A laboratory-grown synthetic crystal takes the form of a regular tetrahedron, which consists of 4 congruent equilateral triangular faces meeting at 4 vertices. The side length of the tetrahedron is denoted by L mmL\text{ mm}L mm.
Show that the total surface area, S mm2S\text{ mm}^2S mm2, of the tetrahedron is given by S=3L2S = \sqrt{3}L^2S=3L2
Given that the volume, V mm3V\text{ mm}^3V mm3, of the tetrahedron is given by V=L362V = \frac{L^3}{6\sqrt{2}}V=62L3
show that dVdS=624L\dfrac{\text{d}V}{\text{d}S} = \dfrac{\sqrt{6}}{24}LdSdV=246L.
The surface area of the crystal is increasing at a constant rate of 0.14 mm2 s−10.14\text{ mm}^2\text{ s}^{-1}0.14 mm2 s−1.
Find the rate of change of the volume of the crystal when L=6L = 6L=6, giving your answer to 2 significant figures.
Practise Edexcel A Level Maths 9.10 Rates of Change with exam-style questions for A Level Maths. 24 questions, matched to the Edexcel A Level Maths (9MA0) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.