Multivariable surface integral

In summary, we can use spherical coordinates and the parametrization provided to find the surface area of the given surface, which is part of a sphere of radius 2 with center (0,0,1). The surface area can be found using the integral \int_{0}^{\pi/2} \int_{0}^{2\pi} ||r_{\theta} \times r_{\phi}|| d\theta d\phi, where r is the position vector corresponding to the parametrization and the limits of integration are 0<theta<2pi and 0<phi<pi/2. This method is more efficient than using polar coordinates.
  • #1
thiskidistite
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a) Find the area of the part of the surface S = {x^2+ y^2+ (z-1)^2 = 4, 0 ≤ z ≤ 1}.

Note that this is part of the sphere of radius 2 with center (0,0,1).
 
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  • #2
Oh noes, a multivariable surface integral!
Well.. the coolest way (in my opinion) to do a question like this is to use spherical co-ordinate parametrization..
So try the substitution:
z-1 = 2 cos phi
x = 2 cos theta sin phi
y = 2 sin theta sin phi
(Since r = 2 in these cases)
Think you can work from there?
This should be in the homework help forum, by the way.
 
  • #3
so what should the limits of phi be?? I did it by using polar coordinates but I still got the wrong answer :mad: :mad:
Thanks for your help though
 
  • #4
You're dealing with a sphere-- so you should be using spherical co-ordinates! (Polar would be too time-consuming)
Obviously we're dealing with the top half, 0<z<1, thus we have the limits:
0<theta<2pi
0<phi<pi/2
Since you want the surface area of the thing, you want:
[tex]\int_{S} dS = \int_{0}^{\pi/2} \int_{0}^{2\pi} ||r_{\theta} \times r_{\phi}|| d\theta d\phi[/tex]
Where r is the position vector corresponding to the parametrization I provided above and subscripts denote the respective partial derivatives.
 
  • #5
thiskidistite said:
a) Find the area of the part of the surface S = {x^2+ y^2+ (z-1)^2 = 4, 0 ≤ z ≤ 1}.

Note that this is part of the sphere of radius 2 with center (0,0,1).

The surface area of a sphere of radius r is [itex]4\pi r^2[/itex]. What is the area of half of a sphere of radius 2?
 

FAQ: Multivariable surface integral

What is a multivariable surface integral?

A multivariable surface integral is a mathematical concept that involves calculating the area under a three-dimensional surface. It takes into account multiple variables, such as x, y, and z, and is used in many fields of science to solve problems involving surfaces, such as calculating electric flux or fluid flow.

How is a multivariable surface integral different from a regular integral?

A regular integral involves calculating the area under a curve in two dimensions, while a multivariable surface integral involves calculating the area under a surface in three dimensions. It also takes into account multiple variables, whereas a regular integral only involves one variable.

What is the formula for calculating a multivariable surface integral?

The formula for a multivariable surface integral depends on the specific problem being solved, but it generally involves integrating a function over a surface, with respect to the variables involved. This can be written as ∫∫f(x,y,z) dS, where dS represents the differential area element of the surface.

What are some real-world applications of multivariable surface integrals?

Multivariable surface integrals are used in various fields of science, such as physics, engineering, and mathematics. They are commonly used in calculating electric flux, fluid flow, and surface area in three-dimensional objects. They also have applications in computer graphics, where they are used to create 3D models and animations.

What are some techniques for solving multivariable surface integrals?

Some common techniques for solving multivariable surface integrals include using parametric equations, converting the integral into a double or triple integral, and using special coordinate systems, such as spherical or cylindrical coordinates. It is also helpful to understand the properties of the surface being integrated and to break it into smaller, simpler pieces to make the calculation more manageable.

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