CAT 2017 Set-1 | Question: 85

Question

A ball of diameter $4$ cm is kept on top of a hollow cylinder standing vertically. The height of the cylinder is $3$ cm, while its volume is $9\pi \;\text{cm}^{3}$. Then the vertical distance, in cm, of the topmost point of the ball from the base of the cylinder is

• A. $5$
• B. $4$
• C. $3$
• D. $6$

Answer 1

We can draw the diagram

Given that, Volume of cylinder $= 9\pi$

Let the radius of the hollow cylinder be $r$ cm.

$\Rightarrow \pi r^{2}h=9 \pi$

$\Rightarrow r^{2}(3)=9$

$\Rightarrow r^{2}=3$

$\Rightarrow \boxed{r=\sqrt{3}\;\text{cm}}$  

The diameter of ball $= 4\;\text{cm}$

Let the radius of the ball be $R$ cm.

The radius of  the ball $R= 2\;\text{cm}$

$\triangle \text{OPQ}$ is a right-angle- triangle. We can apply the Pythagorean theorem.

$\text{(OQ)}^{2} = \text{(OP)}^{2} + \text{(PQ)}^{2}$

$\Rightarrow 2^{2}= \text{(OP)}^{2} + (\sqrt{3})^{2}$

$\Rightarrow \text{(OP)}^{2} = 4-3 $

$\Rightarrow \text{(OP)}^{2}=1$

$\Rightarrow \boxed{\text{OP} = 1\;\text{cm}}$

$\therefore$  The vertical distance of the topmost point of the ball from the base of the cylinder

$ \qquad = h + \text{OP} +R = 3+1+2 = 6 \;\text{cm}.$

Correct Answer $:\text{D}$