An empty inverted right circular conical vessel of base radius 12 cm and vertical height 18 cm is being filled with water at a constant rate of 12π cm3/s12\pi \text{ cm}^3/\text{s}.At the exact instant when the water level reaches a vertical depth of 6 cm, a small spherical lead shot of radius 3 cm is dropped into the cone, sinking completely to the bottom.Find the total time elapsed from the start of filling until the water level rises to a vertical depth of 12 cm.Determine how much the water level rises instantly when the lead shot is dropped.

Answer: Total time elapsed is 553 s\frac{55}{3}\text{ s} (or 1813 s18\frac{1}{3}\text{ s}), and the water level rises instantly by (45936) cm1.71 cm(\sqrt[3]{459} - 6)\text{ cm} \approx 1.71\text{ cm}.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Establish the relationship between radius and height

For an inverted right circular cone with top radius R=12 cmR = 12\text{ cm} and height H=18 cmH = 18\text{ cm}, the ratio of the water surface radius rr to the water depth hh is constant by similar triangles. Therefore, the radius at any vertical height hh is given by r=23hr = \frac{2}{3}h.

Step 2: Express the conical volume as a function of depth

Substituting r=23hr = \frac{2}{3}h into the formula for the volume of a cone gives the total capacity of the liquid cone as a function of its vertical height hh. This gives V(h)=4π27h3V(h) = \frac{4\pi}{27}h^3.

Step 3: Calculate the volume of the lead shot and the instantaneous height rise

When h=6 cmh = 6\text{ cm}, the volume of water is V(6)=4π27(216)=32π cm3V(6) = \frac{4\pi}{27}(216) = 32\pi\text{ cm}^3. The volume of the lead shot with radius 3 cm3\text{ cm} is 43π(3)3=36π cm3\frac{4}{3}\pi (3)^3 = 36\pi\text{ cm}^3. When dropped, the sphere is completely submerged, so the new combined volume is 68π cm368\pi\text{ cm}^3. Solving 4π27(h)3=68π\frac{4\pi}{27}(h')^3 = 68\pi yields (h)3=459(h')^3 = 459, so h=4593 cmh' = \sqrt[3]{459}\text{ cm}. The instant rise is 45936 cm1.71 cm\sqrt[3]{459} - 6\text{ cm} \approx 1.71\text{ cm}.

Step 4: Calculate total volume of water needed to reach 12 cm depth

The total volume inside the cone up to a vertical height of 12 cm12\text{ cm} is 256π cm3256\pi\text{ cm}^3. Since the lead shot remains fully submerged at the bottom and occupies 36π cm336\pi\text{ cm}^3, the volume of water required is Vwater=256π36π=220π cm3V_{\text{water}} = 256\pi - 36\pi = 220\pi\text{ cm}^3.

Step 5: Find the total elapsed time

Water enters continuously at a constant rate of 12π cm3/s12\pi\text{ cm}^3/\text{s}. The total volume of water pumped into the cone to reach a depth of 12 cm12\text{ cm} is 220π cm3220\pi\text{ cm}^3. Dividing this by the filling rate gives the total elapsed time: t=220π12π=553 secondst = \frac{220\pi}{12\pi} = \frac{55}{3}\text{ seconds}, which is 18.33 seconds18.33\text{ seconds}.

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