Calculating the volume of the Portland Vase using integrals

Student code: hzn090

May 2022

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Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………….3

Aim…………………………………………………………..3

Discussion…………………………………………………....4

Portland vase………………………………………………....4

Disk method………………………………………………….5

Volume of revolution…………………………………………6

Conclusion…………………………………………………....8

References………………………………………………….…9

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Introduction
Every object has a certain value, whether it be in its history, color, shape, or overall design,

there is something that makes it special. Even though certain objects may seem like they are easy

to make, a lot of work and thought had gone into them for the first time that they were going to

be created. Knowing the volume of an object can help you determine how much it would be

needed to fill it and the general 3D space that it contains. The processes required discrete

planning and lots of time in order to be executed correctly. The Portland Vase, which is my

projects main focus, is one of the most well-known objects recognized by man because of its

details, some of which being the paintings and curves that are implemented to it. This object is

something that interests me because it seems so simple but it has a lot of calculations and other

things hidden in it. I chose this particular vase because of symmetric nature of it. With the help

of my teacher, I selected this topic to calculate the volume of the Portland Vase using integrals.

Aim

Calculating volume using integrals is a detailed process, especially for something like that of

a vase which has many curvatures and complex symmetry. The aim of this project is to calculate

the volume of the Portland Vase - arguably the most famous vase - using integrals. By analyzing

our given values, we can later on determine if more efficient values could have been used to

make the vase.

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Discussion
A volume of revolution is when an object that is 3D is rotated around a specific plane and point

on that plane. Using integrals, the volume of that object can be found and thus, with the addition

of the almost infinite disks, the volume will be gained. Finding the volume of a revolution can be

useful/is used for engineering purposes, aerodynamics, and much more.

Portland vase
The greatest surviving Roman example of cameo glass is the Portland Vase, a dark blue glass

vase adorned with white images from the first century AD. The Portland Vase (also known as the

Barberini Vase) was originally owned by the Barberini family and passed down to the Duchess

of Portland in the 18th century. The vase has been widely imitated, especially during the

Victorian era. However, the most precise reproductions were done by Josiah Wedgwood, who

duplicated it in jasperware with white characters in relief in 1790, and by John Northwood of

Stourbridge, England, who copied it in glass in 1790. (completed 1876). The original vase was

damaged in 1845 while in the British Museum (where it is today), necessitating skillful and

careful restoration (Britannica, 2008). When placed and tilted on horizontally, the geometric

shapes that are present mainly consist of circles and curved lines. However, since the volume of

the vase is going to be calculated by rotating it horizontally around the x-axis, all that is needed

are just the line graphs of the positive section. Most of the formulae are related to x=y 2 and

circles; two circles, one in the body and one on the curve of the throat of the vase. The slight

curve at the bottom of the vase is compensated using another x=y 2 formula as can be seen in the

following image:

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 f1(x) f2(x)
f3(x)

Figure 1 Figure 2

Disk method

To discover the volume of an object or item, disk approach may be useful. Disk approach divides
an object or item into endless range of smaller disks after which sums up the volumes of the
small disks collectively the use of integrals (study.com, 2017). The disk method is the main
integral method that is used to find the volume of an object in mathematics. It involves the
addition of very small disks using the following formula:
b
V =π ∫ [ f ( x ) ] dx
2

V is the volume of the object

a is the lowest value for x

b is the highest value for x

f(x) is the radius of each disk

dx is the height of the disk

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Volume of revolution
The volume of revolution is the volume of a closed space that is made from an object moving

back to its original point that it started from. One revolution of a closed path causes a volume to

be made and calculated. There are many ways to calculate the volume of revolution, but the way

that has been chosen for this project is the method of using infinite disks to calculate different

parts of the same enclosed area and then adding them up to find the volume. The following

picture shows an object being rotated around the x-axis and creating the closed volume:

Figure 3. visualizing volume of solids of revolution about x-axis. https://www.geogebra.org/m/YBYr6Dcp

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The three main equations were:

( y−1.6 )2 ×1.7
f1(x) =
0.6

(f2(x)): ( x−h )2+ ( y −k )2=r 2

= ( x−3.5 )2 + ( y−0.5 )2=2.22
2 2
( x−6.7) ( y−2.2)
(f3(x)): + =1
1.7 2 2

The next step is to isolate y and calculate each integral separately to give the following equation:

Figure 4

3.419 5.004 2 8.005

∫ [ 0.59408 √ x +1.6 ] dx +π ∫ [ √( 2.2 ) −x + 2 ( 3.5 ) x−(3.5) ] dx +π ∫ [ √−0.7 x 2 +9.3 x−29+2.2 ]

2 2
2 2 2
V =π dx
0.17 3.419 5.004
V1= 57.48
V2= 64.10
V3= 105.36
Desmos unit= 226.94

The height of the vase is 25 cm in real life and 8.1 units in Desmos. Since the Desmos picture of
the vase and the real-life vase are similar figures, we have:

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 25
k=
8.1

Actual volume of the vase = V actual = ( )

25 3 (
8.1
226.94 )=6,672.31cm
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Conclusion
To conclude, my work was a really big accomplishment to me and from this research I could

apply the use of integrals to find the volume of the Portland Vase. There were no articles on the

volume of the Portland Vase so I had to find the exact volume myself. There are several reasons

why I think my report was a success. In my opinion, this was one of the most challenging and

hard tasks that I had to use integrals. In further research, some of the changes that I would like to

apply would be to use more specific dimensions, more accurate devices, and anything else which

could aid in the betterment of the results.

References

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Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2008, September 3). Portland Vase. Encyclopedia
Britannica. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Portland-Vase

Disk Method in Calculus: Formula & Examples. (2017, September 12). Retrieved from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/disk-method-in-calculus-formula-examples.html.

Visualizing volume of solids of revolution about x-axis.

https://www.geogebra.org/m/YBYr6Dcp.