Lesson 14

Volume by Integration
 Solids of Revolution
A solid of revolution is a solid generated by revolving a plane region about a line that
lies in the same plane as the region. The line is called the axis of revolution. Some
familiar solids of revolution are shown below.
Volume by Disk Perpendicular to the x-axis

Let 𝑓 be continuous and nonnegative on 𝑎, 𝑏 and let 𝑅 be the region that is bounded
above by 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 , below by the x-axis, and on the sides by 𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏. The
volume of the solid of revolution by revolving the region 𝑅 about the x-axis is
" #
𝑉= ∫! 𝜋 𝑓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Volume by Disk Perpendicular to the y-axis

The method of disks have analog for regions that are revolved about the y-axis. The
volume of the solid of revolution by revolving the region 𝑅 about the y-axis is
% #
𝑉 = ∫$ 𝜋 𝑢 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Examples:
1. Find the volume of the solid generated by revolving about the x-axis the region bounded
by 𝑦 = 𝑥, 𝑥 = 4 and the x-axis.
Solution:
The length of the element is 𝑦 and the thickness is 𝑑𝑥. Using
the disk method,

' #
V= 𝜋 ∫& 𝑦 𝑑𝑥
'
= π ∫& 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
(! '
= 𝜋 # &
V = 8 π cu. units
2. Derive the formula for the volume of a sphere of radius 𝑟.
Solution:
A sphere of radius 𝑟 can be generated by revolving the upper semicircular
disk enclosed between the x-axis and 𝑥 # + 𝑦 # = 𝑟 # about the x-axis. Since
the upper half of the circle is the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑟 # − 𝑥 #, it follows
that the volume of the sphere is
" #
𝑉 = ∫! 𝜋 𝑓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
* #
#
= 𝜋 ∫)* 𝑟 − 𝑥 # 𝑑𝑥
*
= 𝜋 ∫)* 𝑟 # − 𝑥 # 𝑑𝑥
# (" *
= 𝜋 𝑟 𝑥 − + )*
'
𝑉 = + 𝜋𝑟 +
3. Find the volume of the solid generated by rotating around the y-axis the
plane region in the first quadrant bounded by 𝑦 = 𝑥 #, 𝑦 = 4, 𝑥 = 0.
Solution:
The length of the element is 𝑥 and the thickness is 𝑑𝑦. Using the disk
method
"
𝑉 = ∫! 𝜋𝑥 # 𝑑𝑦
'
= 𝜋 ∫& 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
,! '
=𝜋 # &
𝑉 = 8𝜋 cu. units
Volume by Washer or Ring Perpendicular to the x-axis

Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be continuous on the interval 𝑎 , 𝑏 and if 𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 𝑔 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in 𝑎 , 𝑏 .

Let 𝑅 be the region bounded above by 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 , below by 𝑦 = 𝑔 𝑥 , on the sides by
𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏. The volume of the solid of revolution that is generated by revolving
the region 𝑅 about the x-axis is
" "
𝑉 = ∫! 𝜋 𝑦- # − 𝑦. # 𝑑𝑥 = 𝜋 ∫! 𝑓 𝑥 # − 𝑔 𝑥 # 𝑑𝑥
Volume by Washer or Ring Perpendicular to the y-axis

The method of washer or ring have analog for regions that are revolved about the y-
axis. The volume of the solid of revolution by revolving the region 𝑅 about the y-axis is
% %
𝑉 = ∫$ 𝜋 𝑥/ # − 𝑥. # 𝑑𝑦 = 𝜋 ∫$ 𝑤 𝑦 # − 𝑣 𝑦 # 𝑑𝑦
4. Find the volume of the solid generated by revolving about the y-axis the area
bounded by 𝑦 = 𝑥 #, 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑦 = 0.
Solution:
The two curves intersect at 2, 4 . Using the washer method, 𝑥/ = 2 and
𝑥. = 𝑥, and the volume is
"
𝑉 = 𝜋 ∫! 𝑥/ # − 𝑥. # 𝑑𝑦
' # #
= 𝜋 ∫& 2 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑦
'
= 𝜋 ∫& 4 − 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
,! '
= 𝜋 4𝑦 − # &
𝑉 = 8𝜋 cu. units
5. Find the volume of the solid by revolving about the x-axis the region
bounded by the curves 𝑦 # = 𝑥 and y = 𝑥 +.
Solution:
The curves intersect at 0, 0 and 1, 1 .
#
Using the washer method, 𝑦- = 𝑥 and 𝑦. = 𝑥 +,
!

and the volume is

0
𝑉 = 𝜋 ∫& 𝑦- # − 𝑦. # 𝑑𝑥
# #
0
= 𝜋 ∫& 𝑥 ! − 𝑥+ # 𝑑𝑥
0
= 𝜋 ∫& 𝑥 − 𝑥 1 𝑑𝑥
(! ($ 0
= 𝜋 #
− 2 &
3
𝑉 = 0' 𝜋 cu. units
Volume by Cylindrical Shells about the y-axis
If the method of disks or washers perpendicular to the axis of revolution is not
applicable or the resulting integral is difficult, the method of cylindrical shells will often
work. The volume of a cylindrical shell is
𝑉 = 2𝜋 > 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 > ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 > 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠
Let 𝑓 be continuous and nonnegative on 𝑎, 𝑏 where 0 ≤ 𝑎 < 𝑏 and let 𝑅 be the
region that is bounded above by 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 , below by the x-axis, and on the sides by
𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏. Then the volume of the solid of revolution that is generated by
revolving the region 𝑅 about
the y-axis is

"
𝑉 = ∫! 2𝜋𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
6. Find the volume of the solid generated by revolving about the y-axis the region
bounded by 𝑦 = 𝑥 #, 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑦 = 0.
Solution:
The average radius is 𝑥, the height is 𝑦 and the thickness is 𝑑𝑥. Using
the cylindrical shell method,

#
𝑉 = 2𝜋 ∫& 𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑥
#
= 2𝜋 ∫& 𝑥 > 𝑥 # 𝑑𝑥
# +
= 2𝜋 ∫& 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
(% #
= 2𝜋
' &
𝑉 = 8𝜋 cu. units
7. Use cylindrical shells to find the volume of the solid generated when the region 𝑅
in the first quadrant bounded by 𝑦 = 𝑥 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 # is revolved about the y-axis.
Solution:
The average radius is 𝑥, the height is 𝑦- − 𝑦. and the thickness is 𝑑𝑥.

0
𝑉 = 2𝜋 ∫& 𝑥 𝑦- − 𝑦. 𝑑𝑥
0
= 2𝜋 ∫& 𝑥 𝑥 − 𝑥 # 𝑑𝑥
0 #
= 2𝜋 ∫& 𝑥 − 𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥
(" (% 0
= 2𝜋 + − ' &
4
𝑉= 1
cu. units
8. Use cylindrical shells to find the volume of the solid generated when the region 𝑅
bounded by 𝑦 # = 𝑥 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 # is revolved about the x-axis.
Solution:
The average radius is 𝑦, the height is 𝑥/ − 𝑥. and the thickness is 𝑑𝑦.

0
𝑉 = 2𝜋 ∫& 𝑦 𝑥/ − 𝑥. 𝑑𝑦
0
= 2𝜋 ∫& 𝑦 𝑦 − 𝑦 # 𝑑𝑦
"
0
= 2𝜋 ∫& 𝑦 ! − 𝑦 + 𝑑𝑦
&
,! ,% 0
= 2𝜋 & − ' &
!
+4
𝑉= 0&
cu. units
Volume of Solid with Known Cross-Section
Let 𝑆 be a solid and suppose that the area of the cross section in the plane
perpendicular to the x-axis is 𝐴 𝑥 for 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏.
Then the volume of the solid from
𝑥 = 𝑎 to 𝑥 = 𝑏 is

"
𝑉 = ∫! 𝐴 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Similarly, if the cross-section is perpendicular

to the y-axis and its cross-section is defined
by the function 𝐴 𝑦 , then the volume of the
solid from 𝑦 = 𝑐 to 𝑦 = 𝑑 is

%
𝑉 = ∫$ 𝐴 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Steps for finding the volume of a solid with known cross section:
1. Sketch the base of the solid and a typical cross section.
2. Express the area of the cross section 𝐴 𝑥 as a function of 𝑥.
3. Determine the limits of integration.
4. Evaluate the definite integral.
Examples:

1. Find the volume of a solid if the base of the solid is the circle 𝑥 # + 𝑦 # = 1,
and every perpendicular cross section is a square.

Solution:
The area of the cross section is
𝐴 𝑥 = 𝑎# = 2𝑦 # = 4𝑦 # = 4 1 − 𝑥 #
Hence, the volume of the solid is
0 0
𝑉 = ∫)0 𝐴 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 2 ∫& 4 1 − 𝑥 # 𝑑𝑥
(" 0
=8 𝑥 −
+ &
01
𝑉= cu. units
+
2. A wedge is cut out of a circular cylinder with radius 𝑅 and height 𝐻 by the plane
passing through a diameter of the base. If the radius 𝑅 is equal to the height 𝐻, find
the volume of the cylindrical wedge.
Solution:
A cross section of the wedge perpendicular to
the x-axis is a right triangle with sides 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐵𝐶
since 𝑅 = 𝐻 and 𝛼 = 45°.
But 𝐴𝐵 = 𝑦 and 𝑦 # = 𝑅# − 𝑥 #
0 0 #
so that 𝐴 𝑥 = 𝐴𝐵 > 𝐵𝐶 = 𝑦
# #
Hence, the volume of the wedge is
/ /0 /
𝑉 = 2 ∫& 𝐴 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 2 ∫& # 𝑦 # 𝑑𝑥 = ∫& 𝑅# − 𝑥 # 𝑑𝑥
(" /
= 𝑅#𝑥 − + &
#
𝑉= 𝑅+ cu. units
+