[ ] arc length radian =

1
s r

s

2 1 2 r

unit circle
( )
Consider a differential
variation of the direction ,
d and d
What solid anlgle
corresponds to this variation?


=
+ +

unit sphere
[ ] [ ]
area on a unit sphere
steradian , sr
=

r
A

2 2
A

4 1 4 r

=

r
d
dA
sphere of
radius r

s

r
=
2
A

r
=
2
dA
d
r
=
sphere
4 =
( )
( ) 2 2
1 1
cos
cos
d d


=

( )( )
2 1 1 2
cos cos =
d

2 2
1 1
sin d d


=

( ) ( )
2
dA r sin d rd r sin d d =
2
dA
d sin d d
r
= = ( ) 12.3
1 2 1 2
Consider a finite solid angle
bounded by the directions:
and
Sphere
2 2
hemisphere
0 0
sin d d 2

= =

2
sphere
0 0
sin d d 4

= = =

Hemisphere Useful Fact
2 2
2 0 0
cos d cos sin d d

= =

hemisphere
2 =
cos
circle of
radius r
( )
Direction is defined by
a pair of angles: ,
is an azimutal angle: 0 2
is a polar angle: 0



=

( ) , =

x
z
( ) ,

hemisphere
2 =
( )
cos
directional cosine
=
GEOMETRY OF RADIATION
2 2 2 2
x r cos sin
y r sin sin
z r cos
x y z r

=
=
=
+ + =
r
0
1

solid angle

differential solid angle

( ) , =

rd
dA
d +
rd
d +

r
r sin
x
d
b r sin d =
d
b r sin
rd r

s
r
=

Plane Angle Solid Angle Differential Solid Angle

Differential Solid Angle
in spherical coordinates
Finite Solid Angle
in spherical coordinates