Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012

 Volumes by Cylindrical shells
Consider the region bounded by y = 0 and the
function f ( x )  x ( x  1) 2 for 0  x  1

Suppose we want to find the volume obtained by

rotating the region about the y-axis

If we were to use the washer method, we would need to write the function in
the form x = g(y) which is not an easy task.
We can use instead the method of Cylindrical Shells

Imagine to cut and

flatten the shell

The volume of the cylindrical shell is approximately 2  rh  r

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012
 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells
Consider the solid obtained by rotating the region
bounded by the functions y = 0, y = f(x) and the
vertical lines x = a and x = b, about the y-axis.

Slice the region parallel to the axis of rotation.

The height of the sample slice is f ( x i* ) with x i* any

point in the interval [ x i , x i 1 ] (e.g. the midpoint)
The thickness of the sample slice is x

When the region is rotated about the

y-axis, the slice forms a cylindrical shell
of volume approximately 2  rh  r
r  xi
*
Here:
h  f ( xi )
*

r  x
Volume of the sample slice:
2  x i Copyright  x7/18/2012
* *
f ( x i )ASU
 Volumes by cylindrical shells

The volume of the solid is roughly the sum of

the volumes of the cylindrical shells.
n

V   2 x f ( xi )  x
* *
i
i 1

As n increases the approximation becomes better and better and

the exact volume is
n
b
V  lim  2 x f ( x )  x  2 
* *
i i
xf ( x ) dx
a
n  i 1

Volume of the solid obtained by rotating the region bounded by the functions
y = 0, y = f(x) and the vertical lines x =a and x = b about the y-axis:
b
V  2  a
xf ( x ) dx 0a b

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012

 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells Example 1
The region bounded by the curves shown
y  x ( x  1) ; y  0
2
is rotated about the y-axis.
Find the volume of the resulting solid.

Slice the region parallel to the

axis of rotation.
The cylindrical shell has radius
r =x and height h = f(x) = x(x −1)2.

1
1
V  2  rhdx  2  0
xf ( x ) dx
0

x  x ( x  1)  dx
1
 2 
2


Please verify: V   0.21
15
Copyright ASU 7/18/2012
 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

Now imagine rotating a region bounded by x = 0

and x = f(y) for c ≤ y ≤ d about the x-axis.

If we slice parallel to the axis of rotation, each horizontal

rectangle, when rotated, forms a cylindrical shell of
radius r = yi and height h = f(yi)
The volume of the shell is approximately
2  rh  r  2  y i f ( y i )  y
The volume of the solid is roughly the sum of
the volumes of the shells.
n

V   2 y i
f ( yi )y
i 1

The exact volume is

n
d
V  lim  2 y
n 
i
f ( yi )y   c
2  yf ( y ) dy
i 1

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012

 Volumes by cylindrical shells Example 2
The region bounded by the curves shown
y  x ; y 
2
is rotated about the x-axis. x
Find the volume of the resulting solid.

Rewrite the functions in the form x = g(y):

x  x  y
2
y;

Slice the region horizontally.

When the slice rotates it generates
a shell with
and h  y  y
2
r=y

The functions intersect at (0,0) and (1,1)

   dy
1 1
V  2  rhdy  2  y  y
2
y
0 0

3
Please verify: V   0.94
10 Copyright ASU 7/18/2012
 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells Example 3
The region bounded by the curves shown
is rotated about x = 5. y  2 x; y  x
Find the volume of the resulting solid.

Slice the region vertically (parallel to the

axis of rotation).
When the slice rotates, it generates a
shell of radius r  5 x

and height h 2 x  x

The functions intersect at (0,0) and (4,4)

 
4 4
V  2  0
rhdx  2   0
(5  x ) 2 x  x dx

272
Please verify: V    57
15 Copyright ASU 7/18/2012
 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells Example 4

The region bounded by the curves shown

is rotated about y = 5. y 2 x; y  x
Find the volume of the resulting solid.
Rewrite the function in the2
form x = f(y): y  x y  x
2 4
Slice the region horizontally.
2
y
r  5  y, h  y 
4

The functions intersect at (0,0) and (4,4)

 y 
2
4 4
V  2  rhdy  2   (5  y )  y   dy
 4 
0 0

Please verify: V  16  50.3

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012