Math Problem Statement

A circular swimming pool has a diameter of 20 ft, the sides are 5 ft high, and the depth of the water is 4 ft. How much work (in ft-lb) is required to pump all of the water out over the side? (Use the fact that water weighs 62.5 lb/ft3. Round your answer to the nearest integer.)

Solution

To find the work required to pump all of the water out of the pool, we need to calculate the total work done in moving the water to the top of the pool. Work is calculated as the force times the distance.

Let's break this problem down step-by-step:

Step 1: Determine the volume of the water in the pool.

The pool is a cylinder, so the volume VV of the water can be calculated using the formula for the volume of a cylinder:

V=πr2hV = \pi r^2 h

where:

  • rr is the radius of the pool,
  • hh is the height of the water.

Given:

  • Diameter of the pool = 20 ft, so the radius r=202=10ftr = \frac{20}{2} = 10 \, \text{ft},
  • Depth of the water = 4 ft (this is the height hh of the water).

So, the volume of water is:

V=π(10)2(4)=400πft3V = \pi (10)^2 (4) = 400\pi \, \text{ft}^3

Now, the weight of the water is given by:

Weight=Volume×Weight per unit volume\text{Weight} = \text{Volume} \times \text{Weight per unit volume}

The weight per unit volume of water is 62.5 lb/ft³, so:

Weight=400π×62.5=25,000πlb\text{Weight} = 400\pi \times 62.5 = 25,000\pi \, \text{lb}

Step 2: Work calculation.

Work is calculated using the formula:

Work=0hF(x)dx\text{Work} = \int_0^h F(x) \, dx

where:

  • F(x)F(x) is the force required to lift a small volume of water at height xx from the bottom of the pool to the top.

The small volume of water at height xx is a thin slice of the pool, which has a volume ΔV=πr2Δx\Delta V = \pi r^2 \, \Delta x. The force to lift this small volume is the weight of this slice, which is given by:

Force at height x=πr2Δx×62.5\text{Force at height } x = \pi r^2 \, \Delta x \times 62.5

This slice must be lifted a distance of (5x)(5 - x) feet to the top of the pool (since the height of the pool is 5 feet).

Thus, the work to lift the slice of water is:

Work at height x=πr262.5(5x)dx\text{Work at height } x = \pi r^2 \, 62.5 \, (5 - x) \, dx

Now, we can integrate from x=0x = 0 to x=4x = 4 (the depth of the water):

Work=04π(10)262.5(5x)dx\text{Work} = \int_0^4 \pi (10)^2 62.5 (5 - x) \, dx

Simplifying the constants:

Work=6250π04(5x)dx\text{Work} = 6250\pi \int_0^4 (5 - x) \, dx

Now, evaluate the integral:

04(5x)dx=[5xx22]04\int_0^4 (5 - x) \, dx = \left[ 5x - \frac{x^2}{2} \right]_0^4

=(5(4)422)(0)=208=12= \left( 5(4) - \frac{4^2}{2} \right) - (0) = 20 - 8 = 12

So, the total work is:

Work=6250π×12=75,000πft-lb\text{Work} = 6250\pi \times 12 = 75,000\pi \, \text{ft-lb}

Approximating π3.1416\pi \approx 3.1416:

Work75,000×3.1416=235,620ft-lb\text{Work} \approx 75,000 \times 3.1416 = 235,620 \, \text{ft-lb}

Final Answer:

The work required to pump all the water out is approximately 235,620 ft-lb.


Would you like further clarification or details on any step? Here are a few related questions:

  1. How do the units of force and work relate in this context?
  2. What would happen if the depth of the water was 5 ft instead of 4 ft?
  3. How can this method be applied to calculate the work for a non-circular pool?
  4. What if the weight of the water were different, say 62 lb/ft³ instead of 62.5 lb/ft³?
  5. How would the total work change if the water were being pumped to a higher or lower height?

Tip: When solving for work, always remember to account for how the force varies with height, especially in fluids where the depth influences the volume being lifted!

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Calculus
Work and Energy
Volume of a Cylinder
Definite Integration

Formulas

Volume of a cylinder: V = πr²h
Work: W = ∫ F(x) dx
Force of a slice: F(x) = πr²Δx × weight per unit volume

Theorems

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

Suitable Grade Level

College Level Calculus