Calculation of the Volume of a Light Bulb

by Michael Piekarski

Submitted : Spring 2012

For this experiment, I found the volume of a light bulb by integration of the curves and shapes of the light bulb assuming its radial symmetry. I took a cross-section of the bulb and sectioned the cross section into 3 sections. I found the volume of each of these sections individually and then added them to find the total volume. After I found the volume by integration I submerged the bulb in water to find the actual volume. After comparing the two values I found the error by considering by experimental value of 12.24 in³ and actual value of 11.59 in³. I found the error to be about 5.6%.

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