Two plastic drainage pipes are each \(2\,\text{m}\) long. Pipe A has outside radius \(5\,\text{cm}\) and inside radius \(4\,\text{cm}\). Pipe B has outside radius \(10\,\text{cm}\) and inside radius \(9\,\text{cm}\).
a) Find the volume of plastic in each pipe.
b) Both pipes have wall thickness \(1\,\text{cm}\). Explain why pipe B uses substantially more plastic.
Hints
- Treat each pipe as an outer cylinder with an inner cylinder removed.
- Use \(R^2-r^2=(R-r)(R+r)\) in part b.
- Which factor is equal for both pipes, and which is larger for pipe B?
Solution
1. Convert the length: \(2\,\text{m}=200\,\text{cm}\).
2. For pipe A, \(V_A=\pi(5^2-4^2)\cdot200\,\text{cm}^3=1800\pi\,\text{cm}^3\approx5654.87\,\text{cm}^3\).
3. For pipe B, \(V_B=\pi(10^2-9^2)\cdot200\,\text{cm}^3=3800\pi\,\text{cm}^3\approx11{,}938.05\,\text{cm}^3\).
4. Since \(R^2-r^2=(R-r)(R+r)\), equal wall thickness makes \(R-r\) equal for both pipes. Pipe B has a larger value of \(R+r\), so its annular area and material volume are larger.
Answer
a) \(V_A=1800\pi\,\text{cm}^3\approx5654.87\,\text{cm}^3\); \(V_B=3800\pi\,\text{cm}^3\approx11{,}938.05\,\text{cm}^3\)
b) Equal wall thickness does not mean equal annular area. Pipe B has a larger average circumference, so it uses more plastic.