Given a regular triangular pyramid P−ABC (the base triangle is an equilateral triangle, and the vertex P is the center of the base) with all vertices lying on the same sphere, and PA, PB, PC are mutually perpendicular. If the side length of the base equilateral triangle is 2, then the volume of this sphere is ( ).
A: 43π
B: 23π
C: 3π
D: 23π
Multiple choice: answer with the letter of the option you want.
Solution
Given a regular triangular pyramid P−ABC with a base side length of 2, and PA, PB, PC are mutually perpendicular, we are to find the volume of the sphere on which all vertices lie.
First, let's find the length of PA using the given information. Since the base is an equilateral triangle and PA, PB, and PC are mutually perpendicular, we can deduce that PA is a height in the equilateral triangle ABC. Thus, applying Pythagoras theorem in triangle PAB, we have: PA2+PB2=AB2. Given that AB=2 and PA=PB due to the symmetry of the pyramid, we can rewrite this as: 2PA2=(2)2. Solving for PA gives: 2PA2=2⟹PA2=1⟹PA=1.
Next, we use the fact that the vertices of the pyramid lie on a sphere. The distance from P to the center of the base, which lies on the sphere's surface, is equal to the radius R of the sphere. Since PA, PB, and PC form a right-angled triangle with the sphere's diameter as the hypotenuse, we can relate the diameter (2R) to PA: (2R)2=PA2+PB2+PC2. Given PA=PB=PC=1, this simplifies to: (2R)2=3×12⟹4R2=3⟹R2=43⟹R=23.
Finally, we calculate the volume V of the sphere using its radius R: V=34πR3=34π(23)3=34π⋅833=23π.
Therefore, the volume of the sphere is 23π, which corresponds to option B.
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