Triple integrals in spherical & cylindrical coordinates

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around setting up triple integrals for the volume of a sphere with a radius of 2, specifically in spherical, cylindrical, and rectangular coordinates. Participants are exploring the limits of integration for these coordinate systems.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to determine the limits of integration for spherical and cylindrical coordinates, questioning why certain limits are restricted to 0 to pi/2 instead of the expected ranges. They also inquire about the factor of 8 in the volume calculation.
  • Some participants suggest that the integration is performed over one octant of the sphere, leading to the multiplication by 8.
  • Further questions arise regarding the limits of integration when considering a smaller region of the sphere cut by the plane z = 1, particularly concerning the limits for phi.
  • There is a discussion about the distinction between r in cylindrical coordinates and p in spherical coordinates, with participants seeking clarification on how to find the appropriate limits.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing insights and clarifications regarding the limits of integration and the reasoning behind them. There is recognition of the need for visual aids to better understand the geometric relationships involved. Multiple interpretations of the limits are being explored, particularly in relation to the spherical and cylindrical coordinate systems.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of integrating over different coordinate systems and the implications of the geometric shapes involved. There is an emphasis on understanding the constraints imposed by the problem setup, particularly when dealing with sections of the sphere.

DWill
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Homework Statement


Set up triple integrals for the volume of the sphere rho = 2 in (a) spherical, (b) cylindrical, and (c) rectangular coordinates.


Homework Equations


Volume in cylindrical coordinates: Triple integral of dz r dr d(theta) over region D.
Volume in spherical coordinates: Triple integral of [p^2 sin(phi) dp d(phi) d(theta)] over region D.

p = rho

The Attempt at a Solution


Trying to find limits of integration:
For (a), I looked at the limits starting with theta, then phi and then p. Because the region is a sphere, starting from the positive x-axis I thought theta would range from 0 to 2pi (make one complete revolution).

phi I thought should range from the positive z-axis to the negative z-axis, so from 0 to pi.

And finally p should range from 0 to 2.

However, the answers are the following:
8 ||| p^2 sin(phi) dp d(phi) d(theta) (note: using "|||" for triple integral)

with these limits of integration:
0 <= theta <= pi/2
0 <= phi <= pi/2
0 <= p <= 2

Of these, I only got the limit for p correct. Can someone explain with theta and phi are only from 0 to pi/2? Also, where did the 8 come from before the triple integral?

(b) Using a similar approach, I thought these should be limits of integration: 0 <= theta <= 2pi, 0 <= r <= 2, 0 <= z <= sqrt(4-r^2)

The correct answers are:
8 ||| r dz dr d(theta)

with these limits of integration:
0 <= theta <= pi/2
0 <= r <= 2
0 <= z <= sqrt(4-r^2)

Once again I have no idea how to get those correct limits for theta and z. Since the graph is a sphere, I thought theta has to range from 0 to 2pi. And again I don't know where the 8 is coming from.

I figure if I can understand these then rectangular coordinates shouldn't be much harder. Can anyone explain these to me? Thanks
 
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They are integrating over one octant of the sphere and then multiplying by 8. I don't know exactly why, but I guess they like to do it that way. Your solution is also correct, without the 8 factor. Except I would change the z range in cylindrical coordinates to -sqrt to +sqrt.
 
Oh I see, yeah that is weird, but thanks for the response!

Another quick question though if you don't mind answering:

Find the volume of the smaller region cut from the solid sphere p <= 2 by the plane z = 1.

So theta should still range from 0 to 2pi, right? And z should be from -sqrt(4-r^2) to sqrt(4-r^2) like in the problem I originally posted, right? But how do you get phi? I know it should start at 0, but this problem only asks for the smaller region (which is above the plane z = 1), so where does phi end? It would make sense to be somewhere between 0 and pi/2, but I'm not sure how to find where exactly is the top limit of phi.

Thanks again!
 
Draw a picture. If it's above z=1, then 1<=z<=sqrt(4-r^2), yes? You only need to worry about phi if you are in spherical coordinates. Then you use trig to find the angular value where z=1 and r=2. Don't get confused by the coordinate systems. r in cylindrical coordinates is a different animal from r in spherical coordinates.
 
What do you mean by use trig to find the angular value where z=1 and r=2? Is this for finding theta? Isn't theta the same for both cylindrical and spherical coordinates, so it would be 0 to 2pi? I'm a little unsure about r. r is the distance from the origin to the point, so would r range from 1 to 2?
 
DWill said:
What do you mean by use trig to find the angular value where z=1 and r=2? Is this for finding theta? Isn't theta the same for both cylindrical and spherical coordinates, so it would be 0 to 2pi?
If you notice, Dick is talking about phi not theta.
DWill said:
I'm a little unsure about r. r is the distance from the origin to the point, so would r range from 1 to 2?
The solid is a section cut from a solid sphere, what is the only condition you are given on r (aka \rho)?
 
DWill said:
What do you mean by use trig to find the angular value where z=1 and r=2? Is this for finding theta? Isn't theta the same for both cylindrical and spherical coordinates, so it would be 0 to 2pi? I'm a little unsure about r. r is the distance from the origin to the point, so would r range from 1 to 2?

I should probably have said that the phi limit is defined by the intersection of the plane z=1 and the sphere p=2 (and not mixed up r and p). But notice within the integration range of phi, the lower limit of p depends on phi. A picture would really help. Did you sketch one?
 

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