Triple Integral Evaluation with Spherical Coordinates

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating a triple integral using spherical coordinates, specifically the integral of \( z^2 \) over a region defined by two overlapping spheres in three-dimensional space. Participants are exploring how to set up the integral and the appropriate bounds for the spherical coordinates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using Maple for evaluation and inquire about the correct function and bounds for the integral. There are attempts to convert the integral into spherical coordinates, with some participants expressing uncertainty about the bounds and the setup of the integral.

Discussion Status

Multiple approaches are being explored, including spherical and cylindrical coordinates. Some participants have shared their results and methods, while others are questioning the correctness of their bounds and the overall setup. There is no explicit consensus on the best method or bounds yet, but productive dialogue is ongoing.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the sharing of complete solutions. There is also a focus on understanding the geometric interpretation of the region defined by the spheres.

twoflower
Messages
363
Reaction score
0
Hi,

I don't know whether this is the best place to ask, anyway, I would like to check my results in Maple and don't know how to evaluate something like this there:

[tex] \iiint_{M} z^2\ dx\ dy\ dz\mbox{ , where M = [x,y,z] \in \mathbb{R}^3, x^2+y^2+z^2 \leq R^2, x^2 + y^2 + z^2 \leq 2Rz}[/tex]

There is function Tripleint in Maple but I don't know how to properly pass the bounds..

Thank you
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
What version of Maple R U using?
 
benorin said:
What version of Maple R U using?

It's version 9.5
 
Me too. Have you tried using the MultiInt function call with spherical coordinates? (trying to figureit out also)
 
benorin said:
Me too. Have you tried using the MultiInt function call with spherical coordinates? (trying to figureit out also)

I didn't know about this function, thank you.

After converting to spherical coords, I got

[tex] \iiint r^4\sin^2 \phi \cos \phi\ dr\ d\phi\ d\theta[/tex]

Anyway, I'm still not sure about the bounds..
 
the bounds are two spheres, the first is centered at the origin with radius R, the second is [itex]x^2+y^2+(z-R)^2\leq R^2[/itex], which is a sphere of radius R centered at (0,0,R). These spheres overlap and have a curve of intersection which is a circle contained in some plane z=k, for some constant k. But that is not the point; the region is bounded below by the shifted sphere and bounded above by the other sphere.
 
Last edited:
I get

[tex]\int_{\theta =0}^{2\pi}\int_{\phi =0}^{\pi} \int_{r =2R\cos\phi}^{R} r^4\sin^2 \phi \cos \phi\ dr\ d\phi\ d\theta=\frac{4\pi R^5}{15}[/tex]
 
Last edited:
benorin said:
I get
[tex]\int_{\theta =0}^{2\pi}\int_{\phi =0}^{\pi} \int_{r =2R\cos\phi}^{R} r^4\sin^2 \phi \cos \phi\ dr\ d\phi\ d\theta=\frac{4\pi R^5}{15}[/tex]

Thank you benorin. First, I didn't know how to write the bounds in spherical coordinates so I tried to compute in cartesian coordinates. But I got a different result. Here's how I approached:

When I draw it, it's clear that for [itex]z \in [0,\frac{R}{2}][/itex] I have

[tex] A:= {[x,y] \in \mathbb{R}^2, x^2 + y^2 \leq 2Rz - z^2}[/tex]

which I can imagine as area of circle with radius [itex]\sqrt{2Rz - z^2}[/itex].

For [itex]z \in [\frac{R}{2}, R][/itex] I have

[tex] B:= {[x,y] \in \mathbb{R}^2, x^2 + y^2 \leq R^2 - z^2}[/tex]

ie. area of circle with radius [itex]\sqrt{R^2 - z^2}[/itex].

So I can write the original integral as sum of these two:

[tex] I = \int_0^{\frac{R}{2}}\left(\iint_{A} 1\ dx\ dy \right)\ dz + \int_{\frac{R}{2}}^{R}\left(\iint_{B} 1\ dx\ dy \right)\ dz[/tex]

[tex] = \int_{0}^{\frac{R}{2}} z^2\pi(2Rz - z^2)\ dz\ +\ \int_{\frac{R}{2}}^{R} z^2\pi(R^2 - z^2)\ dz = ... = \frac{59}{480} \pi R^5[/tex]

I think it's ok, isn't it?
 
Last edited:
Better to use cylindrical coordinates, I think:

[tex]\int_{\theta =0}^{2\pi}\int_{r=0}^{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}R} \int_{z =R-\sqrt{R^2-r^2}}^{\sqrt{R^2-r^2}} z^2r dz dr d\theta=\frac{59}{480}\pi R^5[/tex]

Yep: same as you. :biggrin:
 
  • #10
benorin said:
Better to use cylindrical coordinates, I think:
[tex]\int_{\theta =0}^{2\pi}\int_{r=0}^{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}R} \int_{z =R-\sqrt{R^2-r^2}}^{\sqrt{R^2-r^2}} z^2r dz dr d\theta=\frac{59}{480}\pi R^5[/tex]
Yep: same as you. :biggrin:

Nice :) Anyway, could you tell me please how did you get the bounds when you were computing it with the spherical coordinates? I mean the inner integral with bounds [itex][2R\cos \phi, R][/itex]...
 
  • #11
I did it wrong. But substitute [itex]x^2+y^2+z^2=r^2\mbox{ and }z=r\cos \phi[/tex] into the equations of the spheres.[/itex]
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K