# Doubt regarding volume element in Spherical Coordinate

1. Aug 20, 2015

### Luca_Mantani

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Hi everyone. Here's my problem. I know that the volume element in spherical coordinate is $dV=r^2\sin{\theta}drd\theta d\phi$. The problem is that when i have to compute an integral, sometimes is useful to write it like this:
$$r^2d(-\cos{\theta})dr d\phi$$
because $d(-\cos{\theta})=sin{\theta}d\theta$, but i often find in text books and in the internet the following expression:
$$r^2d(\cos{\theta})dr d\phi$$
without the minus sign. In both cases the integration extreme are -1 and +1. Why? I'm trying to understand and it may be even stupid but i can't figure it out.
Thanks for the help!
2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Aug 20, 2015

### Zondrina

When speaking in a math sense (not a physics sense), the volume element should read $\text{dV} = \rho^2 \sin(\phi) \space \text{d} \rho \text{d} \theta \text{d} \phi$. Usually we use $\rho$ instead of $r$ to represent radial distance. Also, $\theta$ is the azimuth angle in the plane, and $\phi$ is the polar angle. Most mathematicians use this convention to remain consistent with the polar and cylindrical co-ordinate systems.

See this link for a visual: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spherical_coordinate_system#/media/File:3D_Spherical_2.svg

This will now read: $\text{dV} = \rho^2 \space \text{d} \rho \text{d} \theta \text{d}(- \cos(\phi))$.

Why would you choose to write it like that? Could you provide an actual problem so we can assist you?

3. Aug 20, 2015

### Luca_Mantani

If i'm trying to integrate a function that has a $\phi$ dependence only in the form of $\cos{\phi}$, i mean $f(\rho,\theta,\cos{\phi})$, it is useful because then i can make the substitution $y=-\cos{\phi}$ making the integral easier to compute.

4. Aug 20, 2015

### Zondrina

These are the limits for $\rho$ I assume? The limits for $\rho$ would not change I think.

If you provide us with the exact problem statement, perhaps it would be more clear what is required.

5. Aug 20, 2015

### RUber

They are equivalent...it just depends on how you look at the integral.
$\int_0^\pi \sin\phi \, d\phi = \int_\pi ^0 - \sin\phi \, d\phi = \int_{\cos \pi } ^ { \cos 0} 1 \, d( \cos \phi ) = \int_{-1 } ^ { 1} 1 \, d( \cos \phi )$
$\int_0^\pi \sin\phi \, d\phi = \int_{-\cos 0 } ^ { -\cos \pi} 1 \, d( -\cos \phi ) = \int_{-1 } ^ { 1} 1 \, d( -\cos \phi )$

6. Aug 21, 2015

### Luca_Mantani

Great, thank you!