CYLINDER

Definition: Cylinder is a surface generated by a straight line which is always parallel to a fixed straight
line and intersects a given curve.

N.B.

(i) The fixed straight line is called the axis of the cylinder.

(ii) The given curve is called the guiding curve of the cylinder.

(iii) The straight line , moving about the fixed straight line, in any position is called the generator.

THE EQUATION OF A RIGHT CIRCULAR CYLINDER

Whose axis is the line and radius is

PROOF:

Let P be any point on the

cylinder, be any point on the axis of the cylinder.

Equation of the axis ; ………………………..(1)

 Projection of on (1)

........................(2)

……………………………(3)

From the equations (1) , (2) and (3)

Example1: Find the equation of a right circular cylinder of radius 2 whose axis passes through (1 , 2 , 3)
and has direction cosines proportional to 2 , 3 , 6.

Solution:

The axis passes through

and its direction cosines are .

Let be any point on the cylinder.

But
So 4

Example2: Find the equation of the right circular cylinder of radius 3 and axis

Solution:

Radius = 3 and the axis is

Or

Or

Or 5
EQUATION OF THE CYLINDER WHOSE GENERATORS INTERSECT THE CURVE

AND PARALLEL TO THE LINE

is

PROOF: Let P be any point on the cylinder and the equation of the generator of the
cylinder be

……………………(1)

And the equation of the curve is

………………………..(2)

Let us find out the point where line (1) cuts the curve(2).Put z=0 in the equation (1)

But this point lies on the cylinder,so

So, the locus of the point P is

or

Example3: Find the equation of the cylinder whose generators are parallel to the line

and which passes through the conic

Solution: ..............................(1)

3 ………………………………(2)

Let be any point on the generator which is parallel to the line (1), therefore the equation
of the generator is given by
The generator intersects (2) at , so

 , ,

This point lies on (2) , so 3

Thus the locus of the point is

Or