# Thread: volume of water in spherical tank funtion of depth double integral

1. ## volume of water in spherical tank funtion of depth double integral

Please if anyone could help I would appreciate it so much

A water tank is in the shape of a sphere of radius a. Find the volume of the water as a function of the depth of the water h in the tank.

I think that the best way to solve it would be to use double integrals.... I cannot figure it out however, any help at all I would appreciate.

Thank you so much

2. I don't believe you need to use a double integral, just partition the sphere on the interval 0 to the h(depth) of the tank, and to find the volume you calculate the integral of the area on the interval 0 to h I believe, can someone confirm this as I am not 100%

Possible consider $\int_0^h\pi r^2 dh$

I based this off if the tank was standing on the x-y plane, with y having relation to h and your partitions are being taken from 0 to some point h on the h-axis so to speak which can be related to some depth h, which the change in thickness of your partitions will be $dh$ Also note to determine your radius it needs to be in terms of h, instead of the usually given function that is in terms of x which remember I stated h has relation to y-axis, since your radius is a, I assume your integral would look like this

$\int_0^h\pi a^2 dh$

3. ## unsure

Okay I think that if the depth is 0 the volume should be 0 and when the depth is 2a (the tank is full), the volume would be 4/3*pi*a^3. when i tried to use the integral that you suggested I might be doing something wrong but i cannot find get that answer. any help?
Thanks so much for your answer i appreciate all the work that you have done to try and solve it i think that maybe you are right but I'm not sure if i am just doing something wrong!

4. r is a function of h
where
$
r(h) = a - | h - a |
$

$
r(0) = 0
$

$
r(a) = a
$

$
r(2a) = 0
$

5. I am confused. How did you get this? and if what you are saying is right then the integral above cannot be the correct integral becuase r(2a)=0, right?

thank you so much!

Originally Posted by mooshazz
r is a function of h
where
$
r(h) = a - | h - a |
$

$
r(0) = 0
$

$
r(a) = a
$

$
r(2a) = 0
$

6. Originally Posted by seipc
I am confused. How did you get this? and if what you are saying is right then the integral above cannot be the correct integral becuase r(2a)=0, right?

thank you so much!
apperently i was wrong about r(h)
$
r(h) = \sqrt(a^2-(a-h)^2) = \sqrt(2ah-h^2)
$

but the values on the edge i gave u are still the same

and the integral is not zero,

you need to calculate

$
\int_0^h\pi(2ak-k^2) dk = \pi \* (a\*k^2-k^3/3)|_0^h
= \pi \* a\*h^2 - \pi \* h^3/3
$

7. Okay i follow you all the way through this time, however, i am still confused on one thing. I know that the answer has to be 4/3*pi*a^3 when its at 2a (full) but i dont get that answer.... am i just doing something wrong.
Thank you soooo much!

Originally Posted by mooshazz
apperently i was wrong about r(h)
$
r(h) = \sqrt(a^2-(a-h)^2) = \sqrt(2ah-h^2)
$

but the values on the edge i gave u are still the same

and the integral is not zero,

you need to calculate

$
\int_0^h\pi(2ak-k^2) dk = \pi \* (a\*k^2-k^3/3)|_0^h
= \pi \* a\*h^2 - \pi \* h^3/3
$