Math Problem Statement

Water is being poured into a conical container at a rate of 15 cm³/sec. The cone points directly down, and it has a height of 45 cm and a base radius of 15 cm. How fast is the water level rising when the water is 6 cm deep?

Solution

To solve this problem, we need to relate the rate at which the water level hh in the conical container is rising to the rate at which the volume of water VV is increasing. We use related rates and the formula for the volume of a cone.

Given:

  • Rate at which water is poured into the container: dVdt=15 cm3/sec\frac{dV}{dt} = 15 \text{ cm}^3/\text{sec}
  • Height of the cone: H=45 cmH = 45 \text{ cm}
  • Radius of the cone: R=15 cmR = 15 \text{ cm}
  • Height of water at the given moment: h=6 cmh = 6 \text{ cm}

Find:

  • Rate at which the water level is rising: dhdt\frac{dh}{dt} when h=6 cmh = 6 \text{ cm}.

Solution:

  1. Volume of the cone filled with water:

    The volume VV of water in a cone with height hh and base radius rr is given by:

    V=13πr2hV = \frac{1}{3} \pi r^2 h

    Since the water forms a smaller cone similar to the full cone, the radius rr and height hh of the water are proportional to the radius and height of the full cone. Hence,

    rR=hH    r=RHh=1545h=h3\frac{r}{R} = \frac{h}{H} \implies r = \frac{R}{H} h = \frac{15}{45}h = \frac{h}{3}

    Thus, r=h3r = \frac{h}{3}.

    Substituting r=h3r = \frac{h}{3} into the volume formula:

    V=13π(h3)2hV = \frac{1}{3} \pi \left(\frac{h}{3}\right)^2 h

    V=13πh39V = \frac{1}{3} \pi \frac{h^3}{9}

    V=π27h3V = \frac{\pi}{27} h^3

  2. Differentiate the volume with respect to time tt:

    dVdt=π273h2dhdt\frac{dV}{dt} = \frac{\pi}{27} \cdot 3h^2 \frac{dh}{dt}

    dVdt=π9h2dhdt\frac{dV}{dt} = \frac{\pi}{9} h^2 \frac{dh}{dt}

    We need to find dhdt\frac{dh}{dt} when h=6 cmh = 6 \text{ cm} and dVdt=15 cm3/sec\frac{dV}{dt} = 15 \text{ cm}^3/\text{sec}.

  3. Substitute the known values:

    15=π9(6)2dhdt15 = \frac{\pi}{9} (6)^2 \frac{dh}{dt}

    15=π936dhdt15 = \frac{\pi}{9} \cdot 36 \frac{dh}{dt}

    15=4πdhdt15 = 4\pi \frac{dh}{dt}

    dhdt=154π\frac{dh}{dt} = \frac{15}{4\pi}

  4. Calculate the value:

    dhdt1543.14161512.56641.194 cm/sec\frac{dh}{dt} \approx \frac{15}{4 \cdot 3.1416} \approx \frac{15}{12.5664} \approx 1.194 \text{ cm/sec}

Thus, the water level is rising at approximately 154π1.194\frac{15}{4\pi} \approx 1.194 cm/sec when the water is 6 cm deep.

Would you like a detailed explanation on any part of the solution or any additional questions? Here are some related questions you might find interesting:

  1. How would the rate change if the radius of the cone were different?
  2. What would happen to the rate if the water was being poured faster?
  3. How can the time it takes to fill the cone be calculated?
  4. What if the container was a cylinder instead of a cone?
  5. How does the relationship between the height and radius affect the water level rise?
  6. What would be the effect of a different cone height while keeping the radius constant?
  7. How would the problem change if the cone were inverted (pointing upwards)?
  8. How can we determine the rate at which the volume of water increases at a specific time?

Tip: When solving related rates problems, always relate all the relevant variables through known formulas and differentiate them with respect to time. Keep track of all the units for consistency.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Related Rates
Volume of Cone
Proportional Relationships

Formulas

Volume of cone formula: V = (1/3)πr^2h

Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

High School