III.

Volume of a Solid of Revolution

If a plane area is rotated about a line in its plane, the solid thus generated is called a
solid of revolution. The line about to which the area is rotated is called an axis of rotation.

A. Circular Disk Method

Consider an area A under the curve C of a certain function f and between the line
x and y. If area A is revolved about the horizontal line x, a solid of revolution is
generated. The figure form is like a disk with the length and width of the rectangular
element become the radius and height of the disk. Same as the area is revolved
about y-axis, a solid of revolution is generated.

a
V =π ∫ y dx where the limits are at x-axis since the strip of the area is dx
2

a
V =π ∫ x dy where the limits are at y-axis since the strip of the area is dy
2

General Equation:
b
V =π ∫ ( X R −X L ) dy
2

a
b
V =π ∫ ( Y U −Y L ) dx
2

Example 1. Find the volume of the solid generated by revolving about the x-axis the area
bounded by y= √ x , x=4 and the x-axis.
To plot the curve:
x 0 1 2 3 4
y 0 1 1.41 1.73 2

From y= √ x , squaring both sides it become y 2=x

 4
V =π ∫ y dx substitute the value of y 2
2

0
4
V =π ∫ xdx use the limits from 0 to 4 since it is the x-axis where the curve closes.
0

]
4
x2
V =π substitute the limits
2 0

[ ]
2
(4 )
V =π −0
2
V =8 π cubic units

Example 2. Find the volume of the solid generated by revolving about the line x=2 the area
bounded by y=x 2 , x=2∧ y=0.
To plot the curve, if x=2, then y=4 by substituting 2 to the equation y=x 2. The equation
y=x is a parabola that is opening downward with the vertex of (0 , 0).
2

The equation y=x 2 becomes √ y=x to get the equation of x.

4
V =π ∫ ( X R −X L ) dy substitute the equation that touch by the strip from right to left
2

0
4
V =π ∫ ( 2− √ y ) dy use the limits 0-4 since that is the value of y-axis where the curve closes
2

0
4
V =π ∫ ( 4−4 √ y + y ) dy from the expansion of an equation
0

[∫ ]
4 4 4
V =π 4 dy−∫ 4 √ y dy +∫ ydy
0 0 0

[ ]
3 4

y 2 y2
V =π 4 y−4 + substitute the limits
3 2
2 0

[ ]
3 4

8 y y2
2
V =π 4 y− +
3 2 0

[ ]
3
8 ( 4 )2
( ) (
V =π 4 4 − 4 +) −0 2
3 2
 [ 8
V =π 16− ( 8 )+
3
16
2 ]
( 64
V =π 16− +8
3 )
8
V = π cu .units
3

Example 3. Find the volume of the solid generated by the curve y=x 2−2 x , the x−axis , by
revolving about the x−axis .
To plot the curve:
x 0 1 2
y 0 -1 0
To locate the vertex of a parabola:
2
x −2 x= y
2
x −2 x+1= y +1 use completing a square, then whatever number you add at the left
side add also at the right side to balance the equation
( x−1 )2= y+1 factor the equation
Vertex at the (1 ,−1)

2
V =π ∫ ( Y U −Y L ) dx
2

0
2
2
V =π ∫ [ 0−( x −2 x ) ] dx substitute the equations
2

0
2
V =π ∫ (−x +2 x ) dx expand the equation
2 2

0
2
V =π ∫ ( x −4 x +4 x ) dx
4 3 2

0
2 2 2
V =π ∫ x dx−4 ∫ x dx + 4 ∫ x dx
4 3 2

0 0 0

[ ]
5 4 3 2
x 4x 4x
V =π − +
5 4 3 0

[ ]
5 2
x 4 4 3
V =π −x + x
5 3 0

[ ]
5
( 2) 4
V =π −( 2 )4 + ( 2 )3
5 3
V =π
[
32
5
−16+
32
3 ]
16
V = π cu .units
15

Example 4. Find the volume formed by revolving about OX the area bounded by the parabola
x =4 ay , the line x=a and the x-axis.
2
From the equation x 2=4 ay , vertex of the curve is at (0,0) opening upward.
To plot the intersection:
Substitute the value of line to the equation of a curve;
2
a =4 ay
2
a
=y
4a
a
= y ; ± a=x
4

a
V =π ∫ y dx
2

( )
a 2 2
x
V =π ∫ dx
0 4a
a 4
x
V =π ∫ 2
dx
0 16 a
a
π
2∫
4
V= x dx
16 a 0

]
a
π x5
V=
16 a 5 0
2

[ ]
5
π (a)
V= −0
16 a 2 5
3
a π
V= cu .units
80