Let's say I have two spheres whose center's coordinates (cartesian) are
0,0,0 d,0,0
and both have radius R.
I want to analytically calculate the total surface area of both spheres. When d>2R it is obviously two times the surface of one sphere, so 8*Pi*R^2. When d is smaller than 2R, spheres overlap, but using surface of revolution integrals, I can easily derive the expression for the surface area.
Before I had a "one-dimensional" array of spheres. But in a "two-dimensional case", let's say I have four spheres, with coordinates
0,0,0 0,d,0 d,0,0 d,d,0
when d is smaller than 2R (and therefore overlapping spheres) I do not see clearly how can I calculate the total surface. And same problem in the case of 8 spheres in a similar "three-dimensional" arrange.
Anybody could give me any hints?