A spherical ball of radius 3 cm is melted and recast into three spherical balls. The radii of the two of the balls are 1.5 cm and 2 cm respectively. Determine the diameter of the third ball.
We have one spherical ball of radius 3 cm
So, its volume $=\frac{4}{3} \pi(3)^{3}$......(a)
It is melted and made into 3 balls.
The first ball has radius 1.5 cm
So, its volume $=\frac{4}{3} \pi(1.5)^{3}$......(b)
The second ball has radius 2 cm
So, its volume $=\frac{4}{3} \pi(2)^{3}$........(c)
We have to find the radius of the third ball.
Let the radius of the third ball be
The volume of this third ball $=\frac{4}{3} \pi(r)^{3}$.......(d)
We know that the sum of the volumes of the 3 balls formed should be equal to the volume of the given spherical ball.
Using equations (a), (b), (c) and (d)
$\frac{4}{3} \pi(r)^{3}+\frac{4}{3} \pi(1.5)^{3}+\frac{4}{3} \pi(2)^{3}=\frac{4}{3} \pi(3)^{3}$
$\Rightarrow(r)^{3}+(1.5)^{3}+(2)^{3}=(3)^{3}$
$r^{3}=27-8-\frac{27}{8}$
$r^{3}=\frac{7 \times 27-64}{8}$
$r^{3}=\frac{125}{8}$
$\Rightarrow r=\frac{5}{2}=2.5 \mathrm{~cm}$
Hence the diameter of the third ball should be 5 cm