Surface of revolution never negative, the area is given by If the curve is described by the function , , then the integral becomes for revolution around the -axis, and for revolution around the "y"-axis (using ). These come from the above formula. For example, the spherical surface with unit radius is generated by the curve , , when ranges over . Its area is therefore For the case of the spherical curve with radius , rotated about the -axis A minimal surface of revolution is the surface of revolution of the curve between two given points which minimizes surface area. A basic
Gabriel's Horn diameter of the throat of the horn. The converse phenomenon of Gabriel's horn – a surface of revolution that has a "finite" surface area but an "infinite" volume – cannot occur: Let be a continuously differentiable function. Write for the solid of revolution of the graph about the -axis. "If the surface area of is finite, then so is the volume." Since the lateral surface area is finite, the limit superior: Therefore, there exists a such that the supremum } is finite. Hence, Finally, the volume: Therefore: "if the area is finite, then the volume must also be finite." Gabriel's