A solid metallic sphere of radius $r$ is converted into a solid right circular cylinder of radius $R$. If the height of the cylinder is twice the radius of the sphere, then
Aptitude
Volume and Surface Area
Difficulty: Medium
Choose an option
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A$R = r$
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B$R = r\sqrt{\frac{2}{3}}$
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C$R = \sqrt{\frac{2r}{3}}$
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D$R = \frac{2r}{3}$
Answer
Correct Answer: $R = r\sqrt{\frac{2}{3}}$
Explanation
### Concept & Algebraic Volume Conservation
When reforming solids, equate their volume formulas.
$$V_{sphere} = \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3$$
$$V_{cylinder} = \pi R^2h$$
### Step-by-Step Solution
1. Given the sphere has radius $r$, its volume is $\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3$.
2. Given the cylinder has radius $R$ and its height $h = 2r$.
3. The volume of the cylinder is $\pi R^2(2r)$.
4. Equating the volumes: $\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3 = \pi R^2 (2r)$.
5. Cancel $\pi$ and $r$ from both sides: $\frac{4}{3}r^2 = 2R^2$.
6. Divide by 2: $R^2 = \frac{2}{3}r^2$.
7. Take the square root of both sides: $R = \sqrt{\frac{2}{3}r^2} = r\sqrt{\frac{2}{3}}$.
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
Substitute the height into the cylinder volume formula immediately and equate: $2\pi R^2 r = \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3$. Canceling terms on sight yields $R^2 = \frac{2}{3}r^2$, skipping intermediate algebraic steps.
### Common Pitfall
Misinterpreting the wording "height of the cylinder is twice the radius of the sphere" and assigning $h = 2R$ instead of $h = 2r$.
### Final Answer
Therefore, the correct answer is **$R = r\sqrt{\frac{2}{3}}$**.