Easy Explination of the Solid of Revolution

Solids of Revolution by Disks

We can have a function, like this one:

And revolve it around the x-axis like this:

To find its volume we can add up a series of disks:

Each disk's face is a circle:

The area of a circle is π times radius squared:

A = π r²

And the radius r is the value of the function at that point f(x), so:

A = π f(x)²

And the volume is found by summing all those disks using Integration:

And that is our formula for Solids of Revolution by Disks

In other words, to find the volume of revolution of a function f(x): integrate pi times the square of the function.

Example: A Cone

Take the very simple function y=x between 0 and b

Rotate it around the x-axis ... and we have a cone!

The radius of any disk is the function f(x), which in our case is simply x

What is its volume? Integrate pi times the square of the function x :

First, let's have our pi outside (yum).

Seriously, it is OK to bring a constant outside the integral:

Using Integration Rules we find the integral of x² is: x³ 3 + C

To calculate this definite integral, we calculate the value of that function for b and for 0 and subtract, like this:

Volume = π ( b³ 3 − 0³ 3 )

= π b³ 3

Compare that result with the more general volume of a cone:

Volume = 1 3 π r² h

When both r=b and h=b we get:

Volume = 1 3 π b³

As an interesting exercise, why not try to work out the more general case of any value of r and h yourself?

We can also rotate about other lines, such as x = −1

Example: Our Cone, But About x = −1

So we have this:

Rotated about x = −1 it looks like this:

The cone is now bigger, with its sharp end cut off (a truncated cone)

Let's draw in a sample disk so we can work out what to do:

OK. Now what is the radius? It is our function y=x plus an extra 1:

y = x + 1

Then integrate pi times the square of that function:

Pi outside, and expand (x+1)² to x²+2x+1 :

Volume = π

(x² + 2x + 1) dx

Using Integration Rules we find the integral of x²+2x+1 is x³/3 + x² + x + C

And going between 0 and b we get:

Volume = π (b³/3+b²+b − (0³/3+0²+0))

= π (b³/3+b²+b)

Now for another type of function:

Example: The Square Function

Take y = x² between x=0.6 and x=1.6

Rotate it around the x-axis:

What is its volume? Integrate pi times the square of x² :

Simplify by having pi outside, and also (x²)² = x⁴ :

The integral of x⁴ is x⁵/5 + C

And going between 0.6 and 1.6 we get:

Volume = π ( 1.6⁵/5 − 0.6⁵/5 )

≈ 6.54

Can you rotate y = x² about x = −1 ?

In summary:

• Have pi outside
• Integrate the function squared
• Subtract the lower end from the higher end

About The Y Axis

We can also rotate about the Y axis:

Example: The Square Function

Take y=x², but this time using the y-axis between y=0.4 and y=1.4

Rotate it around the y-axis:

And now we want to integrate in the y direction!

So we want something like x = g(y) instead of y = f(x). In this case it is:

x = √(y)

Now integrate pi times the square of √(y)² (and dx is now dy):

Simplify with pi outside, and √(y)² = y :

The integral of y is y²/2

And lastly, going between 0.4 and 1.4 we get:

Volume = π ( 1.4²/2 − 0.4²/2 )

≈ 2.83...

Washer Method

Washers: Disks with Holes

What if we want the volume between two functions?

Example: Volume between the functions y=x and y=x³ from x=0 to 1

These are the functions:

Rotated around the x-axis:

The disks are now "washers":

And they have the area of an annulus:

In our case R = x and r = x³

In effect this is the same as the disk method, except we subtract one disk from another.

And so our integration looks like:

Volume =

π (x)² − π (x³)² dx

Have pi outside (on both functions) and simplify (x³)² = x⁶:

The integral of x² is x³/3 and the integral of x⁶ is x⁷/7

And so, going between 0 and 1 we get:

Volume = π [ (1³/3 − 1⁷/7 ) − (0−0) ]

≈ 0.598...

So the Washer method is like the Disk method, but with the inner disk subtracted from the outer disk.

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Source: https://www.mathsisfun.com/calculus/solids-revolution-disk-washer.html