Calculus II

MAT 146
Integration Applications: Volumes of 3D Solids
Our goal is to determine volumes of various shapes. Some of the shapes are
the result of rotating a curve about an axis and other shapes are simply given
as 3-dimensional objects.
The general process we use in many problem situations is to determine the
volume of some “typical” slice of the solid and then use integration to sum
the volumes of an infinite number of such typical slices. The volume of a
typical slice, in turn, can often be approximated by calculating the area of a
face of the slice and multiplying that area by the thickness of the slice.
Here, the curve y = f ( x ) has been typical
rotated about the x-axis from x = a slice
y = f(x)
to x = b. A slice of the resulting 3-
dimensional solid has been
sketched in. What is the area of
the face of that typical slice? What
is the volume of that typical slice?
x=b
x=a

part of The face of the typical slice is a circle.

the curve Its radius extends from the axis of
y = f(x) rotation to the curve itself. Therefore,
radius: f(x)
this typical slice must have radius
x-axis equal to f ( x ) , the value of the
(axis of function at x.
rotation)

thickness of the slice: Δx

y = f(x)
To determine the volume of the solid, we use a definite integral to sum the
volumes of the slices as we let !x " 0 :
b b
Volume = ! ( face area)(slice thickness) = ! (area of a circle)(sub-division size)
a a
b b b
2 2 2
= ! ! (radius) dx = ! ! ( f ( x )) dx = ! ! f (x) dx
a a a

This technique for calculating the volume of a solid of rotation is often

called the disk method because a typical slice is a disk.
 Example #1: Determine the volume of the solid of revolution created when
the region bounded by y = x 2 , y = 0, and x = 2 is rotated about the x-axis.
Step 1: Draw a picture of the region to be rotated and a picture of the
rotation image. Include an illustration of a typical slice.
Sketch the boundaries and Reflect the region about the axis Visualize the rotation by representing a
identify the region to be of rotation. third dimension, including a sketch of a
rotated. typical slice.

Step 2: Isolate a typical slice and calculate its volume.

Volume of a slice = ( face area)(slice thickness)

= (area of circle)(slice thickness)
2
= ! (radius) !x
2
( )
= ! x 2 !x
= ! x 4 !x
 Step 3: Set up a definite integral to represent the volume of the solid of
rotation.
2
Total Volume = ! (volume of typical slice)
0
2
= ! ( face area)(slice thickness)
0
2 2 2
2 2 2
= ! ! (radius) dx = ! ! (x ) dx = ! !x 4
dx
0 0 0

Step 4: Evaluate the definite integral.

2
2 " x 5 %( 32!
Total Volume = ! ! x 4 dx = ! $ '* = cubic units
0 # 5 &)0 5

Example #2: Using the same region as for Example 1, determine the volume
of the solid of revolution created when the region is rotated about the line
y = –1.
Step 1: Draw a picture and illustrate a typical slice.
Sketch the boundaries and identify Reflect the region about the Visualize the rotation by representing a third
the region to be rotated. axis of rotation. dimension, including a sketch of a typical slice.
Step 2: Isolate a typical slice and calculate its volume.
Here, a typical slice is not a solid disk but looks like a washer, a disk with a
hole in the middle. Illustrated here, this method is therefore called the
washer method for determining the volume of a solid of revolution.
Volume of a slice = ( face area)(slice thickness)
= (area of outside circle ! area of inside circle)(slice thickness)

{ }
= "#! (outside radius) $% ! "#! (inside radius) $% &x
2 2

= {"#! ( R) $% ! "#! (r ) $%} &x

2 2

" 2$
{
= '! 1+ x 2 ( ! "#! (1) $% &x
# ( % ) 2
}
Step 3: Set up a definite integral to represent the volume of the solid of
rotation.
2
Total Volume = ! (volume of typical slice)
0
2
= ! ( face area)(slice thickness)
0
2

! {"$#! (1+ x ) %'& ( "#! (1) %&} dx

2 2 2
=
0

Step 4: Evaluate the definite integral.

2

( {!"#! (1+ x ) $%& ' !"! (1) $%} dx

2 2 2
Total Volume =
0
2
2 2
=! ( {(1+ x ) }
'12 dx
0

176
= ! cubic units
15

Example #3: Using the same region as for Example 1, determine the volume
of the solid of revolution created when the region is rotated about the y-axis.
This rotation generates a bowl-like solid. We sub-divide the x-axis interval
from x = 0 to x = 2 into sub-intervals of size ∆x. This creates a sequence of
shells, each similar to a piece of tubing, say, from a paper towel roll. We
 unwrap (flatten) each shell to get a three-dimensional solid whose volume is
the product of length, width, and height.
Step 1: Draw a picture and illustrate a typical shell.
Sketch the boundaries and Reflect the region about the axis of rotation. Visualize the rotation by representing a third
identify the region to be Here, that’s the y-axis. dimension, including a sketch of a typical
rotated. shell.

Step 2: Isolate a typical shell and calculate its volume.

Here is a typical shell, with its length, width, and height identifed. This
method is called the shell method for determining the volume of a solid of
revolution.

Volume of a shell = (shell circumference)(thickness)(height)

= (2! r)(!x)( f (x))
= (2! x)(!x) x 2( )
( )
= (2! x) x 2 !x
Step 3: Set up a definite integral to represent the volume of the solid of
rotation.
2
Total Volume = ! (volume of typical shell)
0
2
= ! (shell circumference)(thickness)(height)
0
2
= ! (2! x) ( x ) dx
2

Step 4: Evaluate the definite integral.

2
Total Volume = ! (2! x) ( x ) dx 2

0
2
= 2! ! ( x ) dx
3

0
2
" x 4 %(
= 2! $ '* = 8! cubic units
# 4 &)0