Triple Integration of a Sphere in Cylindrical Coordinates

[Zarlucicil]

Homework Statement

The problem was to find the volume enclosed by a sphere of radius "a" centered on the origin by crafting a triple integral and solving for it using cylindrical coordinates.

Homework Equations

x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}=a^{2} : Equation for a sphere of radius "a" centered on the origin.

\iiint\limits_E dV : Triple integral for finding volume of a region E.

The Attempt at a Solution

I solved the triple integral (but I don't think it's right) and got this: \frac{4}{3}a^{2}\pi ---> Actually, I think I solved the integral right, but I think my bounds are incorrect.

I used the following as my bounds and subsequent iterated integral:

E=\{ \ (r,\theta,z) \ | \ 0\leq r\leq a, \ 0\leq \theta\leq 2\pi, \ -\sqrt{a^2-r^2}\leq z\leq \sqrt{a^2-r^2} \ \}

\int^{2\pi}_{0}\int^{a}_{0}\int^{\sqrt{a^2-r^2}}_{\sqrt{a^2-r^2}} dz dr d\theta

If my proposed answer isn't right could the problem lie within my bounds? I'm not really great at determining the bounds for iterated integrals yet >.<'

Thanks :D

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi Zarlucicil!

(have a pi: π and a theta: θ and try using the X² tag just above the Reply box )

The problem was to find the volume enclosed by a sphere of radius "a" centered on the origin by crafting a triple integral and solving for it using cylindrical coordinates.
…
\int^{2\pi}_{0}\int^{a}_{0}\int^{\sqrt{a^2-r^2}}_{\sqrt{a^2-r^2}} dz dr d\theta

erm … it isn't dz dr dθ, it's … ?

 

[xepma]

Well, your bounds are in fact correct. What's missing is a volume element, namely, you need to have r drd\theta dz. But maybe you just missed it, since without it you probably won't get the final answer you mentioned (which isn't correct by the way - you need 4\pi a^3/3).

You can also write r in terms of z, which is in my opinion a bit more intuitive. In that case you get:

\int^{2\pi}_{0}\int^{-a}_{a}\int^{0}_{\sqrt{a^2-z^2}} r dr dz d\theta

Gives the same answer ofcourse.

 

[Zarlucicil]

Ahhh I see. Thanks for the replies, I understand what I did wrong now :D. I can't believe I missed the volume element, ughhh. O well.