Module 13

Volumes of
Solids of Revolution

(i) Let the area shown in Fig. 15(a) be divided into

A. Introduction a number of strips each of width δx. One such
strip is shown shaded.
If the area under the curve y = f (x), (shown in
(ii) When the area is rotated 360◦ about the x-axis,
Fig. 15(a)), between x = a and x = b is rotated 360
◦
each strip produces a solid of revolution approx-
about the x-axis, then a volume known as a solid of
revolution is produced as shown in Fig. 15(b). imating to a circular disc of radius y and
thickness δx. Volume of disc = (circular cross-
y sectional area) (thickness) = (πy2 )(δx)
y 5 f (x ) (iii) Total volume, V , between ordinates x = a and
x = b is given by:
xR
=b C b
Volume V = limit 2
πy δx = πy2 dx
y δx→0 a
x=a

0 x5a x5b x If a curve x = f (y) is rotated about the y-axis

!x 360◦ between the limits y = c and y = d, as
(a) shown in Fig. 16, then the volume generated is
y given by:
y 5 f(x ) yR
=d C d
!x Volume V = limit πx2 δy = πx2 dy
δy→0 c
y= c

y y

0 a b x y5d
x x 5 f(y)
!y

y5c
(b)
0 x
Figure 15
Figure 16
The volume of such a solid may be determined precisely
using integration.
 500π 2
Solved problems on volumes of = = 166 π cubic units
3 3
solids of revolution
y

10 y 5 2x
Problem 1. Determine the volume of the solid of
revolution formed when the curve y = 2 is rotated 10
360◦ about the x-axis between the limits x = 0 5
to x = 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 x
When y = 2 is rotated 360◦ about the x-axis between x 25
= 0 and x = 3 (see Fig. 17):
210
volume generated
C 3 C 3
= π y2 d x = π(2)2 d x Figure 18
0 0
C 3 [Check: The volume generated is a cone of radius 10
= 4π d x = 4π[x]30 = 12π cubic units and height 5. Volume of cone
0
1 1 500π
= πr 2 h = π(10)2 5 =
[Check: The volume generated is a cylinder of radius 2 3 3 3
and height 3. 2
= 166 π cubic units.]
Volume of cylinder = πr 2 h = π(2)2 (3) = 12π cubic 3
units.]
Problem 3. The curve y = x2 + 4 is rotated one
y revolution about the x-axis between the limits
y52 x = 1 and x = 4. Determine the volume of the
2 solid of revolution produced
1

0 1 2 3 x y
21
30
22

Figure 17 20 y 5 x2! 4
A B

10
D C
Problem 2. Find the volume of the solid of 5
revolution when the cure y = 2x is rotated 4
one revolution about the x-axis between the limits 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
x = 0 and x = 5

When y = 2x is revolved one revolution about the Figure 19

x-axis between x = 0 and x = 5 (see Fig. 18) then:
volume generated Revolving the shaded area shown in Fig. 19 about the
x-axis 360◦ produces a solid of revolution given by:
C 5 C 5 C 4 C 4
= π y2 d x = π(2x)2 d x Volume = π y2 d x = π(x 2 + 4)2 d x
0 0
1 1
-5
5 x3
C , C 4
= 4π x 2 d x = 4π = π(x 4 + 8x 2 + 16) d x
0 3 0 1
 2 34 Soled problems on
x 5 8x 3 volumes of solids of revolution
=π + + 16x
5 3
1
= π[(204.8 + 170.67 + 64) − (0.2 + 2.67 + 16)] Problem 5. The area enclosed by the curve
x
= 420.6π cubic units y = 3e 3 , the x-axis and ordinates x = −1 and
x = 3 is rotated 360◦ about the x-axis. Determine
Problem 4. If the curve in Problem 3 is revolved the volume generated
about the y-axis between the same limits, determine
the volume of the solid of revolution produced
y
The volume produced when the curve y = x 2 + 4 is 8 x
rotated about the y-axis between y = 5 (when x = 1) y 5 3e 3
and y = 20 (when x = 4), i.e. rotating area ABCD of
Fig. 19 about the y-axis is given by:
4
C 20
volume = π x2 dy
5
21 0 1 2 3 x
Since y = x 2 + 4, then x 2 = y − 4
-20
20 y2 Figure 20
C ,
Hence volume = π(y − 4)d y = π − 4y
5 2 5
x
= π[(120) − (−7.5)] A sketch of y = 3e 3 is shown in Fig. 20. When the
shaded area is rotated 360◦ about the x-axis then:
= 127.5π cubic units
C 3
volume generated = π y2 d x
−1
C 3 0 x 12
= π 3e 3 d x
Exercise 17. Volumes of solids of −1
revolution C 3 2x
= 9π e 3 dx
−1
  3 y
2x
e 3
= 9π 

2  x 2 !y 2 5 42

3 −1
 +
27π 2 2
= e −e −3
24 22 0 1 2 3 4 x
2
= 92.82π cubic units

Problem 6. Determine the volume generated

when the area above the x-axis bounded by the Figure 22
curve x 2 + y2 = 9 and the ordinates x = 3 and
x = −3 is rotated one revolution about the x-axis The volume of a frustum of a sphere may be determined
by integration by rotating the curve x 2 + y 2 = 42 (i.e.
Figure 21 sho ws the part of the curve x 2 + y 2 = 9 a circle, centre 0, radius 4) one revolution about the
lying above thex -axis, Since, in general,x 2 + y 2= r2 x-axis, between the limits x = 1 and x = 3 (i.e. rotating
represents a circle, centre 0 and radius r, then x 2 + the shaded area of Fig. 22).
y 2 = 9 represents a circle, centre 0 and radius 3. C 3
When the semi-circular area of Fig. 21 is rotated one Volume of frustum = π y2 d x
revolution about the x-axis then: 1
C 3 C 3
volume generated = π y2 d x = π(42 − x 2 ) d x
−3 1
-3
3 x3
C ,
= π(9 − x ) d x
2 = π 16x −
−3 3 1
-3 ,  +-
,
x3 2
= π 9x − = π (39) − 15
3 −3 3
1
= π[(18) − (−18)] = 23 π cubic units
3
= 36π cubic units
Problem 8. The area enclosed between the two
parabolas y = x2 and y2 = 8x is rotated 360◦ about
y thex-axis. Determine the volume of the solid
produced
x 2 !y 2 5 9

The volume produced by revolving the shaded area

about the x-axis is given by: [(volume
23 0 3 x
produced by revolving y 2 = 8x) − (volume produced
Figure 21 by revolving y = x 2 )]
C 2 C 2
(Check: The volume generated is a sphere of i.e. volume = π(8x) d x − π(x 4 ) d x
4 4 0 0
radius 3. Volume of sphere = πr 3 = π(3)3 = 2 32
3 3 2
8x 2 x 5
C
36π cubic units.) =π (8x − x ) d x = π
4
−
0 2 5
0
Problem 7. Calculate the volume of a frustum of
, + -
32
a sphere of radius 4 cm that lies between two = π 16 − − (0)
5
parallel planes at 1 cm and 3 cm from the centre and
on the same side of it = 9.6π cubic units

Exercise 18. Volumes of solids of

revolution