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How to construct a frustum

The document explains how to construct a conical frustum by cutting off the top of a cone, defining the frustum's dimensions including the radii of the bases and height. It provides a mathematical approach to calculate the slanted height (H) using Pythagorean theorem and establishes relationships between the dimensions to derive formulas for the arc length and central angle. The final formulas allow for the calculation of necessary parameters to construct the frustum accurately.

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Michael Van In
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26 views

How to construct a frustum

The document explains how to construct a conical frustum by cutting off the top of a cone, defining the frustum's dimensions including the radii of the bases and height. It provides a mathematical approach to calculate the slanted height (H) using Pythagorean theorem and establishes relationships between the dimensions to derive formulas for the arc length and central angle. The final formulas allow for the calculation of necessary parameters to construct the frustum accurately.

Uploaded by

Michael Van In
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to construct a frustum?

If you cut off the top part of a cone with a plane perpendicular to the height of the cone, you obtain a
conical frustum. See figure on the left: the upper base of the frustum has radius r and the lower
base has radius R. The height of the frustum is h.

On the right is the shape obtained if the frustum on the left is cut along the slanted height H. This
shape may be used to construct a conical frustum. It is part of a sector of a circle; see figure below.

Let us start by expressing H in terms of r, R and h. We use Pythagora's theorem in the right triangle
on the left whose hypotenuse is H, as follows:

H 2 = h 2 + (R - r) 2
hence

H = sqrt [ h 2 + (R - r) 2 ]

If you now prolong the sides of the figure on the right above, you obtain the sector shown below
To construct the frustum, you need to find x, y and the central angle t. Using the arc length formula,
we can write:

2 Pi r = x t

and

2 Pi R = y t

The above formulas may be used to write:

2 Pi R / 2 Pi r = y t / x t

which can be simplified to give:

R/r=y/x

We can also write:

y=x+H

Substitute y = x + H in R / r = y / x and solve for x:

R / r = (x + H) / x

Rx=rx+rH

Rx-rx=rH

x = r H / (R - r)

We now use y = x + H to find y:

y = r H / (R - r) + H

Any of the formula 2 Pi r = x t or 2 Pi R = y t may be used to find the central angle t (in radians):

t = 2 Pi r / x

= 2 Pi r / [ r H / (R - r) ]

= 2 Pi (R - r) / H

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