Topic 19
Triple Integrals in Cylindrical Coordinates
Cylindrical coordinates are polar coordinates in the -plane with kept: , , . Use them when the solid is symmetric around the -axis, or the contains , which is . Never forget the in .
5 kinds of question. Open the one you are stuck on.
1Convert a point between Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates
e.g. “Convert from cylindrical to Cartesian coordinates”
Convert a point between Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates
e.g. “Convert from cylindrical to Cartesian coordinates”- 1Keep : it is the same in both systems
- 2Use , ,
To Cartesian: plug in. To cylindrical: find , then use .
- 3Check against the signs of and
only gives angles between and . Add when . If is negative, add to get . On the -axis, and any works.
Remember: z stays; x and y go polar.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Convert to Cartesian coordinates.
- 1Keep : it is the same in both systems
.
- 2Use , ,
and .
- 3Check against the signs of and
is in quadrant II, and , agree.
Convert to cylindrical coordinates.
- 1Keep : it is the same in both systems
.
- 2Use , ,
, and , with reference angle .
- 3Check against the signs of and
, : quadrant IV, so (or ).
Convert to cylindrical coordinates.
- 1Keep : it is the same in both systems
.
- 2Use , ,
, and , with reference angle .
- 3Check against the signs of and
, : quadrant III, so .
Common mistakes2
- Trusting blindly: is at , not .
- Putting into . is the distance to the -axis, not to the origin.
2Rewrite an equation in cylindrical coordinates
e.g. “Rewrite the following equations in cylindrical coordinates”
Rewrite an equation in cylindrical coordinates
e.g. “Rewrite the following equations in cylindrical coordinates”- 1Replace every by
- 2Replace any remaining , by ,
- 3Simplify, dividing by if every term has one
Dividing by can only lose the -axis, .
Remember: Group x² + y² first.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Rewrite in cylindrical coordinates.
- 1Replace every by
.
- 2Replace any remaining , by ,
No or is left.
- 3Simplify, dividing by if every term has one
, a paraboloid opening down.
Rewrite in cylindrical coordinates.
- 1Replace every by
.
- 2Replace any remaining , by ,
.
- 3Simplify, dividing by if every term has one
: the cylinder over the circle of radius centered at .
Rewrite in cylindrical coordinates.
- 1Replace every by
No group: the sign between them is minus.
- 2Replace any remaining , by ,
.
- 3Simplify, dividing by if every term has one
.
Common mistakes2
- Substituting before grouping : you then have to clean up yourself.
- Calling a circle. In 3D it is the cylinder .
3Find a volume or evaluate a triple integral in cylindrical coordinates
e.g. “Use cylindrical coordinates to evaluate the volumes of …”
Find a volume or evaluate a triple integral in cylindrical coordinates
e.g. “Use cylindrical coordinates to evaluate the volumes of …”- 1Write the bottom and top surfaces as in terms of ,
- 2Describe the shadow in the -plane in polar form
Its edge is where the two surfaces meet, or a cylinder. A circle through the origin, centered on an axis, is or .
- 3Convert the integrand; use
- 4Integrate , then , then
Remember: z between surfaces, shadow in polar, one extra r.
See it in a problem4 worked examples
Find the volume of the solid between the and .
- 1Write the bottom and top surfaces as in terms of ,
.
- 2Describe the shadow in the -plane in polar form
They meet where , so : , .
- 3Convert the integrand; use
: .
- 4Integrate , then , then
.
Evaluate , where is inside the cylinder , above and below .
- 1Write the bottom and top surfaces as in terms of ,
.
- 2Describe the shadow in the -plane in polar form
, .
- 3Convert the integrand; use
.
- 4Integrate , then , then
Inner: . Then , and .
Find the volume of the solid under , above the -plane and inside the cylinder .
- 1Write the bottom and top surfaces as in terms of ,
.
- 2Describe the shadow in the -plane in polar form
gives : , .
- 3Convert the integrand; use
: .
- 4Integrate , then , then
, and .
Find the volume of the solid inside , above and below .
- 1Write the bottom and top surfaces as in terms of ,
.
- 2Describe the shadow in the -plane in polar form
The top is above the bottom only where : , .
- 3Convert the integrand; use
: .
- 4Integrate , then , then
The -integral gives . Then .
Common mistakes3
- Forgetting the in .
- A tilted top like is above only where : restrict .
- For , runs from to , not over a full turn.
4Find the mass or centroid of a solid in cylindrical coordinates
e.g. “Find the centroid of ”
Find the mass or centroid of a solid in cylindrical coordinates
e.g. “Find the centroid of ”- 1Write the solid's limits in , ,
- 2Get from symmetry about the -axis
This works when neither the solid nor the density depends on .
- 3Find the mass
Constant density, as for a : use the volume for .
- 4Compute
Remember: Symmetry for x and y, work for z.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Find the centroid of the solid under and above .
- 1Write the solid's limits in , ,
, , .
- 2Get from symmetry about the -axis
Symmetric around the -axis, constant density: .
- 3Find the mass
.
- 4Compute
, so .
The solid cylinder , has density . A hole of radius is drilled along the -axis. Find the mass and center of mass of what remains.
- 1Write the solid's limits in , ,
, , , and .
- 2Get from symmetry about the -axis
.
- 3Find the mass
.
- 4Compute
, so , the middle height.
; center of mass
The solid cylinder , has density . Find its center of mass.
- 1Write the solid's limits in , ,
, , .
- 2Get from symmetry about the -axis
.
- 3Find the mass
.
- 4Compute
, so .
Common mistakes3
- Using the diameter as the radius. A hole of diameter leaves .
- Using symmetry when the density breaks it.
- Dropping the in , in the mass or in the moment.
5Convert a triple integral from Cartesian to cylindrical coordinates
e.g. “Write as an iterated integral in cylindrical coordinates”
Convert a triple integral from Cartesian to cylindrical coordinates
e.g. “Write as an iterated integral in cylindrical coordinates”- 1Read the -limits: they are the bottom and top surfaces
- 2Read the shadow from the , limits; describe it in polar
is the circle of radius . The signs of the limits pick the quadrants.
- 3Substitute ; becomes
- 4Evaluate
Remember: Same solid, polar shadow.
See it in a problem2 worked examples
Evaluate by converting to cylindrical coordinates.
- 1Read the -limits: they are the bottom and top surfaces
.
- 2Read the shadow from the , limits; describe it in polar
with is the whole disk of radius : , .
- 3Substitute ; becomes
.
- 4Evaluate
.
Evaluate by converting to cylindrical coordinates.
- 1Read the -limits: they are the bottom and top surfaces
.
- 2Read the shadow from the , limits; describe it in polar
, : the quarter disk in quadrant I, so , .
- 3Substitute ; becomes
.
- 4Evaluate
.
Common mistakes2
- Writing without the .
- Using when the limits only cover part of the disk, such as .
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