Question

A cylindrical container that contains three tennis balls that are 2.7 inches in diameter is lying on its side and passes through an x-ray scanner that scans from the top only. What outline will appear on the x-ray screen, and what are the dimensions?cylindrical container with three spheres side by side so that the spheres are laying horizontally A circle with a diameter of 2.7 in A circle with a diameter of is 5.4 in A rectangle that is 5.4 in x 8.1 in A rectangle that is 2.7 in x 8.1 in

Answer 1

We need to determine the outline that will appear on the x-ray screen, and the dimensions, knowing that the x-rays scanner scans from above.

Each sphere (tennis ball) will be viewed as a circle with a diameter of 2.7 inches.

And the cylinder containing the balls will be viewed as a rectangle:

This rectangle has a width of 2.7 inches and a length of 3 times 2.7 inches:

$\text{ length }=3\cdot2.7\text{ in }=8.1\text{ in}$

Answer: A rectangle that is 2.7 in x 8.1 in