Element of surface area in spherical coordinates

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the expression for the surface area element in spherical coordinates, specifically how to derive the area element given in the problem statement. Participants are exploring the relationships between different coordinate systems and the geometric interpretations of area elements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the area element on a sphere and its relation to polar coordinates, questioning how the expression for the surface area element was derived. There are attempts to connect geometric interpretations with algebraic transformations, and some participants express confusion about the role of the Jacobian in this context.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the problem, with participants raising questions about specific formulas and the assumptions underlying the expressions. Some guidance has been offered regarding the geometric interpretation of area elements, but no consensus has been reached on the derivation of the specific expression in question.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem may involve surfaces that are not strictly spherical, which adds complexity to the discussion. There is also mention of previous examples involving Jacobians and transformations, indicating a reliance on foundational concepts in multivariable calculus.

cdot
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Homework Statement
In spherical polar coordinates, the element of volume for a body that is symmetrical about the polar axis is,
$$\begin{equation}
dV=2\pi sin{\theta} dr d\theta
\end{equation}$$
Whilst its element of surface area is,
$$\begin{equation}
dS=2\pi rsin{\theta} \sqrt{dr^2+r^2d\theta^2}
\end{equation}$$

Although the homework statement continues, my question is actually about how the expression for dS given in the problem statement was arrived at in the first place.
Relevant Equations
This question is at the end of a chapter covering multiple integrals, including a change of variables in multiple integrals where, for a change of variables from Cartesian coordinates to spherical polar coordinates, we have,
$$\begin{equation}
dxdydz = Det[J] dr d\phi d\theta = r^2 sin\theta dr d\phi d\theta
\end{equation}$$
Where ## Det[J]## is the determinant of the 3x3 Jacobian Matrix containing all the partial derivatives of ##x,y,z## with respect to ##r,θ,ϕ##
r,θ,ϕ
For integration over the ##x y plane## the area element in polar coordinates is obviously ##r d \phi dr ## I can also easily see ,geometrically, how an area element on a sphere is ##r^2 sin\theta d\phi ## And I can verify these two cases with the Jacobian matrix. So that's where I'm at. That's what I know. However, trying to take the determinant of the Jacobian in this case obviously does not get me the expression given in the problem statement and I'm not sure where to begin. Thank you for your help. I'm not actually in school but looking to go back for Physics and don't have any teacher to turn to.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Just realized I forgot the ##d\theta## in the area element on a sphere ##(dS=r^2sin\theta d\phi d\theta) ##
 
What's the surface element in Cartesian coordinates?
 
Doesn't it depend on the surface? If you're integrating over x-y plane its just dxdy
 
I don't see how that helps me though
 
Last edited:
My question is actually about how the expression for dS given in the problem statement (##dS=2πrsinθ\sqrt{dr^2+r^2dθ^2}##) was arrived at in the first place, given the equations stated above (which was all that we were assumed to know as of attempting this problem). The only example problems up to this point involved computing Jacobians to make a change of variables in multiple integrals. A basic example of such a transformation would be how the volume element in cartesian coordinates ##dxdydz## transforms to ##r^2 sin\theta dr d\theta d\phi## where ##r^2 sin\theta## is the determinant of the Jacobian matrix. The area element on a sphere can be found by similar means, but can also be arrived at geometrically: ##dS=r^2 sin\theta d\theta d\phi## But this type of procedure would never lead me to the expression given in the problem statement. I can see how, for a problem with symmetry about the polar axis (like this one) the phi part of the integral would just integrate to ##2\pi ## (the leading factor in the given area element expression). So I expected something of the form ##2 \pi (something) dr d\theta##. Since the surface I'm integrating over may not necessarily be on a sphere, the dr makes an appearance this time. ##2\pi (something) dr d\theta## needs to be an area. An area is a displacement time a displacement. ##dr## is a displacement itself (its scale factor is one). To convert the infinitesimal change in ##\theta## to a displacement, it needs to be multiplied by a scale factor. Well, I thought, multiplying by r would do that. So my conclusion is that an area element (for an arbitrary body with symmetry with respect to ##\phi## which leads to the ##2\pi## factor) should be ##2\pi r d\theta dr ##. On comparison with the area element in the problem statement, this leads me to the conclusion that ##d\theta dr = sinθ \sqrt{dr^2+r^2 dθ^2}## which I cannot reconcile and that's annoying because I know somewhere I'm being stupid and my reasoning is faulty. That's why I made my way to PF and spent way too much time on this question. I really appreciate the time and help. I will be sure to pay it forward at some point. One clue I've picked up on for my question is that the square root factor in the expression is the magnitude of a general displacement vector in spherical coordinates (where the phi component is zero). That's all I've got. Hopefully this essay clarifies my question a little more. Thanks again
 
cdot said:
My question is actually about how the expression for dS given in the problem statement (##dS=2πrsinθ\sqrt{dr^2+r^2dθ^2}##) was arrived at
From where, given what? What is ##S## in this specific case?
... in the first place, given the equations stated above ...
Which equations? ##dV## or ##dx\wedge dy\wedge dz##?
...
Just answer these few questions: formulas, no essays.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K