Finding surface area of cone in spherical coordinates

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the surface area of a hollow cone using spherical coordinates. The user successfully computes the surface area using cylindrical coordinates with the integral \int \int \frac{R}{h}z \sqrt{\frac{R^{2}}{h^{2}} + 1} dz d\theta, yielding the correct result of \pi R \sqrt{h^{2} + R^{2}}. However, the attempt to replicate this in spherical coordinates with the integral \int \int \rho^{2} sin(\theta) d\rho d\phi leads to incorrect results. A key misunderstanding is identified regarding the use of the angle θ, which should represent the fixed semi-angle of the cone.

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ninevolt
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Hello everyone,

I recently tried to find the surface area of a hollow cone (there is no base, like an ice cream cone) using spherical coordinates. With cylindrical coordinates I was able to do this easily using the following integral:

\int \int \frac{R}{h}z \sqrt{\frac{R^{2}}{h^{2}} + 1} dz d\theta
Where:
R = radius of the base
h = height of the cone
(R/h)z = radius of cone at specific z

\sqrt{\frac{R^{2}}{h^{2}} + 1} - the ds element across the slanted side of the cone

and I will obtain the correct answer for the surface area of a cone:
\pi R \sqrt{h^{2} + R^{2}}

but when I try to do the same integral in spherical coordinates I obtain different results
I use the following integral:
\int \int \rho^{2} sin(\theta) d\rho d\phi

What am I doing wrong?
 
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hello ninevolt! :smile:

i think you're confusing θ with the (fixed) semi-angle of the cone :wink:

(btw, you might also like to try doing it without integration, by slicing the cone and flattening it!)
 

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