Where is pi/4 coming from in the line integral?

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The discussion centers on the origin of the angle pi/4 in a line integral involving spherical coordinates. Users clarify that the angle should not be pi/4, as it relates to the quarter-circle in cylindrical coordinates. The standard definitions of spherical coordinates are referenced, emphasizing the use of Cartesian coordinates for straight lines. The conclusion is that the initial assumption regarding the angle was incorrect, and the correct angle is derived from the tangent function.

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garylau
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Moved from a technical forum, so homework template missing
Sorry

where is pi/4 coming from in the line integral(section 3)?

because i think it should be 1/2=tan(theta) which theta is 26.5651...

it is impossible that the angle is pi/4? where is pi/4 coming from inside the circle?

thank
 

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Hm, I don't know what ##\theta## is. Also this should be posted in the home-work section of these forums. Thus I give only a hint:

I'd only do the quarter circle in cylindrical coordinates. All other parts of the path are very easily done in Cartesian ones. To give more specific hints, I'd need to know the conventions used concerning the angles (are ##\theta## and ##\phi## interchanged compared to the standard choice of spherical coordinates with ##\theta## the polar and ##\phi## the azimuthal angle?).
 
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vanhees71 said:
Hm, I don't know what ##\theta## is. Also this should be posted in the home-work section of these forums. Thus I give only a hint:

I'd only do the quarter circle in cylindrical coordinates. All other parts of the path are very easily done in Cartesian ones. To give more specific hints, I'd need to know the conventions used concerning the angles (are ##\theta## and ##\phi## interchanged compared to the standard choice of spherical coordinates with ##\theta## the polar and ##\phi## the azimuthal angle?).
in section 3
which is the part of the straight line toward z axis
i think the angle should not be pi/4?

this is spherical coordinate
 
Ok, I assume that you have the standard definition of spherical coordinates with the ##z## axis as the polar axis, as
$$\begin{pmatrix}x\\y\\z \end{pmatrix}=r \begin{pmatrix} \cos \varphi \sin \vartheta \\ \sin \varphi \sin \vartheta \\ \cos \vartheta \end{pmatrix}.$$
Then the straight line parallel to the ##z## axis is at ##\varphi=\pi/2=\text{const}##. Otherwise it's awful to describe in spherical coordinates.
For the quarter-circle it's easy to use spherical coordinates, it's given by ##\vartheta=\pi/2##, ##\varphi \in [0,\pi/2]##, ##r=1##.
For the straight lines I'd use Cartesian coordinates, where they are expressed straight forwardly. It's easy to rewrite the field in terms of Cartesian coordinates. Just note that
$$\hat{r}=\begin{pmatrix} \cos \varphi \sin \vartheta \\ \sin \varphi \sin \vartheta \\ \cos \vartheta \end{pmatrix}, \quad \hat{\vartheta}=\begin{pmatrix} \cos \varphi \cos \vartheta \\ \sin \varphi \cos \vartheta \\ - \sin \vartheta \end{pmatrix}, \quad \hat{\varphi}=\begin{pmatrix} -\sin \varphi \\ \cos \varphi \\0 \end{pmatrix}.$$
 
garylau said:
Where is pi/4 coming from in the line integral(section 3)?

because i think it should be 1/2=tan(theta) which theta is 26.5651...
You're right. It's a mistake.
 
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