Problem 121
Medium Physical Applications

Sketch the curve 9y² = x(3-x)² and find the surface area

Sketch the curve $9y^2 = x(3-x)^2$ and find the surface area generated by rotating the loop about the $x$-axis.

Explanation of Method

Solve for the upper branch $y=\frac13\sqrt x(3-x)$, differentiate, show that $1+(y')^2$ simplifies to a perfect square $\left(\frac{x+1}{2\sqrt x}\right)^2$, and integrate $2\pi y\sqrt{1+(y')^2}$ over the loop's extent $x\in[0,3]$; since the upper and lower branches sweep out the same surface of revolution, no separate doubling is needed.

We first describe the loop, then compute the surface generated by revolving it about the $x$-axis.

Step 1: Analyze the curve

\[y=\pm\frac{\sqrt x(3-x)}3,\qquad x\ge0\]

The loop runs from $(0,0)$ to $(3,0)$, symmetric about the $x$-axis, with maximum height $\frac23$ at $x=1$ (found by setting $y'=0$ on the upper branch).

Step 2: Differentiate the upper branch

\[y=\frac{\sqrt x(3-x)}3 \implies y'=\frac{3-3x}{6\sqrt x}=\frac{1-x}{2\sqrt x}\]

Step 3: Simplify $1+(y')^2$

\[1+\left(\frac{1-x}{2\sqrt x}\right)^2 = \frac{4x+(1-x)^2}{4x}=\frac{x^2+2x+1}{4x}=\frac{(x+1)^2}{4x}\]

\[\sqrt{1+(y')^2}=\frac{x+1}{2\sqrt x}\]

Step 4: Set up the surface integral

Rotating the loop about the $x$-axis, the upper branch alone generates the entire surface (its mirror image below the axis produces the same surface in 3D), so

\[S=2\pi\int_0^3 y\sqrt{1+(y')^2}\,dx = 2\pi\int_0^3\frac{\sqrt x(3-x)}3\cdot\frac{x+1}{2\sqrt x}\,dx = \frac\pi3\int_0^3(3-x)(x+1)\,dx\]

Step 5: Expand and integrate

\[(3-x)(x+1)=-x^2+2x+3\]

\[S=\frac\pi3\int_0^3(-x^2+2x+3)\,dx = \frac\pi3\left[-\frac{x^3}3+x^2+3x\right]_0^3 = \frac\pi3(-9+9+9)=\frac\pi3\cdot9=3\pi\]

\[\boxed{S=3\pi\approx9.42}\]


Result

Final answer:

\[\boxed{S = 3\pi \approx 9.42 \text{ square units}}\]