Topic 20

Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates

Spherical coordinates give a point by three numbers. ρ\rho is its distance from the origin. φ\varphi is the angle down from the positive zz-axis, with 0≤φ≤π0 \le \varphi \le \pi. θ\theta is the same as in cylindrical coordinates. Use them for balls, spheres and cones with their tip at the origin. Never forget dV=ρ2sin⁡φ dρ dφ dθdV = \rho^2\sin\varphi\,d\rho\,d\varphi\,d\theta.

5 kinds of question. Open the one you are stuck on.

1

Convert a point between Cartesian and spherical coordinates

e.g. “Convert from Cartesian to spherical coordinates”
  1. 1
    Link ρ\rho, φ\varphi to zz and rr: z=ρcos⁡φz = \rho\cos\varphi, r=ρsin⁡φr = \rho\sin\varphi

    To spherical: ρ=x2+y2+z2\rho = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2}, then cos⁡φ=zρ\cos\varphi = \dfrac{z}{\rho}.

  2. 2
    Use x=rcos⁡θx = r\cos\theta, y=rsin⁡θy = r\sin\theta for the rest

    So x=ρsin⁡φcos⁡θx = \rho\sin\varphi\cos\theta and y=ρsin⁡φsin⁡θy = \rho\sin\varphi\sin\theta.

  3. 3
    Check 0≤φ≤π0 \le \varphi \le \pi and the quadrant of θ\theta

    φ>π2\varphi > \tfrac{\pi}{2} exactly when z<0z < 0. On the zz-axis any θ\theta works.

Remember: ρ to the origin, φ from the top, θ as before.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Convert (ρ,θ,φ)=(4,π6,3π4)(\rho, \theta, \varphi) = \left(4, \tfrac{\pi}{6}, \tfrac{3\pi}{4}\right) to Cartesian coordinates.

Try it yourself first.
Common mistakes3
  • Finding φ\varphi from tan⁡φ\tan\varphi or sin⁡φ\sin\varphi: they cannot tell π3\tfrac{\pi}{3} from 2π3\tfrac{2\pi}{3}. Use cos⁡φ=zρ\cos\varphi = \dfrac{z}{\rho}.
  • Measuring φ\varphi up from the xyxy-plane. It is measured down from the positive zz-axis.
  • Swapping the angles: the course writes (ρ,θ,φ)(\rho, \theta, \varphi), so say which is which.
2

Rewrite an equation in spherical coordinates

e.g. “Rewrite the following equations in spherical coordinates”
  1. 1
    Replace x2+y2+z2x^2 + y^2 + z^2 by ρ2\rho^2
  2. 2
    Replace zz by ρcos⁡φ\rho\cos\varphi and x2+y2x^2 + y^2 by ρ2sin⁡2φ\rho^2\sin^2\varphi
  3. 3
    Divide by ρ\rho; solve for ρ\rho or φ\varphi

    Dividing by ρ\rho only loses the origin.

Remember: Cones fix φ; spheres give ρ.

See it in a problem4 worked examples

Rewrite x2+y2=3z2x^2 + y^2 = 3z^2 in spherical coordinates.

Try it yourself first.
Common mistakes2
  • Keeping only one angle: tan⁡2φ=3\tan^2\varphi = 3 has two answers in [0,π][0, \pi], π3\tfrac{\pi}{3} (upper cone) and 2π3\tfrac{2\pi}{3} (lower cone).
  • Writing ρ=3\rho = 3 for x2+y2=9x^2 + y^2 = 9. That is a sphere; the cylinder is ρsin⁡φ=3\rho\sin\varphi = 3.
3

Find a volume or evaluate a triple integral in spherical coordinates

e.g. “Use spherical coordinates to evaluate ∭Dz dV\iiint_D z\,dV, where DD is the solid enclosed by the cone … and the sphere …”
  1. 1
    Describe the solid with ranges for ρ\rho, φ\varphi, θ\theta

    A cone z=kx2+y2z = k\sqrt{x^2 + y^2} fixes φ\varphi. A sphere gives the limit for ρ\rho, which may depend on φ\varphi. z≥0z \ge 0 is φ≤π2\varphi \le \tfrac{\pi}{2}.

  2. 2
    Convert the integrand; use dV=ρ2sin⁡φ dρ dφ dθdV = \rho^2\sin\varphi\,d\rho\,d\varphi\,d\theta
  3. 3
    Integrate ρ\rho, then φ\varphi, then θ\theta

    If the limits are numbers and the is a product, it splits into three single integrals.

Remember: Limits in ρ, φ, θ, then ρ² sin φ.

See it in a problem4 worked examples

Find the volume of the part of the ball x2+y2+z2≤9x^2 + y^2 + z^2 \le 9 that lies above the xyxy-plane and outside the cone z=x2+y2z = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}.

Try it yourself first.
Common mistakes3
  • Forgetting ρ2sin⁡φ\rho^2\sin\varphi, or writing ρsin⁡φ\rho\sin\varphi.
  • Letting φ\varphi run to 2π2\pi. It stops at π\pi.
  • Reading z=x2+y2z = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} as φ=π2\varphi = \tfrac{\pi}{2}. It is φ=π4\varphi = \tfrac{\pi}{4}, since tan⁡φ=rz=1\tan\varphi = \tfrac{r}{z} = 1.
4

Set up a triple integral in both cylindrical and spherical coordinates

e.g. “Express II as a triple integral in spherical coordinates. Express II as a triple integral in cylindrical coordinates. Evaluate II by any method”
  1. 1
    Find where the surfaces meet: the radius rr and the angle φ\varphi

    Substitute the cone into the sphere. The cone z=krz = kr is tan⁡φ=1k\tan\varphi = \tfrac{1}{k}.

  2. 2
    Cylindrical: zz between the surfaces, rr up to the meeting radius

    Integrand times rr, in the order dz dr dθdz\,dr\,d\theta.

  3. 3
    Spherical: ρ\rho from 00 to the outer surface, φ\varphi to the cone

    Integrand times ρ2sin⁡φ\rho^2\sin\varphi. A plane z=cz = c is ρ=csec⁡φ\rho = c\sec\varphi.

  4. 4
    Evaluate the easier one

Remember: Meet, then write it twice.

See it in a problem2 worked examples

EE lies above the cone z=x2+y23z = \sqrt{\dfrac{x^2 + y^2}{3}} and inside the sphere x2+y2+z2=4x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 4. Write ∭Ez dV\displaystyle\iiint_E z\,dV in cylindrical and in spherical coordinates, and evaluate it.

Try it yourself first.
Common mistakes3
  • In cylindrical, rr stops where the surfaces meet, not at the sphere's radius.
  • Converting the integrand in one system but not the other: x2+y2x^2 + y^2 is r2r^2 in one and ρ2sin⁡2φ\rho^2\sin^2\varphi in the other.
  • Using the same in both. Cylindrical needs rr; spherical needs ρ2sin⁡φ\rho^2\sin\varphi.
5

Convert a Cartesian triple integral to spherical coordinates

e.g. “Evaluate … by changing to spherical coordinates”
  1. 1
    Read the solid from the limits

    z=a2−x2−y2z = \sqrt{a^2 - x^2 - y^2} is the top half of the sphere of radius aa, and z=−a2−x2−y2z = -\sqrt{a^2 - x^2 - y^2} the bottom half. y=±a2−x2y = \pm\sqrt{a^2 - x^2} is the edge of its shadow.

  2. 2
    Translate it into ranges for ρ\rho, φ\varphi, θ\theta

    z≥0z \ge 0: φ≤π2\varphi \le \tfrac{\pi}{2}. z≤0z \le 0: φ≥π2\varphi \ge \tfrac{\pi}{2}. The signs of xx and yy pick θ\theta.

  3. 3
    Substitute ρ2\rho^2 for x2+y2+z2x^2 + y^2 + z^2; dV=ρ2sin⁡φ dρ dφ dθdV = \rho^2\sin\varphi\,d\rho\,d\varphi\,d\theta
  4. 4
    Evaluate; the three integrals usually factor

Remember: Name the solid, then it is three easy integrals.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Evaluate ∫02∫04−x2∫04−x2−y2x2+y2+z2 dz dy dx\displaystyle\int_0^2\int_0^{\sqrt{4 - x^2}}\int_0^{\sqrt{4 - x^2 - y^2}}\sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2}\,dz\,dy\,dx by changing to spherical coordinates.

Try it yourself first.
Common mistakes2
  • Copying the xx-limits as ρ\rho-limits. Read the solid first, then describe it again.
  • Using 0≤φ≤π20 \le \varphi \le \tfrac{\pi}{2} for a solid below the xyxy-plane.

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