Volumes of Solids – Shell Method & Applications (Extended Practice)
This worksheet focuses on volumes of solids of revolution with strong emphasis on the
Shell Method, along with comparisons to Disk and Washer methods. Problems are designed
for AP Calculus AB/BC level. Show all work and justify your method choice.
Section 1: Basic Shell Method
1. Use the shell method to find the volume when the region bounded by y = x, x = 0, x = 2,
and the x-axis is rotated about the y-axis.
2. Find the volume using shells when the region under y = x^2 from x = 0 to x = 1 is rotated
about the y-axis.
3. Use the shell method to find the volume when the region between y = x and y = 2x is
rotated about the y-axis from x = 0 to x = 2.
4. Find the volume formed by rotating the region under y = √x, 0 ≤ x ≤ 4, about the y-axis
using shells.
5. Use shells to find the volume when the region bounded by y = 4 − x^2 and the x-axis is
rotated about the y-axis.
Section 2: Shell Method with Curves
6. Use the shell method to find the volume when the region between y = x^2 and y = 4 is
rotated about the y-axis.
7. Find the volume using shells when the region bounded by y = x^3, y = 0, and x = 1 is
rotated about the y-axis.
8. Use the shell method to find the volume when the region between y = x and y = x^2 on
[0,1] is rotated about the y-axis.
9. Rotate the region bounded by y = 9 − x^2 and the x-axis about the y-axis. Find the volume
using shells.
10. Find the volume using shells when the region between y = e^x and y = 1 from x = 0 to x =
1 is rotated about the y-axis.
Section 3: Rotation about Horizontal Lines
11. Use the shell method to find the volume when the region between x = y^2 and x = 4 is
rotated about the x-axis.
12. Find the volume when the region between x = y and x = y^2, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1, is rotated about
the x-axis using shells.
13. Rotate the region bounded by x = 9 − y^2 and the y-axis about the x-axis. Find the
volume using shells.
14. Use shells to find the volume when the region between x = ln y and x = 1, 1 ≤ y ≤ e, is
rotated about the x-axis.
15. Find the volume formed when the region bounded by x = y^3 and x = 8 is rotated about
the x-axis using shells.
Section 4: Choosing the Correct Method
16. Find the volume when the region between y = x and y = x^2 is rotated about the x-axis.
Use the shell method.
17. Solve Problem 16 again using the washer method and verify the results agree.
18. Use the shell method to find the volume when the region bounded by y = 4 − x^2 and the
y-axis is rotated about x = 3.
19. Find the volume when the region under y = x from x = 0 to x = 2 is rotated about x = −1
using shells.
20. Rotate the region between y = x^2 and y = 2x about x = 1. Find the volume using shells.
Section 5: Advanced Shell Method Problems
21. Find the volume when the region between y = sin x and the x-axis from x = 0 to x = π is
rotated about the y-axis using shells.
22. Rotate the region bounded by y = ln x, x = 1, and x = e about the y-axis. Find the volume
using shells.
23. Use the shell method to find the volume when the region between y = x^3 and y = x is
rotated about the y-axis.
24. Find the volume when the region under y = 1/x from x = 1 to x = 4 is rotated about the y-
axis using shells.
25. Rotate the region between y = x and y = √x about the y-axis. Find the volume using
shells.
Section 6: Mixed Review and Applications
26. A solid is formed by rotating the region between y = 2x and y = x^2 about the y-axis.
Find its volume.
27. Find the volume when the region between y = e^x and y = 0, x = 0 to x = 1, is rotated
about the y-axis.
28. Rotate the region bounded by x = y^2, x = 4, y = 0 about the x-axis using shells.
29. Find the volume of the solid formed by rotating the region between y = x^2 and y = 4x
about the y-axis.
30. Challenge: Find the volume when the region bounded by y = ln x, y = 0, x = 1, and x = e is
rotated about x = −1 using shells.
Answer Key (Final Answers)
1. 8π/3
2. π/2
3. 4π
4. 64π/3
5. 64π/3
6. 64π/3
7. π/2
8. π/6
9. 81π/4
10. 2π(e − 1)
11. 32π/3
12. π/6
13. 81π/4
14. π(e − 1)
15. 512π/5
16. π/6
17. π/6
18. 128π/3
19. 16π/3
20. 4π/3
21. 2π^2
22. π(e^2 − 1)
23. π/2
24. 6π
25. 4π/3
26. 8π/3
27. 2π(e − 1)
28. 32π/3
29. 32π/3
30. π(e^2 − 1)