Topic 20
Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
Spherical coordinates give a point by three numbers. is its distance from the origin. is the angle down from the positive -axis, with . is the same as in cylindrical coordinates. Use them for balls, spheres and cones with their tip at the origin. Never forget .
5 kinds of question. Open the one you are stuck on.
1Convert a point between Cartesian and spherical coordinates
e.g. “Convert from Cartesian to spherical coordinates”
Convert a point between Cartesian and spherical coordinates
e.g. “Convert from Cartesian to spherical coordinates”- 1Link , to and : ,
To spherical: , then .
- 2Use , for the rest
So and .
- 3Check and the quadrant of
exactly when . On the -axis any works.
Remember: ρ to the origin, φ from the top, θ as before.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Convert to Cartesian coordinates.
- 1Link , to and : ,
and .
- 2Use , for the rest
and .
- 3Check and the quadrant of
and agree; and agree.
Convert to spherical coordinates.
- 1Link , to and : ,
, and , so .
- 2Use , for the rest
, with reference angle .
- 3Check and the quadrant of
, : quadrant IV, so .
Convert to spherical coordinates.
- 1Link , to and : ,
, and , so .
- 2Use , for the rest
and : the point is over the negative -axis, so .
- 3Check and the quadrant of
and agree.
Common mistakes3
- Finding from or : they cannot tell from . Use .
- Measuring up from the -plane. It is measured down from the positive -axis.
- Swapping the angles: the course writes , so say which is which.
2Rewrite an equation in spherical coordinates
e.g. “Rewrite the following equations in spherical coordinates”
Rewrite an equation in spherical coordinates
e.g. “Rewrite the following equations in spherical coordinates”- 1Replace by
- 2Replace by and by
- 3Divide by ; solve for or
Dividing by only loses the origin.
Remember: Cones fix φ; spheres give ρ.
See it in a problem4 worked examples
Rewrite in spherical coordinates.
- 1Replace by
No full group.
- 2Replace by and by
.
- 3Divide by ; solve for or
, so or .
or
Rewrite in spherical coordinates.
- 1Replace by
.
- 2Replace by and by
.
- 3Divide by ; solve for or
, for .
Rewrite in spherical coordinates.
- 1Replace by
No full group.
- 2Replace by and by
.
- 3Divide by ; solve for or
, since and . So .
Rewrite the plane in spherical coordinates.
- 1Replace by
No group.
- 2Replace by and by
.
- 3Divide by ; solve for or
, for .
Common mistakes2
- Keeping only one angle: has two answers in , (upper cone) and (lower cone).
- Writing for . That is a sphere; the cylinder is .
3Find a volume or evaluate a triple integral in spherical coordinates
e.g. “Use spherical coordinates to evaluate , where is the solid enclosed by the cone … and the sphere …”
Find a volume or evaluate a triple integral in spherical coordinates
e.g. “Use spherical coordinates to evaluate , where is the solid enclosed by the cone … and the sphere …”- 1Describe the solid with ranges for , ,
A cone fixes . A sphere gives the limit for , which may depend on . is .
- 2Convert the integrand; use
- 3Integrate , then , then
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 that lies above the -plane and outside the cone .
- 1Describe the solid with ranges for , ,
. The cone is and the -plane is , so , and .
- 2Convert the integrand; use
: .
- 3Integrate , then , then
.
Evaluate , where is the half shell , .
- 1Describe the solid with ranges for , ,
, , .
- 2Convert the integrand; use
: .
- 3Integrate , then , then
and , so the total is .
Evaluate .
- 1Describe the solid with ranges for , ,
All of space: , , .
- 2Convert the integrand; use
: .
- 3Integrate , then , then
and , so the total is .
Find the volume of the solid inside the sphere and above the cone .
- 1Describe the solid with ranges for , ,
Expanding, the sphere is , so ; the cone is . So , , .
- 2Convert the integrand; use
: .
- 3Integrate , then , then
Inner: . Then , and .
Common mistakes3
- Forgetting , or writing .
- Letting run to . It stops at .
- Reading as . It is , since .
4Set up a triple integral in both cylindrical and spherical coordinates
e.g. “Express as a triple integral in spherical coordinates. Express as a triple integral in cylindrical coordinates. Evaluate by any method”
Set up a triple integral in both cylindrical and spherical coordinates
e.g. “Express as a triple integral in spherical coordinates. Express as a triple integral in cylindrical coordinates. Evaluate by any method”- 1Find where the surfaces meet: the radius and the angle
Substitute the cone into the sphere. The cone is .
- 2Cylindrical: between the surfaces, up to the meeting radius
Integrand times , in the order .
- 3Spherical: from to the outer surface, to the cone
Integrand times . A plane is .
- 4Evaluate the easier one
Remember: Meet, then write it twice.
See it in a problem2 worked examples
lies above the cone and inside the sphere . Write in cylindrical and in spherical coordinates, and evaluate it.
- 1Find where the surfaces meet: the radius and the angle
in gives , so (at ). And , so .
- 2Cylindrical: between the surfaces, up to the meeting radius
.
- 3Spherical: from to the outer surface, to the cone
.
- 4Evaluate the easier one
Spherical factors: and , so .
is the solid above the cone and below the plane . Write its volume in cylindrical and in spherical coordinates, and evaluate it.
- 1Find where the surfaces meet: the radius and the angle
meets at . The cone is .
- 2Cylindrical: between the surfaces, up to the meeting radius
.
- 3Spherical: from to the outer surface, to the cone
The plane is : .
- 4Evaluate the easier one
Cylindrical: . Check: a cone of radius and height has volume .
Common mistakes3
- In cylindrical, stops where the surfaces meet, not at the sphere's radius.
- Converting the integrand in one system but not the other: is in one and in the other.
- Using the same in both. Cylindrical needs ; spherical needs .
5Convert a Cartesian triple integral to spherical coordinates
e.g. “Evaluate … by changing to spherical coordinates”
Convert a Cartesian triple integral to spherical coordinates
e.g. “Evaluate … by changing to spherical coordinates”- 1Read the solid from the limits
is the top half of the sphere of radius , and the bottom half. is the edge of its shadow.
- 2Translate it into ranges for , ,
: . : . The signs of and pick .
- 3Substitute for ;
- 4Evaluate; the three integrals usually factor
Remember: Name the solid, then it is three easy integrals.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Evaluate by changing to spherical coordinates.
- 1Read the solid from the limits
over the quarter disk , : the part of the ball of radius in the .
- 2Translate it into ranges for , ,
, , .
- 3Substitute for ;
.
- 4Evaluate; the three integrals usually factor
.
Evaluate by changing to spherical coordinates.
- 1Read the solid from the limits
Between the lower half of the unit sphere and , over the whole unit disk: the lower half ball.
- 2Translate it into ranges for , ,
, , .
- 3Substitute for ;
: .
- 4Evaluate; the three integrals usually factor
.
Evaluate by changing to spherical coordinates.
- 1Read the solid from the limits
Above the cone and below the sphere of radius . They meet at , the edge of the unit-disk shadow.
- 2Translate it into ranges for , ,
, , .
- 3Substitute for ;
: .
- 4Evaluate; the three integrals usually factor
and , so the total is .
Common mistakes2
- Copying the -limits as -limits. Read the solid first, then describe it again.
- Using for a solid below the -plane.
Need the formulas? Must memorize · Flashcards
