How to Transform Integrals from Cylindrical to Spherical Coordinates?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the transformation of integrals from cylindrical to spherical coordinates, particularly focusing on a specific integral involving a function of multiple variables. Participants explore the implications of using different coordinate systems for integration and the challenges that arise in the process.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents an integral in cylindrical coordinates and suggests two options for evaluation: transforming to spherical coordinates or expressing spherical coordinates in terms of cylindrical ones.
  • Another participant questions the clarity of the original query, noting that if θ is independent of ρ and φ, the result would be a function of θ, and emphasizes that both coordinate systems are polar when restricted to a plane.
  • A participant acknowledges the dependency of θ on ρ and φ and mentions using a specific formula from spherical coordinates while also needing cylindrical coordinates, indicating a complex relationship between the two systems.
  • A suggestion is made to express θ as arctan(z/ρ) as a potential transformation approach.
  • There is a concern about the complexity of the integral in cylindrical coordinates compared to the potential ease in spherical coordinates, prompting a request for references on the transformation process between these coordinate systems.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the clarity of the original question and the feasibility of transforming the integral. There is no consensus on the best approach to the transformation or the implications of the dependencies between the variables.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the challenges of integrating functions that involve multiple coordinate systems and the potential complications that arise from dependencies between variables. Specific assumptions about the relationships between the coordinates are not fully resolved.

ShayanJ
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Consider an integral of the type ## \int_0^{a} \int_0^{\pi} g(\rho,\varphi,\theta) \rho d\varphi d\rho ##. As you can see, the integral is w.r.t. cylindrical coordinates on a plane but the integrand is also a function of ##\theta## which is a spherical coordinate. So for evaluating it, there are two options: 1) Write ## \theta ## in terms of cylindrical coordinates. 2) Transform the integral to spherical coordinates. The first option makes the integral an intractable mess. But the second option seems nice because the integrand(in spherical coordinates) contains a factor of the form ## (1-2xt+t^2)^{-\frac 1 2} ## and so the integral can be done using Legendre polynomials and spherical harmonics. But I don't know how I should transform the integral from cylindrical to spherical coordinates. Can anyone help?
Thanks
 
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I am not quite sure what you are asking for. If θ is independent of ρ and φ, what you get after the integration is a function of θ. Otherwise, you need to clarify, since neither cylindrical nor spherical coordinates make any sense in a plane (restricted to a plane, they are both polar coordinates).
 
Svein said:
I am not quite sure what you are asking for. If θ is independent of ρ and φ, what you get after the integration is a function of θ. Otherwise, you need to clarify, since neither cylindrical nor spherical coordinates make any sense in a plane (restricted to a plane, they are both polar coordinates).
Of course ## \theta ## depends on ## \rho ## and ##\varphi##. The only point is that, at some point, I had to use the formula ## \hat r_1 \cdot \hat r_2=\cos\theta_1 \cos\theta_2+\sin\theta_1 \sin\theta_2 \cos(\varphi_1-\varphi_2) ## which is in spherical coordinates. But at other parts, I had to use cylindrical coordinates. Also the problem is 3 dimensional but the integration is done on a surface but I should write the distance between an arbitrary point on the surface and an arbitrary point of the space.
 
Shyan said:
But I don't know how I should transform the integral from cylindrical to spherical coordinates. Can anyone help?
How about θ = arctan(z/ρ)?
 
Svein said:
How about θ = arctan(z/ρ)?
Well, That's good but as I said, the integral is a big mess in cylindrical coordinates. But in spherical coordinates, I can do the integral using Legendre polynomials and spherical harmonics. So I want to know how can I transform the integral from cylindrical to spherical coordinates.
I'm just wondering because transforming integrals from Cartesian coordinates to spherical and cylindrical coordinates is really straightforward but it doesn't seem to be the case about transformation between cylindrical and spherical coordinates. Isn't there any reference about it?
 

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