document.write( "Question 883942: How do I calculate the number of 1.38 cu in spheres can be put into a drum that is 21\" diameter and 29\" high? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #533935 by Fombitz(32388) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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The quickest way to calculate is to divide the volume of one sphere into the volume of the drum.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"N=%28pi%2A%28D%2F2%29%5E2%2AL%29%2F%281.38%29=%28pi%2821%2F2%29%2829%29%29%2F1.38=7278\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Although quick it is inherently incorrect and overestimates the number because it doesn't account for gaps in between the spheres which normally exist.
\n" ); document.write( "If you think of how cannonballs are stacked and do something similar with these spheres, the maximum density you can achieve is $\"pi%2F%283sqrt%282%29%29%2AV%5Bmax%5D\"$ or $\"0.741%2AVmax\"$
\n" ); document.write( "So the maximum number would decrease to $\"5389\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "For more information, look up close packing or center packing of spheres in your favorite search engine.\r
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