Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates

Institute of Mathematics
University of the Philippines-Diliman

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For today

1 The Spherical Coordinate System

2 Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates

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The Spherical Coordinate System
The spherical coordinate system as-
signs to a point P in space an or-
dered triple of the form (ρ, θ, φ),
where
ρ is the distance of P from the
origin O, ρ ≥ 0,
θ is the same angular
coordinate as in the
cylindrical coordinate system,
and
φ is the smallest positive
angle that OP~ makes with the
positive z -axis, 0 ≤ φ ≤ π .

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The Spherical Coordinate System
Spherical to Rectangular
(ρ, θ, φ) → (x, y, z)

x = r cos θ = ρ sin φ cos θ

y = r sin θ = ρ sin φ sin θ

z = ρ cos φ


Rectangular to Spherical
(x, y, z) → (ρ, θ, φ)
 p
 ρ = x2 + y 2 + z 2
y



tan θ =
xp
2 2
 tan φ = x + y



z

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Example
1 Find the rectangular coordinates of the point that has the

spherical coordinates (ρ, θ, φ) = (2, π, π/2).

2 Find the spherical coordinates of the point that has rectangular
√
coordinates (x, y, z) = (1, 1, 2).

  p
2 2 2
x = r cos θ = ρ sin φ cos θ ρ = x + y + z
 

y
Recall: y = r sin θ = ρ sin φ sin θ tan θ = x
√
tan φ = x2 +y2
 
z = ρ cos φ
 
z

√
1 Given (ρ, θ, φ) = (2, π, π/2), 2 Given (x, y, z) = (1, 1, 2),

π
 q √
x = 2 sin 2 cos π = −2
 

 ρ = 12 + 12 + ( 2)2 = 2
y = 2 sin π2 sin π = 0 θ = tan−1 11√ = π4

z = 2 cos π2 = 0. φ = tan−1 1√2 +12 =
  π
4.

2

Rect. coordinates: (−2, 0, 0) Spherical coordinates:

(2, π4 , π4 )
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Constant Surfaces
ρ = ρ0 , ρ0 6= 0, sphere of
radius ρ0 centered at the
origin
ρ = 0 represents the origin.
θ = θ0 , the half-plane hinged
at the z -axis that makes an
angle θ0 with the positive
x-axis.
φ = φ0 , 0 < φ0 < π2 a cone
that opens upward with
vertex at the origin
φ = φ0 , π2 < φ0 < π a cone
that opens downward with
vertex at the origin.
φ0 = 0, the positive z -axis
φ0 = π , the negative z -axis
φ0 = π2 , the xy -plane.

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Equations in Spherical Coordinates
Example
Find the spherical equations for:
1 the sphere x2 + y 2 + (z − 1)2 = 1.

2 the cone z = x2 + y 2 ,
p

Solution: For item 1, we get

x2 + y 2 + (z − 1)2 = 1
x2 + y 2 + z 2 − 2z = 0
2
ρ − 2ρ cos φ = 0
ρ(ρ − 2 cos φ) = 0
ρ = 0 or ρ = 2 cos φ .
| {z }
origin

Therefore, the equation of the sphere x2 + y 2 + (z − 1)2 = 1 in

spherical coordinate systems is ρ = 2 cos φ

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Spherical Equations
Example
Find the spherical equations for:
1 the sphere x2 + y 2 + (z − 1)2 = 1.

2 the cone z = x2 + y 2 ,
p

Solution: For item 2, we use

p
x2 + y 2
tan φ =
z
and obtain tan φ = 1.
Thus, the equation of the cone z = x2 + y 2 in spherical coordinate
p
π
system is φ = .
4

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For today

1 The Spherical Coordinate System

2 Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates

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Integration in Spherical Coordinates
Let f (x, y, z) be continuous on a
solid G.
We subdivide the solid into
spherical wedges, each with
lengths ∆ρ, ∆θ, and ∆φ.
Let (ρ∗` , θ`∗ , φ∗` ) be the center
of the circular wedge.
The volume of each circular
wedge is

∆Vl ≈ ρ∗l 2 sin φ∗l ∆ρ∆θ∆φ.

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Integration in Spherical Coordinates

Thus the Riemann sum for f (x, y, z) over G is of the form

N
X
f (ρ∗l sin φ∗l cos θl∗ , ρ∗l sin φ∗l sin θl∗ , ρ∗l cos φ∗l )ρ∗l 2 sin φ∗l ∆ρ∆θ∆φ
l=1

Taking the limit as N → +∞, we obtain the triple integral in

spherical coordinates given by
ZZZ
f (ρ sin φ cos θ, ρ sin φ sin θ, ρ cos φ) ρ2 sin φ dρ dθ dφ .
G

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Setting up Iterated Triple Integrals in Spherical
Coordinates

1 Sketch. Sketch the solid G of integration.

2 ρ-limits of integration. Draw a strip/line through G that
emanates from the origin. The strip enters the solid at
ρ = ρ1 (θ, φ) and leaves at ρ = ρ2 (θ, φ).
3 θ-limits of integration. Identify the θ-limits as in the cylindrical
coordinates.
4 φ-limits of integration. Sweep G from its nearest position from
the positive z -axis. The angle it makes with the positive z -axis
runs from φ = γ to φ = δ .

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Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
Example
ZZZ
Evaluate z dV , where G is the solid within z = x2 + y 2 and
p

G
x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 2.

The bounds of G in spherical

coordinates: √
x2 +p
y 2 + z 2 = 2 ⇐⇒ ρ = 2,
z = x2 + y 2 ⇐⇒ φ = π4 .

The limits of √
integration:
ρ = 0 → ρ = 2,
θ = 0 → θ = 2π ,
π
φ=0→φ= .
4

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Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
π
√
ZZZ Z 4
Z 2π Z 2
z dV = (ρ cos φ)ρ2 sin φ dρ dθ dφ
0 0 0
G
π
√
Z 4
Z 2π Z 2
= ρ3 cos φ sin φ dρ dθ dφ
0 0 0
π
2π ρ=√2
ρ4
Z 4
Z

= cos φ sin φ dθ dφ
0 0 4 ρ=0
π
Z 4
Z 2π
= cos φ sin φ dθ dφ
0 0
Z π θ=2π
4
= θ cos φ sin φ dφ

0 θ=0
Z π
4
= 2π cos φ sin φ dφ
0
 π4 π
= π sin2 φ = .

0 2
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Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
Example
Let G be the solid above the xy -plane outside the sphere
x2 + y 2 + (z − 1)2 = 1 and inside the
psphere x + y + z = 4. The
2 2 2

density function of G is δ(x, y, z) = x2 + y 2 + z 2 . Calculate the

mass of G.
ZZZ
Mass of G = δ(x, y, z) dV .
G

The bounds of G in spherical

coordinates:
x2 + y 2 + (z − 1)2 = 2
⇐⇒ ρ = 2 cos φ,
x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 4 ⇐⇒ ρ = 2.

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Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
π
ZZZ p Z 2
Z 2π Z 2
x2 + y 2 + z 2 dV = ρ·ρ2 sin φ dρ dθ dφ
0 0 2 cos φ
G
π
Z 2
Z 2π Z 2
= ρ3 sin φ dρ dθ dφ
0 0 2 cos φ
π ρ=2
2π
ρ4
Z 2
Z

= sin φ dθ dφ
0 0 4 ρ=2 cos φ
π
Z 2
Z 2π
= (4 sin φ − 4 cos4 φ sin φ) dθ dφ
0 0
Z π θ=2π
2
= (4 sin φ − 4 cos4 φ sin φ)θ dφ

0 θ=0
Z π
2
= (8π sin φ − 8π cos4 φ sin φ) dφ
0
   π2
8 32
−8π cos φ + π cos5 φ  =

= π
5 0 5
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Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
Example
Determine the volume of the solid G in the rst p
octant inside the
sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1 and under the cone z = 3x2 + 3y 2 .

The sphere
x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1 ⇐⇒ ρ = 1.

Note that,
p
x2 + y 2
tan φ =
pz
x2 + y 2
= p
3x2 + 3y 2
1
= √ .
3
Thus,
pthe cone
6.
π
z= 3x2 + 3y 2 ⇐⇒ φ =
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Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
π π
ZZZ Z 2
Z 2
Z 1
Volume of G = dV = ρ2 sin φ dρ dθ dφ
π
6 0 0
G
π π ρ=1
ρ3
Z 2
Z 2 
= sin φ dθ dφ
π
6 0 3 ρ=0
Z π Z π
2 1
2
= sin φ dθ dφ
π
6 0 3
Z π θ= π2
2 θ 
= sin φ dφ
π
6
3 θ=0
Z π
π 2
= sin φ dφ
6 π
6

π  π2
= − cos φ π

6 6
√
3
= π.
12
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Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
Example
Use spherical coordinates to evaluate
Z 2 Z √
4−x2 Z √4−x2 −y2 p
√ z2 x2 + y 2 + z 2 dzdydx.
−2 − 4−x2 0

The bounds for z ⇒ the solid G is bounded below by xy -plane and

above by the sphere of radius 2.

The bounds for x and y ⇒ the projection of G onto xy -plane is a

circle of radius 2.

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Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
ZZZ Z 2 Z √
4−x2 Z √4−x2 −y2 p
f (x, y, z) dV = √ z2 x2 + y 2 + z 2 dzdydx.
−2 − 4−x2 0
G
π
Z 2
Z 2π Z 2
= (ρ2 cos2 φρ)ρ2 sin φ dρ dθ dφ
0 0 0
π
Z 2
Z 2π Z 2
= ρ5 cos2 φ sin φ dρ dθ dφ
0 0 0
π
Z Z 2π
2 32
= cos2 φ sin φ dθ dφ
0 0 3
64π π/2
Z
= cos2 φ sin φ dφ
3 0
64π

1  π2 
= − cos3 φ

3 3 0
64
= π.
9

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Exercises
ZZZ
1
I. Using spherical coordinates, evaluate dV ,
x2 + y2 + z2
G
where G lies above the cone z = x2 + y 2 and between the
p

spheres x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1 and x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 4
Z 0 Z 0 Z √4−x2 −y2
II. Convert √ √ x dz dx dy to an iterated triple
−1 − 1−y 2 3x2 +3y 2
integral in spherical coordinates.
III. Let G be the solid bounded by the spheres ρ = 2, ρ = 4 and the
π
cone φ = . Use spherical coordinates to evaluate
ZZZ p 4
x2 + y 2 + z 2 dV .
G
IV. Set up the integral in spherical coordinates that gives the
volume of the regionpinside the sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1 and
above the cone z = 3(x2 + y 2 ).

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