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CLP-3 Multivariable Calculus

Section 3.7 Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates

Subsection 3.7.1 Spherical Coordinates

In the event that we wish to compute, for example, the mass of an object that is invariant under rotations about the origin, it is advantageous to use another generalization of polar coordinates to three dimensions. The coordinate system is called spherical coordinates.

Definition 3.7.1.

Spherical coordinates are denoted
 1 
We are using the standard mathematics conventions for the spherical coordinates. Under the ISO conventions they are (r,ϕ,θ). See Appendix A.7.
ρ, θ and φ and are defined by
ρ= the distance from (0,0,0) to (x,y,z)φ= the angle between the z axis and the line joining (x,y,z) to (0,0,0)θ= the angle between the x axis and the line joining (x,y,0) to (0,0,0)
Here are two more figures giving the side and top views of the previous figure.
The spherical coordinate θ is the same as the cylindrical coordinate θ. The spherical coordinate φ is new. It runs from 0 (on the positive z-axis) to π (on the negative z-axis). The Cartesian and spherical coordinates are related by
Here are three figures showing
  • a surface of constant ρ, i.e. a surface x2+y2+z2=ρ2 with ρ a constant (which looks like an onion skin),
  • a surface of constant θ, i.e. a surface y=xtanθ with
     2 
    and with the sign of x being the same as the sign of cosθ
    θ a constant (which looks like the page of a book), and
  • a surface of constant φ, i.e. a surface z=x2+y2 tanφ with φ a constant (which looks a conical funnel).

Subsection 3.7.2 The Volume Element in Spherical Coordinates

If we cut up a solid
 3 
You know the drill.
by
  • first slicing it into segments (like segments of an orange) by using planes of constant θ, say with the difference between successive θ’s being dθ,
  • and then subdividing the segments into “searchlights” (like the searchlight outlined in blue in the figure below) using surfaces of constant φ, say with the difference between successive φ’s being dφ,
  • and then subdividing the searchlights into approximate cubes using surfaces of constant ρ, say with the difference between successive ρ’s being dρ,
we end up with approximate cubes that look like
The dimensions of the approximate “cube” in spherical coordinates are (essentially) dρ by ρdφ by ρsinφdθ. (These dimensions are derived in more detail in the next section.) So the approximate cube has volume (essentially)

Subsection 3.7.3 The Details

Here is an explanation of the edge lengths given in the above figure. Each of the 12 edges of the cube is formed by holding two of the three coordinates ρ, θ, φ fixed and varying the third.
  • Four of the cube edges are formed by holding θ and φ fixed and varying ρ. The intersection of a plane of fixed θ with a cone of fixed φ is a straight line emanating from the origin. When we introduced slices using spheres of constant ρ, the difference between the successive ρ’s was dρ, so those edges of the cube each have length dρ.
  • Four of the cube edges are formed by holding θ and ρ fixed and varying φ. The intersection of a plane of fixed θ (which contains the origin) with a sphere of fixed ρ (which is centred on the origin) is a circle of radius ρ centred on the origin. It is a line of longitude
     4 
    The problem of finding a practical, reliable method for determining the longitude of a ship at sea was a very big deal for a period of several centuries. Among the scientists who worked in this were Galileo, Edmund Halley (of Halley’s comet) and Robert Hooke (of Hooke’s law).
    .
    When we introduced searchlights using surfaces of constant φ, the difference between the successive φ’s was dφ. Thus those four edges of the cube are circular arcs of radius essentially ρ that subtend an angle dφ, and so have length ρdφ.
  • Four of the cube edges are formed by holding φ and ρ fixed and varying θ. The intersection of a cone of fixed φ with a sphere of fixed ρ is a circle. As both ρ and φ are fixed, the circle of intersection lies in the plane z=ρcosφ. It is a line of latitude. The circle has radius ρsinφ and is centred on (0,0,ρcosφ).
    When we introduced segments using surfaces of constant θ, the difference between the successive θ’s was dθ. Thus these four edge of the cube are circular arcs of radius essentially ρsinφ that subtend an angle dθ, and so have length ρsinφdθ.

Subsection 3.7.4 Sample Integrals in Spherical Coordinates

Example 3.7.4. Ice Cream Cone.

Find the volume of the ice cream
 5 
A very mathematical ice cream. Rocky-rho’d? Choculus?
cone that consists of the part of the interior of the sphere x2+y2+z2=a2 that is above the xy-plane and that is inside the cone x2+y2=b2z2. Here a and b are any two strictly positive constants.
Solution.
Note that, in spherical coordinates
x2+y2=ρ2sin2φz2=ρ2cos2φx2+y2+z2=ρ2
Consequently, in spherical coordinates, the equation of the sphere is ρ=a, and the equation of the cone is tan2φ=b2. Let’s write β=arctanb, with 0<β<π2. Here is a sketch of the part of the ice cream cone in the first octant. The volume of the full ice cream cone will be four times the volume of the part in the first octant.
We shall cut the first octant part of the ice cream cone into tiny pieces using spherical coordinates. That is, we shall cut it up using planes of constant θ, cones of constant φ, and spheres of constant ρ.
  • First slice the (the first octant part of the) ice cream cone into segments by inserting many planes of constant θ, with the various values of θ differing by dθ. The figure on the left below shows one segment outlined in red. Each segment
    • has θ essentially constant on the segment, and
    • has φ running from 0 to β and ρ running from 0 to a.
    • The leftmost segment has, essentially, θ=0 and the rightmost segment has, essentially, θ=π2. See the figure on the right below.
  • Concentrate on any one segment. A side view of the segment is sketched in the figure on the left below. Subdivide it into long thin searchlights by inserting many cones of constant φ, with the various values of φ differing by dφ. The figure on the left below shows one searchlight outlined in blue. Each searchlight
    • has θ and φ essentially constant on the searchlight, and
    • has ρ running over 0ρa.
    • The leftmost searchlight has, essentially, φ=0 and the rightmost searchlight has, essentially, φ=β. See the figure on the right below.
  • Concentrate on any one searchlight. Subdivide it into tiny approximate cubes by inserting many spheres of constant ρ, with the various values of ρ differing by dρ. The figure on the left below shows the side view of one approximate cube in black. Each cube
    • has ρ, θ and φ all essentially constant on the cube and
    • has volume ρ2sinφdρdθdφ, by 3.7.3.
    • The first cube has, essentially, ρ=0 and the last cube has, essentially, ρ=a. See the figure on the right below.
Now we can build up the volume.
  • Concentrate on one approximate cube. Let’s say that it contains the point with spherical coordinates ρ, θ, φ. The cube has volume essentially dV=ρ2sinφdρdθdφ, by 3.7.3.
  • To get the volume any one searchlight, say the searchlight whose φ coordinate runs from φ to φ+dφ, we just add up the volumes of the approximate cubes in that searchlight, by integrating ρ from its smallest value on the searchlight, namely 0, to its largest value on the searchlight, namely a. The volume of the searchlight is thus
    dθdφ0adρ ρ2sinφ
  • To get the volume of any one segment, say the segment whose θ coordinate runs from θ to θ+dθ, we just add up the volumes of the searchlights in that segment, by integrating φ from its smallest value on the segment, namely 0, to its largest value on the segment, namely β. The volume of the segment is thus
    dθ0βdφ sinφ0adρ ρ2
  • To get the volume of V1, the part of the ice cream cone in the first octant, we just add up the volumes of the segments that it contains, by integrating θ from its smallest value in the octant, namely 0, to its largest value on the octant, namely π2.
  • The volume in the first octant is thus
    Volume(V1)=0π/2dθ0βdφ sinφ0adρ ρ2=a330π/2dθ0βdφ sinφ=a33[1cosβ]0π/2dθ=πa36[1cosβ]
  • So the volume of V, the total (four octant) ice cream cone, is
    Volume(V)=4Volume(V1)=4πa36[1cosβ]
We can express β (which was not given in the statement of the original problem) in terms of b (which was in the statement of the original problem), just by looking at the triangle
The right hand and bottom sides of the triangle have been chosen so that tanβ=b, which was the definition of β. So cosβ=11+b2 and the volume of the ice cream cone is
Volume(V)=2πa33[111+b2]
Note that, as in Example 3.2.11, we can easily apply a couple of sanity checks to our answer.
  • If b=0, so that the cone is just x2+y2=0, which is the line x=y=0, the total volume should be zero. Our answer does indeed give 0 in this case.
  • In the limit b, the angle βπ2 and the ice cream cone opens up into a hemisphere of radius a. Our answer does indeed give the volume of the hemisphere, which is 12×43πa3.

Example 3.7.5. Cored Apple.

A cylindrical hole of radius b is drilled symmetrically through a perfectly spherical apple of radius ab. Find the volume of apple that remains.
Solution.
In Example 3.2.11 we computed the volume removed, basically using cylindrical coordinates. So we could get the answer to this question just by subtracting the answer of Example 3.2.11 from 43πa3. Instead, we will evaluate the volume remaining as an exercise in setting up limits of integration when using spherical coordinates.
As in Example 3.2.11, let’s use a coordinate system with the sphere centred on (0,0,0) and with the centre of the drill hole following the z-axis. Here is a sketch of the apple that remains in the first octant. It is outlined in red. By symmetry the total amount of apple remaining will be eight times the amount from the first octant.
  • First slice the first octant part of the remaining apple into segments by inserting many planes of constant θ, with the various values of θ differing by dθ. The leftmost segment has, essentially, θ=0 and the rightmost segment has, essentially, θ=π2.
  • Each segment, viewed from the side, looks like
    Subdivide it into long thin searchlights by inserting many cones of constant φ, with the various values of φ differing by dφ. The figure on below shows one searchlight outlined in blue. Each searchlight
    • has θ and φ essentially constant on the searchlight.
    • The top searchlight has, essentially, φ=arcsinba and the bottom searchlight has, essentially, φ=π2.
  • Concentrate on any one searchlight. Subdivide it into tiny approximate cubes by inserting many spheres of constant ρ, with the various values of ρ differing by dρ. The figure on the left below shows the side view of one approximate cube in black. Each cube
    • has ρ, θ and φ all essentially constant on the cube and
    • has volume dV=ρ2sinφdρdθdφ, by 3.7.3.
    • The figure on the right below gives an expanded view of the searchlight. From it, we see (after a little trig) that the first cube has, essentially, ρ=bsinφ and the last cube has, essentially, ρ=a (the radius of the apple).
Now we can build up the volume.
  • Concentrate on one approximate cube. Let’s say that it contains the point with spherical coordinates ρ, θ, φ. The cube has volume essentially dV=ρ2sinφdρdθdφ, by 3.7.3.
  • To get the volume any one searchlight, say the searchlight whose φ coordinate runs from φ to φ+dφ, we just add up the volumes of the approximate cubes in that searchlight, by integrating ρ from its smallest value on the searchlight, namely bsinφ, to its largest value on the searchlight, namely a. The volume of the searchlight is thus
    dθdφbsinφadρ ρ2sinφ
  • To get the volume of any one segment, say the segment whose θ coordinate runs from θ to θ+dθ, we just add up the volumes of the searchlights in that segment, by integrating φ from its smallest value on the segment, namely arcsinba, to its largest value on the segment, namely π2. The volume of the searchlight is thus
    dθarcsinbaπ2bsinφadρ ρ2sinφ
  • To get the volume of the remaining part of the apple in the first octant, we just add up the volumes of the segments that it contains, by integrating θ from its smallest value in the octant, namely 0, to its largest value on the octant, namely π2. The volume in the first octant is thus
    Volume(V1)=0π/2dθarcsinbaπ2dφbsinφadρ ρ2sinφ
  • Now we just have to integrate
    Volume(V1)=130π/2dθarcsinbaπ2dφ sinφ[a3b3sin3φ]=130π/2dθarcsinbaπ2dφ [a3sinφb3csc2φ]=130π/2dθ [a3cosφ+b3cotφ]arcsinbaπ2since csc2φ dφ=cotφ+C=π6[a3cosφ+b3cotφ]arcsinbaπ2
    Now cosπ2=cotπ2=0 and, if we write α=arcsinba,
    Volume(V1)=π6[a3cosαb3cotα]
    From the triangle below, we have cosα=a2b2a and cotα=a2b2b.
    So
    Volume(V1)=π6[a2a2b2b2a2b2]=π6[a2b2]3/2
The full (eight octant) volume of the remaining apple is thus
Volume(V)=8Volume(V1)=43π[a2b2]3/2
We can, yet again, apply the sanity checks of Example 3.2.11 to our answer.
  • If the radius of the drill bit b=0, no apple is removed at all. So the total volume remaining should be 43πa3. Our answer does indeed give this.
  • If the radius of the drill bit b=a, the radius of the apple, then the entire apple disappears. So the remaining apple should have volume 0. Again, our answer gives this.
As a final check note that the sum of the answer to Example 3.2.11 and the answer to this Example is 43πa3, as it should be.

Exercises 3.7.5 Exercises

Exercise Group.

Exercises — Stage 1
1.
Use (ρ,θ,φ) to denote spherical coordinates.
  1. Draw φ=0.
  2. Draw φ=π4.
  3. Draw φ=π2.
  4. Draw φ=3π4.
  5. Draw φ=π.
2.
Sketch the point with the specified spherical coordinates.
  1. ρ=0, θ=0.1π, φ=0.7π
  2. ρ=1, θ=0.3π, φ=0
  3. ρ=1, θ=0, φ=π2
  4. ρ=1, θ=π3, φ=π2
  5. ρ=1, θ=π2, φ=π2
  6. ρ=1, θ=π3, φ=π6
3.
Convert from Cartesian to spherical coordinates.
  1. (2,0,0)
  2. (0,3,0)
  3. (0,0,4)
  4. (12,12,3)
4.
Convert from spherical to Cartesian coordinates.
  1. ρ=1, θ=π3, φ=π6
  2. ρ=2, θ=π2, φ=π2
5.
Rewrite the following equations in spherical coordinates.
  1. z2=3x2+3y2
  2. x2+y2+(z1)2=1
  3. x2+y2=4
6. (✳).
Using spherical coordinates and integration, show that the volume of the sphere of radius 1 centred at the origin is 4π/3.

Exercise Group.

Exercises — Stage 2
7. (✳).
Consider the region E in 3-dimensions specified by the spherical inequalities
1ρ1+cosφ
  1. Draw a reasonably accurate picture of E in 3-dimensions. Be sure to show the units on the coordinates axes.
  2. Find the volume of E.
8. (✳).
Use spherical coordinates to evaluate the integral
I=Dz dV
where D is the solid enclosed by the cone z=x2+y2 and the sphere x2+y2+z2=4. That is, (x,y,z) is in D if and only if x2+y2z and x2+y2+z24.
9.
Use spherical coordinates to find
  1. The volume inside the cone z=x2+y2 and inside the sphere x2+y2+z2=a2.
  2. RxdV and RzdV over the part of the sphere of radius a that lies in the first octant.
  3. The mass of a spherical planet of radius a whose density at distance ρ from the center is δ=A/(B+ρ2).
  4. The volume enclosed by  ρ=a(1cosφ). Here ρ and φ refer to the usual spherical coordinates.
10. (✳).
Consider the hemispherical shell bounded by the spherical surfaces
x2+y2+z2=9andx2+y2+z2=4
and above the plane z=0. Let the shell have constant density D.
  1. Find the mass of the shell.
  2. Find the location of the center of mass of the shell.
11. (✳).
Let
I=Txz dV
where T is the eighth of the sphere x2+y2+z21 with x,y,z0.
  1. Sketch the volume T.
  2. Express I as a triple integral in spherical coordinates.
  3. Evaluate I by any method.
12. (✳).
Evaluate W=Qxz dV, where Q is an eighth of the sphere x2+y2+z29 with x, y, z0.
13. (✳).
Evaluate R3[1+(x2+y2+z2)3]1 dV.
14. (✳).
Evaluate
111x21x211x2y21+1x2y2(x2+y2+z2)5/2 dzdydx
by changing to spherical coordinates.
15.
Evaluate the volume of a circular cylinder of radius a and height h by means of an integral in spherical coordinates.
16. (✳).
Let B denote the region inside the sphere x2+y2+z2=4 and above the cone x2+y2=z2. Compute the moment of inertia
Bz2dV
17. (✳).
  1. Evaluate ΩzdV where Ω is the three dimensional region in the first octant x0, y0, z0, occupying the inside of the sphere x2+y2+z2=1.
  2. Use the result in part (a) to quickly determine the centroid of a hemispherical ball given by z0, x2+y2+z21.
18. (✳).
Consider the top half of a ball of radius 2 centred at the origin. Suppose that the ball has variable density equal to 9z units of mass per unit volume.
  1. Set up a triple integral giving the mass of this half-ball.
  2. Find out what fraction of that mass lies inside the cone
    z=x2+y2

Exercise Group.

Exercises — Stage 3
19. (✳).
Find the limit or show that it does not exist
lim(x,y,z)(0,0,0)xy+yz2+xz2x2+y2+z4
20. (✳).
A certain solid V is a right-circular cylinder. Its base is the disk of radius 2 centred at the origin in the xy-plane. It has height 2 and density x2+y2.
A smaller solid U is obtained by removing the inverted cone, whose base is the top surface of V and whose vertex is the point (0,0,0).
  1. Use cylindrical coordinates to set up an integral giving the mass of U.
  2. Use spherical coordinates to set up an integral giving the mass of U.
  3. Find that mass.
21. (✳).
A solid is bounded below by the cone z=x2+y2  and above by the sphere x2+y2+z2=2. It has density δ(x,y,z)=x2+y2.
  1. Express the mass M of the solid as a triple integral, with limits, in cylindrical coordinates.
  2. Same as (a) but in spherical coordinates.
  3. Evaluate M.
22. (✳).
Let
I=Exz dV
where E is the eighth of the sphere x2+y2+z21 with x,y,z0.
  1. Express I as a triple integral in spherical coordinates.
  2. Express I as a triple integral in cylindrical coordinates.
  3. Evaluate I by any method.
23. (✳).
Let
I=T(x2+y2) dV
where T is the solid region bounded below by the cone z=3x2+3y2 and above by the sphere x2+y2+z2=9.
  1. Express I as a triple integral in spherical coordinates.
  2. Express I as a triple integral in cylindrical coordinates.
  3. Evaluate I by any method.
24. (✳).
Let E be the “ice cream cone” x2+y2+z21, x2+y2z2 , z0. Consider
J=Ex2+y2+z2 dV
  1. Write J as an iterated integral, with limits, in cylindrical coordinates.
  2. Write J as an iterated integral, with limits, in spherical coordinates.
  3. Evaluate J.
25. (✳).
The body of a snowman is formed by the snowballs x2+y2+z2=12 (this is its body) and x2+y2+(z4)2=4 (this is its head).
  1. Find the volume of the snowman by subtracting the intersection of the two snow balls from the sum of the volumes of the snow balls. [Recall that the volume of a sphere of radius r is 4π3r3.]
  2. We can also calculate the volume of the snowman as a sum of the following triple integrals:
    1. 02π302π02ρ2sinφ dρdθdφ
    2. 02π033r4r3r dzdrdθ
    3. π6π02π023ρ2sin(φ) dρdθdφ
    Circle the right answer from the underlined choices and fill in the blanks in the following descriptions of the region of integration for each integral. [Note: We have translated the axes in order to write down some of the integrals above. The equations you specify should be those before the translation is performed.]
    1. The region of integration in (1) is a part of the snowman’s
       body / head / body and head
      It is the solid enclosed by the
      sphere / cone
      defined by the equation
      and the
      sphere / cone
      defined by the equation
    2. The region of integration in (2) is a part of the snowman’s
       body / head / body and head
      It is the solid enclosed by the
      sphere / cone
      defined by the equation
      and the
      sphere / cone
      defined by the equation
    3. The region of integration in (3) is a part of the snowman’s
       body / head / body and head
      It is the solid enclosed by the
      sphere / cone
      defined by the equation
      and the
      sphere / cone
      defined by the equation
26. (✳).
  1. Find the volume of the solid inside the surface defined by the equation ρ=8sin(φ) in spherical coordinates.
    You may use that
    sin4(φ)=132(12φ8sin(2φ)+sin(4φ))+C
  2. Sketch this solid or describe what it looks like.
27. (✳).
Let E be the solid
0zx2+y2,x2+y21,
and consider the integral
I=Ezx2+y2+z2 dV.
  1. Write the integral I in cylindrical coordinates.
  2. Write the integral I in spherical coordinates.
  3. Evaluate the integral I using either form.
28. (✳).
Consider the iterated integral
I=a0a2x200a2x2y2(x2+y2+z2)2014 dzdydx
where a is a positive constant.
  1. Write I as an iterated integral in cylindrical coordinates.
  2. Write I as an iterated integral in spherical coordinates.
  3. Evaluate I using whatever method you prefer.
29. (✳).
The solid E is bounded below by the paraboloid z=x2+y2 and above by the cone z=x2+y2. Let
I=Ez(x2+y2+z2) dV
  1. Write I in terms of cylindrical coordinates. Do not evaluate.
  2. Write I in terms of spherical coordinates. Do not evaluate.
  3. Calculate I.
30. (✳).
Let S be the region on the first octant (so that x,y,z0) which lies above the cone z=x2+y2 and below the sphere (z1)2+x2+y2=1. Let V be its volume.
  1. Express V as a triple integral in cylindrical coordinates.
  2. Express V as an triple integral in spherical coordinates.
  3. Calculate V using either of the integrals above.
31. (✳).
A solid is bounded below by the cone z=3x2+3y2 and above by the sphere x2+y2+z2=9. It has density δ(x,y,z)=x2+y2.
  1. Express the mass m of the solid as a triple integral in cylindrical coordinates.
  2. Express the mass m of the solid as a triple integral in spherical coordinates.
  3. Evaluate m.