Section 13.

9: Cylindrical and Spherical Coordinates

In the cylindrical coordinate system, a point P in space is represented by the ordered

triple (r, θ, z), where r and θ are polar coordinates of the projection of P onto the xy-plane
and z is the directed distance from the xy-plane to P .

Figure 1: A point expressed in cylindrical coordinates.

To convert from cylindrical to rectangular coordinates we use the relations

x = r cos θ y = r sin θ z = z.

To convert from rectangular to cylindrical coordinates we use the relations

p y
r = x2 + y 2 tan θ = z = z.
x

 
4π
Example: Convert the point 2, , 8 from cylindrical to rectangular coordinates.
3

Since r = 2, θ = 4π/3, and z = 8,

   
4π 1
x = r cos θ = 2 cos =2 − = −1,
3 2
√ !
√
 
4π 3
y = r sin θ = 2 sin =2 − = − 3,
3 2
z = z = 8.
√
Thus, the point is (−1, − 3, 8) in rectangular coordinates.
 √
Example: Convert the point ( 3, 1, 4) from rectangular to cylindrical coordinates.

√
Since x = 3, y = 1, and z = 4,
p √
r= x2 + y 2 = 3 + 1 = 2,
 
−1 y 1 π
 
−1 √
θ = tan = tan = ,
x 3 6
z = z = 4.
 π 
Thus, the point is 2, , 4 in cylindrical coordinates.
6

Example: Find an equation in cylindrical coordinates for the ellipsoid 4x2 + 4y 2 + z 2 = 1.

Since r2 = x2 + y 2 , it follows that

4x2 + 4y 2 + z 2 = 1
4r2 + z 2 = 1
z 2 = 1 − 4r2 .

In the spherical coordinate system, a point P in space is represented by the ordered

triple (ρ, θ, φ), where ρ ≥ 0 is the distance from the origin to P , θ is the same angle as in
cylindrical coordinates, and 0 ≤ φ ≤ π is the angle between the positive z-axis and the line
segment OP .

Figure 2: A point expressed in spherical coordinates.

 The connection between rectangular and spherical coordinates can be seen in Figure 3.
If the point P has rectangular coordinates (x, y, z) and spherical coordinates (ρ, θ, φ), then

x = ρ sin φ cos θ y = ρ sin φ sin θ z = ρ cos φ

and p
ρ= x2 + y 2 + z 2 .

Figure 3: Relationship between rectangular and spherical coordinates.

 π π
Example: Convert the point 4, , from spherical to rectangular coordinates.
4 6

Since ρ = 4, θ = π/4, and φ = π/6,

√
π  π    
1 1
x = ρ sin φ cos θ = 4 sin cos =4 √ = 2,
6 4 2 2
√
π  π    
1 1
y = r sin φ sin θ = 4 sin sin =4 √ = 2,
6 4 2 2
√ !
π  3 √
z = ρ cos φ = 4 cos =4 = 2 3.
6 2
√ √ √
Thus, the point is ( 2, 2, 2 3) in rectangular coordinates.
 √
Example: Convert the point (1, −1, − 2) from rectangular to spherical coordinates.

√
Since x = 1, y = −1, and z = − 2,
p √
ρ = x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1 + 1 + 2 = 2,
y 7π
θ = tan−1 = tan−1 (−1) = ,
 x   4
z 1 3π
φ = cos−1 = cos−1 − √ = .
ρ 2 4
 
7π 3π
Thus, the point is 2, , in spherical coordinates.
4 4

Example: Find an equation in spherical coordinates for the surface 3x2 − x + 3y 2 + 3z 2 = 0.

Since ρ2 = x2 + y 2 + z 2 and x = ρ sin φ cos θ, it follows that

3x2 + 3y 2 + 3z 2 = x
3ρ2 = ρ sin φ cos θ
1
ρ = sin φ cos θ.
3

p
Example: A solid lies above the cone 5z = x2 + y 2 and outside the sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = z.
Write a description of the solid in terms of spherical coordinates.

Since ρ2 = x2 + y 2 + z 2 and z = ρ cos φ, it follows that

x2 + y 2 + z 2 ≥ z
ρ2 ≥ ρ cos φ
ρ ≥ cos φ.

The first equation gives

p
5z ≥ x2 + y 2
25z 2 x2 + y 2
≥
25ρ2 cos2 φ ρ2 sin2 φ
≥
25 cos2 φ 1 − cos2 φ
≥
26 cos2 φ ≥
1
1
cos φ ≥ √ .
26