4.

29 Right Circular Cylinder

Aright circular cylinder is the surface generated by revolving a
linel, parallelto a fixed line ,about 1'. The distance betwen lines
axis
and 1'is called the radius of the cylinder, the line 1'is called the
of the cylinder and the l is called the generator of the cylinder.
Section of aright cylinder
by aplane perpendicular to the
axis of the cylinder is a circle.
The centre of this circle lies on
the axis of the cylinder and the M
radius is that of the cylinder. P()
This circle is called base circle A
(a)
Or aguiding circle of the cylin
der.
Toderive the equation of a
right circular cylinder.
Let R be the radius of the
cylinder and the axis of the cyl
inder be = +
The line a+ a
vector is a'and parallel to
passes through the point A whose position
the vector a.
point on the cylinder and r be its position vector.
Let P be any
Let PM be perpendicular tothe axis ofthe cylinder.
352
ATextbook of B.Sc. Mathematics - Ist Semester
PM = radius of the cylinder = R
Further, we have for any point P,
AP = AM + PM? (1)
Now AP = a
Again AM =projection of AP along the axis.
= (p- a.4 [Since axis is along aj
Thus (1) becomes
|-a = |(7- a).à + R?
(2)
F2- 2ar+a-(p.a =R?
- 2a (a).& =C (where R' - a2=C)
This is the equation of the cylinder in the vector form.
Cartesian form:
Let a'= (x,, y,.z,), a'= 1f+ mj+ nk and = xî+yË+ zk
Now, pa- (x - x)f+ (y - y,)j+ (z -z,) k
li+ mj +nk
VP + m² + n'
The vector equation (2) takes the form
|l(-x,) + m
(y -y) +n (z - z)
(*-x+(y-y) +(2-z,'
V²+m +n'
I(-x) +m(y-y) + n(z-z,)]
ie(r-xf +(y-y,' +(z-z,' =R+ I+ m+ n
Or (2 + m + n) [(x -x,} + (y -y,' + (z - z1
-la-x) +=m(y - y) + n (z -
Ru2 + m² + n)
This is the cartesian form of the equation of the right circular cylinder.
Suppose the axis of the cylinder isalong the z- axis, and (,, Y,h 2)=
(0, 0, 0), then I= 0, m= 0, n = 1.
In this case the above equation becomes
+ + 2- = R
Or r+= R?
Analy cal (eometry 353

Thisis known as the standard formnof the equation of the rightcircular

cylnder.
Note: The equation x+y R' to represnt a cylinder, it rnust hold
good in space.
In the xy - plane this equation represents acircle.
Example 1. Find the equation of the right circular cylinder of
axis X
radius 2 and whose axis is -Yt3
y 2 -1 5
Solution: The axis passes through the point (x 9, , Z) =(1, -3, 3)
and the direction ratios are 2, -1,5.
Thus the equation ofthe right circular cylinder is given by
(4 + 1+ 25) [(x - 1 + (y + 3 + (2 - 31
[2 (x - 1) - y + 3) + 5(2 -3))
= 4(4 + 1 + 25)
3012 + +z- 2x + 6y - 6z + 19) - [2x -y + 5z - 20} =120
This is the equation of the right circular cylinder.
Example 2. Find the equation of the right circular cylinder whose
radius is units 2and axis passes through the points (1,- 3, 2) and
(-1,-2, -3).
Solution : The axis passes through the point A(1, -3, 3) and
B(-1,- 2, -3). Thus the direction ratios of the axis are
l=1+ 1, m = -3 + 2, n = 2 +3; i.e. I = 2, m =-1, n =5
The axis pásses through the point A(1,, y, , z) and the radius of the
cylinder is R= 2,
Thus the equation of the right circular cylinder is given by
30[x ++ - 2x + 6y - 6z +19] - (2r - y+ 5z - 20] = 120
[Refer Ex. 1 above]
Example 3. Find the equation of the right circular cylinder gener
line y-32-5 about the line
ated by revolving the 2 2 -1
x+1 y+ 3 z + 5
2 2 -1
Solution : The axis of the cylinder is
Z+ 5
X + 1
y+3 -1
.(1)
2 2
Agenerator of the cylinder is
x-1_y-3 Z- 5
-1
(2)
2
3,- 5)
Ihe axis passes through the point A(, Y, 2,) =(- 1, -
354 ATextbook of B.Sc. Mathematics - Ist Semester
The direction ratios of the axis are
|= 2,m = 2,n =-1
The radius of the cylinder is the length of the perpendicular from
a pointon the generator on to the axis.
Let P (1,, Y 2,) be the footof the perpendicular from the point
A(-1, -3, - 5) on to the line (2)
, -5
2
=

2 -1
= (say)
X, = 2À + 1, y, = 22 + 3, Z, = -d+ 5
Now AP is perpendicular to the line (1)
2(1, + 1) + 2( y, + 3) - 1(z, + 5) = 0
2(22 + 2) + 2(22 + 6) - 1(-+ 10) = 0
92 + 6 = 0 A= -
1 5 17
P(I, 3' 3
Thus Radius =
AP = V-s+ 1' + (55 + 3) + (178 + 5) = V136
Thus the equation of the right circular cylinder is given by
(4 + 4+ 1) [(* + 1 + (y + 3) + (z + 5))
- [2 (* + 1) + 2(y + 3) - (z + 5)]
= 136(4 + 4 + 1)
9 [(x + 1y + (y + 3) + (z + 5)] - [2x + 2y - z + 3] = 1224
This isthe equation of the right circular cylinder.
Example 4. Find the equation of the right circular cylinder
whese generators touch the sphere x + y + z = 9 and are paral
lel to the line l y +3 Z -3
2 -1 5
Solution:The generators of the cylinder touches the given sphere
++ 2 =9
the cylinder envelops this sphere.
’ centre of the the sphere is the centre of the cylinder and the radius
of the sphere is the radius of the cylinder.
Nowcentre and the radius of the sphere are
,. y 2,)=(0, 0, 0)
and R=3.
Analvtcalieometry 355

R
C

The generators are parallel tothe line

-1 y+3
y+33-3
2 -1 5
Thus the axis is also parallel to this line.
Therefore the direction ratios of the axis are 2, -- 1, 5
Thus the equation of the right circular cylinder is given by
(4 + 1+ 25) [(x - 0) + (y - 0) + (z - 0)]
- [2 (x - 0) - 1(y -0) + 5(z - )]
= 9(4 + 1+ 25)
30[r ++ z]- 2x - y+ 51 = 270
This is the equation of the right circular cylinder.
Exercise
1. Find the equation of the right circular
cylinder for which
X-1_ y-3 z - 3
(a) radius is 4, axis is the line 2
=

-3 6
X-1 y+3 Z- 2
(b) radius is 2, axis is the line 2 -2 5
- z.
(c) radius is 4, axis is the line x = 2y = Z-3
(d) radius is 2, axis is the line 2 =y-2 = 2
and the axis passes through
(e) radiusof its normal section is 4 1).
the points (1, -2, 3) and (3, - 1,
lies along the line
() radius of its normal section is 2, the axis
y+3
-1
2
2
 356 A Textbook of B.Sc. Mathematics - Ist Semnester
ratios
(g) radius2, axis passes through(1, 2, 3), has direction
2, -3, 6.
(h) radius is 2, axis passes through (1, -3, 2) and has direction
ratios 2, - 1,5.
-2 Z- 4
axis is and a generator being
(i) 3 4 5
X- 4 y3 -2-2
3 4 5

(j) a generator is X-3 Y-0Z-4 and the axis passes

2 3
through the origin.
(k) axis along x - 2= 0= z - land whose cross section is a
circle of radius unity.
2. Find the right circular cylinder whose generators touch the sphere
+ y + z - 2r + 4y - 1 = 0and are parallel to the line
X = y = Z.
3. Find the equation of the right circular cylinder having the circle
t y + z = 9, x -y + z =3 as a base circle.
Answers
1. (a) 49 [(x- 1) +(y -2) +(z-3)]-[2r-3y + 6z- 12] = 784
(b) 29+ 29 -82+ 8xy - 20xz +20yz +6x +126y +48z +6 =0
(c) 5x' + 8y' + 5z? 4xs + 4yz + 8zx - 144 = 0
(d) 5x +8y +52-4xy -4yz-8zx +22x - 16y - 14z - 10 = 0
(e) 5x+ 8y+ 5z-4xy+ 8yz +4zx-42x+ 24y -30z - 18 = 0
() 26x+ 29y +5z-12xy - 6yz - 4zx - 8x +30y - 74z + 59 = 0
(g) 49 [(r-1' +(y -2)' +(z-3)]- [2r -3y +5z- 14] = 196
(h) 30 [(r- 1) +(y -2) +(z-3)]- [2x -y+ 5z-15]' = 120
(i) 50 [(r - 2)' + (y -3) + (z -4)]- [3x +4y + 5z-38] =384
(j) 49 (x +y+ 2']- (2x + 3y + 6z ] = 325
(k) + z - 4x - 2z + 4 = 0
2. + y' + z' y - yz - Z* - 4x + 5y - z - 2 = 0
3. t+ y + z + xy + yz - zX = 9