Wednesday, 1 July 2015

calculus - Area of north cap of a sphere



Problem



Derive formula for area of cap of sphere where h is height of the cap. Derive formula A=2πRh.




Hint: (by rotating function f(x)=R2x2 in between RhxR)



Attempt to solve



Now area of revolving function should be:



A=2πba|f(x)|1+f(x)2dx



I've tried to find where this formula comes from but i wasn't able to find proof for this. Now if someone knows how to prove this is valid formula / or if it isn't that would be great. (Possibly the cause of confusion on this problem).




We have the function given by the hint:



f(x)=R2x2
f(x)=ddx(R2x2)=xR2x2



Now to find out area this would be simply inserting function into the formula ?



A=2πRRhR2x21+(xR2x2)2dx=2πRh



I have tried to calculate the indefinite integral




A=2πR2x21+(xR2x2)2dx=2πRh
A=2π(14(2x+1)R2x2R2+x2+xx2R18(4R2+1)tan1((2x+1R2x2R2+x2+xx2R2)2(R2+x2+x)))+c
I've tried to integrate this but with little success. However this is suppose to be same as 2πRh (hence the equality at the end) but i don't have definite proof of it.



You can notice that 2π is only constant and does not come from the integration itself. So integration of something will most likely produce Rh



RRhR2x21+(xR2x2)2dx=Rh







To sum up the (possible) problems



(a) is formula for area correct in this. If it is where does it come from ?



(b) If we assume formula is correct then there has to be problem with my integration.


Answer



First, the formula is correct. You can find the derivation of the formula here.



Second, you made some mistakes in simplifying the expressions. In particular,

f(x)=xR2x21+f(x)2=RR2x2.
Consequently,
A=2πRRh|f(x)|1+f(x)2dx=2πRRhRdx=2πRh.


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