, and

rectangular prisms are ingrained processes learned time and time again throughout school.

Knowing the relationships between shapes and volume can be incredibly useful in many

scenarios, such as determining how much water is needed to fill a fish tank. However, imagine

the fish tank becomes more complex than a simple rectangular prism. Suddenly, the trusted

volume formula, length × width × height , is not sufficient as the tank’s sides curve and bend in

unconventional ways. Enter calculus. Through the use of integration, the functions that create the

curves in the fish tank can be manipulated to determine the volume of water necessary to fill the

tank. The area under or between particular curves can be measured and the volume of a shape

created by revolving a region can also be measured. There are several methods of calculating the

volume of a solid of revolution, or even calculating volume through extruding shapes, all of

which will be explored in this paper. The key to measuring the area under a function or between

two functions and the volume of solids of revolution lies in the integral.

By definition, an integral represents the area under a curve on a graph. However, the way

an integral is able to measure that area is more complex than meets the eye. By estimating the

sum of infinitely small regions under a curve, the integral is able to produce the area under a

curve.
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Figure 1. Determining Area Under A Curve Using an Integral

The figure above pictures how an integral accounts for the area under a curve. A definite

integral, which measures the area under a curve for a specific range, shown on the x-axis as a to

b in this example, divides the area under the curve into an infinite number of rectangles. The

rectangles form under the function f(x), making the height of each rectangle equal to f(x), and all

of the rectangles have a width of dx, as pictured on the right. As the number of rectangles

increases within a given range, the width of each will decrease, making the measurement of area

under the curve more accurate. The area of each rectangle will be found by multiplying its width,

dx, by its height, f(x). The sum of the infinite rectangles within a defined range is what a definite

integral measures and is equivalent to the area under the curve for that range.
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Figure 2. Area Between Two Curves

The shaded region in Figure 2 represents the area between the two functions, f1(x) and

f2(x), which can be measured through integration. Similar to finding the area under a curve, an

infinite number of rectangles are created and the height of each is multiplied by its width.

However, because the region for the area is now in between two functions, to find the height the

difference in the two functions must be found by subtracting the inner function from the outer

function. This difference is multiplied by the width of each rectangle, which remains dx, to find

the area of the rectangles, and an integral is used to find the sum of these areas within a bounded

region. For the area between two curves, the range that bounds the region is found using the

coordinates of the intersection points of the two curves, with the lower constraint being the

lowest intersection and the higher constraint being the highest intersection along the x-axis. The
x
steps to calculate the area between the two functions, which are √x and 3
for f1(x) and f2(x)

respectively, are listed below.

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b
Area Between T wo Curves = ∫(f 1(x) − f 2(x)) * dx
a

9
Area Between T wo Curves = ∫((√x) − ( 3x )) * dx
0

Area Between T wo Curves = 4.5 units 2

Figure 3. Formula and Sample Calculation for the Area Between Two Curves

The general equation used to find the area between two curves on a given interval is

shown above. The inner function is subtracted from the outer function, or the function above or

to the right of another function. In the case of this example, the square root function lies above
x
the linear function, so f2(x), or y = 3
, is the inner function and is subtracted from f1(x), or

y = √x , which is the outer function. The integral of this difference from a lower constraint “a” to

an upper constraint “b” measures the area between the two functions in that interval. Using the

two example functions shown in Figure 2 in place of f1(x) and f2(x), the area between the two

curves can be determined. The final result of using a definite integral to measure the area

between the two functions is 4.5 units 2 .

Knowing how to calculate both the area under a curve and the area between two curves

opens the doors to solving more complex calculus problems regarding volume. The region tof

area that was found can be revolved a full 360 degrees about an axis to create a solid figure,

hence the name of the concept: solids of revolution. There are several methods to find the

volume of this revolved figure, some of which being the disk, ring, shell, and cross-section

methods.
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The first of many methods to find the volume of a solid of revolution is called the disk

method. It entails revolving an infinite number of rectangles that represent the area under a curve

or between two curves and then finding the volume of the created solid through integration.

Figure 4. Rectangles Under Curve Prior to Revolution

Figure 4 shows an example of one of the infinite number of rectangles formed under a

curve before a revolved solid is created for both a revolution around the x-axis (left) and a

revolution around the y-axis (right). The disks created by revolving the infinitely many

rectangles completely around their axes of rotation are pictured below.

Figure 5. Determining Volume Using the Disk Method. Image from ​“Applications of Integration:
Area and Volume.” ​She Loves Math.​
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The figure above offers a visual representation of finding the volume of a revolved region

using the disk method. To the left, a function is rotated about a horizontal axis, and the disks are

drawn in vertically as a result. On a single disk, dx is represented by the thickness of the disk to

the left and dy is representative of the thickness of the disks on the solid to the right. When

rotating about a horizontal axis, dx cuts or ​a vertical cross-sections into the solid are made.​ In

contrast, rotating about a vertical axis yields dy cuts which indicates that the cuts will be made

horizontally. As such, dx and dy cuts are made perpendicular to their respective axes of rotation.
b
V olume of Solid = ∫ π * (Radius)2 * dx
a

Figure 6. Formula for Disk Method About a Horizontal Axis of Rotation

The formula above describes how to determine the volume of a solid formed by revolving

a region over a horizontal line using the disk method. The radius is the distance from the function

at some value of x to the axis of rotation, and if the axis of rotation is below the function, the axis

of rotation is subtracted from the y-value on the function at a specific value of x.

b
V olume of Solid = ∫ π * (Radius)2 * dy
a

Figure 7. Formula for Disk Method About a Vertical Axis of Rotation

Shown above is the formula used to calculate the volume of a solid formed by revolving a

region around a vertical line using the disk method. The radius becomes the axis of rotation

subtracted from the x-value because a dy cut will be made in this scenario. Also, since the

integral is in terms of y, the function must be written with x as the dependent variable and y as

the independent variable.

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Similar to the disk method, the ring method utilizes the complete revolution of infinitely

many rectangles within a particular area, however, it leaves a hole in the middle of the disk. As a

result, an infinite number or rings, or washers, with a thickness dx or dy depending on the axis of

rotation (as the disk method showed) are used to measure the volume of the revolved solid in a

given interval.

Figure 8. Rotation of Area Between Two Functions

The figure above shows the solid created by revolving the area between two functions

around the line y = -2. The area between the two functions and axis of rotation before revolution

can be seen in the image to the left. The image on the right depicts the solid after the region

between the two functions has been revolved 360 degrees about the axis of rotation. A single

ring is shown on the revolved figure with the outermost circle touching the outer function, or the

rational function, and the inner circle touching the inner function, or the line. The process of

determining the volume of this solid using the ring method is described below.
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b
V olume of Solid = ∫(π * (Outer Radius)2 − π * (Inner Radius)2 ) * dx
a

9
2
V olume of Solid = π * ∫((√x + 2) − ( 3x + 2)2 ) * dx
0

V olume of Solid = 31.5π units3

Figure 9. Formula and Sample Calculation for the Ring Method

The general equation used to find the volume of a rotated region, bounded by an upper

constraint “b” and lower constraint “a”, using the ring method is shown above. To determine the

values of the outer and inner radii, the axis of rotation is subtracted from the y-value of the

function. If the axis of rotation were to be above or to the right of the function, however, the

function would be subtracted from the axis of rotation. Using the example equations shown in

Figure 8, the volume of the rotated solid can be measured. For the outer radius, the function √x

x
is used as it is the outer function when the region is rotated. Since the function 3
is inside the

outer function upon revolution, it will serve as the inner radius in the equation. The axis of

rotation must also be taken into account as part of the outer radius by adding 2, since the axis of

rotation is subtracted from the outer function because the axis falls below the region being

rotated. Following the steps of the ring method produces the volume of the solid created by

rotating the region between the two functions. The resulting volume of the solid of revolution is

31.5π units3 , or 98.9602 units3 .

Unlike both the ring and disk method, a third method for finding the volume of a

revolved solid known as the shell method takes the sum of an infinite number of shells, or hollow

cylinders, within a given interval to measure the volume.

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Figure 10. Shell Method for Determining the Volume of a Solid of Revolution. Image from “The
Shell Method of Finding Volumes of Revolution.” ​Volume by Shells.​

Figure 10 depicts the concept behind the shell method of measuring the volume of a

revolved solid. The original function can be seen in the first quadrant of the graph on the left, and

the area under the curve has been rotated about the y-axis. As such, when the shell method is

used, an infinite number of cylindrical shells will be formed parallel to the y-axis. The image to

the right also refers to dx which is the width between each concentric cylinder. In contrast to

both the disk and ring methods, the shells are formed parallel to the axis of rotation whereas in

the other two methods, the disks and rings are formed perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The

general equation for the shell method as shown below highlights this distinction.
b
V olume of Solid = ∫ 2 * π * Radius * Height * dx
a

Figure 11. Formula for Volume of a Solid of Revolution Using the Shell Method

The figure above shows a general formula used to calculate the volume of a solid using

the shell method. The shell method uses dx cuts, so when regions are revolved around the y-axis

the functions can be left with x as the independent and y as the dependent variable unlike the

disk and ring methods. The radius of each shell that the equation in Figure 11 refers to is the
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distance from the axis of rotation to the x-value of the function. The circumference of one shell,

or 2 * π * radius , is multiplied by the height to achieve the area of the shell which is then

multiplied by dx, representing the thickness of each shell, in order to find the volume of one

shell. The total volume of an infinite number of shells within the interval a to b is found through

integration.

A fourth and final method of integration to find the volume of a solid is most unlike the

other three in that it does not involve revolving a region. Instead, an infinite number of

cross-sections, or “slabs” are extruded from a particular region.

Figure 12. Volume of Region Between Two Functions

Figure 12 above depicts the concept for determining the volume of a solid using the
x
cross-section method in the shape of isosceles right triangles between the functions √x and 3
.

Also known as the “slab” method, the cross-section method calculates the sum of infinite

extruding shapes, and therefore does not involve revolving an area unlike the other methods for
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determining volume. In this example, the extruding shapes are equilateral isosceles triangles.

These “slabs” can also take the form of squares or other shapes as well depending on the

intended resulting solid.

To utilize an integral and solve for the volume using the cross-section method, the area of

the slabs, in this case triangles, must first be defined.

Figure 13. Finding the Area of One Isosceles Right Triangle

The height in one of the isosceles right triangles is equal to the distance between the two
x
curves, or the upper function, in this example √x , minus the lower function, 3
. Since the

triangles are isosceles, the base and height, or both legs, are equivalent. The area of one triangle

and overall volume of the solid is calculated as shown below.

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1
Area of T riangle = 2 * Base * Height
1
Area of T riangle = 2 * (f 1(x) − f 2(x)) * (f 1(x) − f 2(x))
1 2
Area of T riangle = 2 * (f 1(x) − f 2(x))

1 x 2
Area of T riangle = 2 * (√x − 3 )

Figure 14. Area of One Isosceles Triangle

The area of a single isosceles triangle is found through the calculations shown above. The

area of one triangle can now be multiplied by its thickness, and the infinitely many triangle slabs

formed can be added together to find the volume in the steps shown below.
9
V olume of Solid = ∫ Area of T riangle * dx
0

9
2
V olume of Solid = ∫ 12 (√x − 3x ) * dx
0

V olume of Solid = 1.35 units3

Figure 15. Volume of a Solid Using the Cross-Section Method

The figure above shows the steps to calculate the volume of a solid using the

cross-section method with isosceles right triangles. The integral is taken from 0 to 9 because that

is the range along the x-axis for which the shells will be formed. The thickness of each triangular

slab is denoted by dx.

With the knowledge of calculus and integration, the volume of a plethora of unusual

shapes can be determined. The gateway to finding the volume of these unconventional shapes is

first finding the area of a region below a function or between two curves using a definite integral

and revolving that region 360 degrees around an axis. From that point, there are several options

for determining the volume of the created solid. The disk and ring methods are able to divide a
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solid of revolution into an infinite number of disk or washer shaped cuts, and the sum of the

volumes of each of those disks or rings results in a total volume. On the other hand, the shell

method fills in a revolved solid with an infinite number of hollow cylinders, or shells, in order to

determine the total volume of a solid of revolution within a given range. Or, the cross-section

method can be utilized, which entails creating an infinite number of slabs that extrude from a

particular region and adding the volume of each slab to find the volume of a solid. Knowing how

to utilize a definite integral through these methods can be incredibly useful in real world

scenarios. For instance, no matter how intricate the curves on a fish tank design, the volume of

the water it holds can be measured with ease. Calculus opens up a world of opportunities to

measure the volume of solids.

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Works Cited

“Function Revolution.” ​Interactivate: Function Revolution,​

www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/FunctionRevolution/.