hmh712 session may 2020

MATH IA

Topic: To determine the rate of flow of water in

different shapes.

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Table of Contents

RATIONALE:......................................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION:...............................................................................................................................3

RATE OF FLOW EQUATION.......................................................................................................................3

CONE SHAPE 1..................................................................................................................................5

CYLINDER SHAPE 2...........................................................................................................................7

SPHERE SHAPE 3...............................................................................................................................9

ELLIPSOID SHAPE 4.........................................................................................................................11

EXPERIMENT...................................................................................................................................13

CYLINDER........................................................................................................................................13
SPHERE...........................................................................................................................................14

APPLICATION..................................................................................................................................15

CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................16

WORKS CITED.................................................................................................................................17

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Rationale:

I have decided to center this mathematical exploration around the topic of calculus. While

walking on the road I saw a water tanker in the shape of the cylinder and could see a small

hole on the bottom of it and saw the water leak at a constant pace. This gave me idea for my

Math-IA to determine the rate of flow of water in different shapes with calculus .So I decided

to determine the rate for different shapes to find the rate of flow of water in them. This gave

me the opportunity to explore different shapes such as ellipsoid and working with multiple

variable integration and differentiation. In this case we have used both integration and

differentiation to find a formula to determine the rate of flow in different shapes.

Introduction:

Integration and derivation are the two important parts of calculus. In this case we have used

both integration and differentiation to find a formula to determine the rate of flow in different

shapes.

Rate of flow equation

By using an online demonstration

(https://demonstrations.wolfram.com/FlowFromATankAtConstantHeight/)we know the rate
of flow is directly proportional to height we use the equation:

dv
∝ √h
dt

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dv
Here, stand for rate of flow as “v” is the volume and “h” is the volume
dt

Which can further be written as:

dv
=−k √ h
dt

Here “k” is the constant and the negative sign represents the loss of height as the water is let

out of the shape

dv dv dh
= ×
dt dh dt

dv dh
−k √ h= ×
dh dt

The above expression is going to be standard in all the shapes .The first shape chosen is a

cone.

Cone Shape 1

Figure 1: Cone1
1 2
Volume of cone= π r h
3

r
=m(constant )
h

“m” is taken as constant to have a single variable

which can be used for further calculations

r =m× h
1
“Cone.” Toppr, https://www.toppr.com/guides/physics-formulas/cone-formula/.

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hmh712 session may 2020

1
V = π ( mh)2 h
3

1 2 3
V= π m h
3

1 2
π m =a( constant)
3
3
V =a h

dv 2
∴ =3 a h
dh

dh
−k √ h=3 a h
2
dt

dh −k √ h
=
dt 3 a h 2

k
A(constant )=
3a

dh −3/ 2
=− A h
dt

dh
h3 /2 =− A
dt

dh
∫ h3/ 2 dt dt=−A ∫ dt

2 5 /2 1 C
h × =t +
5 −A −A

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hmh712 session may 2020

After substituting all the constants back to the original value the final formula is:

2 5 /2 1 c
h × =t+
5 −K k
−( )
π 2
3a
( )
h

h=height

1 2 3
a= πm h
3

C=Integration constant

k=proportional constant

The addition of multiple constant made it easier to solve and Integrate which gave us the final

formula

Similarly for the shape: cylinder.

Cylinder Shape 2

Figure 2 : Cone2
dv
∝ √h
dt

dv
=−k √ h
dt

2
“Cylinder.” 7Saage, https://7sage.com/3d-shapes-cylinders/.

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hmh712 session may 2020

dv dv dh
= ×
dt dh dt

dv dh
−k √ h= ×
dh dt
2
Volume of cylinder =π r h

r
=m(constant )
h

r =m× h
2 3
v=π m h

π m2 =a( constant)
3
V =a h

dv 2
=3 a h
dh

dh
−k √ h=3 a h2
dt

dh −k √ h
=
dt 3 a h 2

k
A(constant )=
3a

After adding similar constant with different values we get the same final formula with the

constants

dh −3/ 2
=− A h
dt

3 /2 dh
h =− A
dt

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hmh712 session may 2020

dh
∫ h3/ 2 dt dt=−A ∫ dt

2 5 /2 1 C
h × =t +
5 −A −A

k
A=
3a

π m2 =a

r
=m
h

h=height

And therefore we can say the formula are we very similar as the formula for the volume of

1 2 1
cone is π r h and cylinder is π r 2h which has difference of only and therefore the
3 3

formula obtained is similar.

But it is bit different for a sphere.

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Sphere Shape 3

Figure 3 : Sphere3

4 3
volume of sphere= π d
3

In this case we will take the diameter equal to the height of cylinder and cone as radius gives

us the half height and 2 r=d so we will take 2 r=d=h

1 3
V= π h
6

1
π=a(constant )
6
3
v=a h

dv
=3 a h2
dh

dh
−k √ h=3 a h2
dt

dh −k √ h
=
dt 3 a h 2

k
A(constant )=
3a

3
“Sphere.” Maths Maker, https://mathsmaker.com/sphere-hemisphere-properties-of-sphere/.

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hmh712 session may 2020

dh
=− A h−3/ 2
dt

dh
h3 /2 =− A
dt

dh
∫ h3/ 2 dt dt=−A ∫ dt

2 5 /2 1 C
h × =t +
5 −A −A

2 5 /2 1 c
h × =t+
5 −k −k
( ) ( )
1 1
π π
2 2

h=Height

k=constant

The next shape I have chosen is not one of the regular shape it is an ellipsoid. Ellipsoid,

closed surface of which all plane cross sections are either ellipses or circles. An ellipsoid is

symmetrical about three mutually perpendicular axes that intersect at the centre.4

4
“ Osserman, Robert. "Ellipsoid." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica,
Inc., 25 Aug. 2006. Web. 23 Feb. 2020.”

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Ellipsoid Shape 4

4
Volume of elipsoid= πabc
3

Figure4 :Ellipsoid

(abc reffer¿image 1as all the sides have diffrent lenght)

dv
∝ √h
dt

dv
=−k √ h
dt

dv dv dh
= ×
dt dh dt

dv dh
−k √ h= ×
dh dt

Referring to image 1 taking 2c as the height in this case

2 c=h

2
volume= πabh
3

2
R ( constant ) = πab
3

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v=Rh

dv
=R
dh

dh
−k √ h=R×
dt

dh −k √ h
=
dt R

k
X ( constant )=
r

dh 1/2
=−X h
dt

dh −1 /2
× h =− X
dt

dh
∫ dt ×dt × h−1 /2=−X ∫ dt
2 √ h=−xt +C

1 C
2 √2 c × =t +
−k −k
3 3
2 ab 2 ab

This shows using simple derivation and integration with the help of constants one can find

the rate of flow of volume by manipulating the formula of volume with constants.

Experiment
To prove these formulas I conducted an experiment with two of the shapes sphere and
cylinder.
Cylinder
The change in volume recorded was =792cm3
The Initial in height was = 19cm
Time Taken from 19 to 5cm =147s

2 5 /2 1 C
h × =t +
5 −A −A

k
A=
3a

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2
π m =a

r
=m
h

h=height

Image 15
5
2 2
h =−At + c
5

When t=0 s h=19cm

2
¿
5
c=629.43
When t= 147s h=5cm
5
2 2
(5) =−A × 147+629.43
5
A=4.13
When h=0
0=−4.13 × t+629.43

t=152.404

Therefore the rate at which the volume decreases is

792 3 −1
=5.19 cm s
152.404

The experiment was conducted by using a tripod stand to rest the container and the height
was measured by a scale. The time was noted with use of a stopwatch. As seen in Image 5

Using the formula the answer received was time = 201 s as seen in the image it was not a
proper cylinder and other errors, uncertainty in taking the reading

Sphere

The change in volume recorded was =75cm3

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The change in height was = 61.46mm = 6.146 cm

The time taken was= 7.91 s ( which we have to find using formula)

2 5 /2 1 C
h × =t +
5 −A −A

2 5 /2 1 c
h × =t+
5 −k −k
( ) ( )
1 1
π π
2 2

h=Height

k=constant
5
2 2
h =−At + c
5

When t=0s h=6.146cm

5
2
6.146 2 =−A ×0+ c
5

c=37.45
When t=7.91s h=0
c
A=
t

37.45
A=
7.91

A=4.734
therefore when h=o

0 ×=−4.734 ×t +37.45

t=7.91

Therefore the rate at which the volume decreases is

75 3 −1
=9.48 cm s
7.91

The experiment was conducted by using a tripod stand to rest the ball and the diameter was
measured by a Vernier caliber for accurate reading (as seen in image 6). The time was noted
with use of a stopwatch. As seen in Image 5

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Image 26 Image 37

Using the formula the answer received was time = 10.35 s as seen in the image it was not a
proper sphere and other errors, uncertainty in taking the reading

Application
This formulas can be used to determine leaks in storage tanker and petrochemical oil tankers
where it is important to find the leaks as it is highly flammable. This can be used to see the
change in the rate of flow of volume per second or height per second which can determine if
there are any leaks. This standard formula can be used in computer software algorithm to find
leaks in planes or rockets.

Conclusion
dv
The ration of =−k √ h does not change as the volume is lost the height also decreases.
dt

dv/dt means the change of volume for time this gives us the rate of the volume lost for

time .The limitation in this formula is that uncertainty is not being taken accounted for which

can create a lot of errors when the formula is used in real life problems. The shape of the

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Self clicked on mobile phone

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formula does not determine the time taken to empty as all the shape use the same formula:
5
2 2
h =−At + c
5

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Works Cited

“Cone.” Toppr, https://www.toppr.com/guides/physics-formulas/cone-formula/.

“Cylinder.” 7Saage, https://7sage.com/3d-shapes-cylinders/.

“Osserman, Robert. "Ellipsoid." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,

25 Aug. 2006. Web. 23 Feb. 2020.”

“Sphere.” Maths Maker, https://mathsmaker.com/sphere-hemisphere-properties-of-sphere/.

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