Triple integral in spherical coordinates

In summary, a student is asking for confirmation on setting up triple integrals to represent the volume of a solid using spherical coordinates. They break the problem into two integrals and provide the necessary calculations and equations. The expert confirms that the solution looks correct.
  • #1
tintin2006
2
0
I want to check if I'm doing this problem correctly.

Homework Statement


Region bounded by [itex]x^2+y^2=4[/itex] and bounded by the surfaces z = 0, and [itex]z=\sqrt{9-x^2-y^2}[/itex].
Set up triple integrals which represent the volume of the solid using spherical coordinates.

Homework Equations


[itex]\int\int\int_{V}\rho^2sin\phi \; d\rho d\phi d\theta[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution


The shape is a cylinder with a round top.
It seems that I have to break this into two integrals:
1:
From [itex]x^2+y^2=4[/itex] and [itex]z=\sqrt{9-x^2-y^2}[/itex]:
[itex]z=\sqrt{9-4}=\sqrt{5}[/itex]
Since [itex]z=\rho cos\phi[/itex], [itex]\rho cos\phi = \sqrt{5} \Rightarrow \rho = \frac{\sqrt{5}}{cos\phi}[/itex]
2:
From [itex]z=\sqrt{9-x^2-y^2}[/itex], it is a sphere of radius 3 so ρ=3
The sphere and cylinder meets at point (y,z)=(2, √5) and the radius makes an angle with the point:
[itex]sin\phi = \frac{2}{3}[/itex]
[itex]\int_{0}^{2\pi}\int_{0}^{arcsin(\frac{2}{3})}\int_{0}^{3}\rho^2sin\phi \; d\rho d\phi d\theta + \int_{0}^{2\pi}\int_{arcsin(\frac{2}{3})}^{\frac{ \pi }{2}}\int_{0}^{\frac{\sqrt{5}}{cos\phi}}\rho^2 sin \phi \; d\rho d\phi d\theta[/itex]
Thank you.
 
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  • #2
tintin2006 said:
I want to check if I'm doing this problem correctly.

Homework Statement


Region bounded by [itex]x^2+y^2=4[/itex] and bounded by the surfaces z = 0, and [itex]z=\sqrt{9-x^2-y^2}[/itex].
Set up triple integrals which represent the volume of the solid using spherical coordinates.

Homework Equations


[itex]\int\int\int_{V}\rho^2sin\phi \; d\rho d\phi d\theta[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution


The shape is a cylinder with a round top.
It seems that I have to break this into two integrals:
1:
From [itex]x^2+y^2=4[/itex] and [itex]z=\sqrt{9-x^2-y^2}[/itex]:
[itex]z=\sqrt{9-4}=\sqrt{5}[/itex]
Since [itex]z=\rho cos\phi[/itex], [itex]\rho cos\phi = \sqrt{5} \Rightarrow \rho = \frac{\sqrt{5}}{cos\phi}[/itex]
2:
From [itex]z=\sqrt{9-x^2-y^2}[/itex], it is a sphere of radius 3 so ρ=3
The sphere and cylinder meets at point (y,z)=(2, √5) and the radius makes an angle with the point:
[itex]sin\phi = \frac{2}{3}[/itex]
[itex]\int_{0}^{2\pi}\int_{0}^{arcsin(\frac{2}{3})}\int_{0}^{3}\rho^2sin\phi \; d\rho d\phi d\theta + \int_{0}^{2\pi}\int_{arcsin(\frac{2}{3})}^{\frac{ \pi }{2}}\int_{0}^{\frac{\sqrt{5}}{cos\phi}}\rho^2 sin \phi \; d\rho d\phi d\theta[/itex]
Thank you.
Hello tintin2006. Welcome to PF !

That all looks fine to me.
 
  • #3
Thanks :)
 

FAQ: Triple integral in spherical coordinates

1. What is a triple integral in spherical coordinates?

A triple integral in spherical coordinates is a mathematical tool used to calculate the volume of a three-dimensional region, where the boundaries are defined in terms of spherical coordinates (radius, polar angle, and azimuthal angle). It involves integrating over the three variables to find the volume enclosed within the region.

2. How is a triple integral in spherical coordinates different from one in Cartesian coordinates?

In a triple integral in spherical coordinates, the boundaries are defined in terms of spherical coordinates, while in a Cartesian coordinate system, the boundaries are defined in terms of x, y, and z coordinates. This means that the integrand and limits of integration will be different in the two coordinate systems.

3. What are the advantages of using spherical coordinates for a triple integral?

Spherical coordinates are particularly useful when integrating over a region with spherical symmetry, such as a sphere or a cone. This is because the boundaries can easily be defined in terms of the radius and angles, making the integral simpler to set up and solve.

4. How do you convert a triple integral from Cartesian to spherical coordinates?

To convert a triple integral from Cartesian to spherical coordinates, the following substitutions can be made:
x = ρsinφcosθ
y = ρsinφsinθ
z = ρcosφ
Where ρ is the radial distance, φ is the polar angle, and θ is the azimuthal angle. The limits of integration will also need to be adjusted accordingly.

5. What are the practical applications of triple integrals in spherical coordinates?

Triple integrals in spherical coordinates are commonly used in physics and engineering to calculate various physical quantities, such as electric and gravitational fields, mass and charge distributions, and moments of inertia. They are also used in the study of fluid dynamics and quantum mechanics.

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