Triple Integrals in Alternative Coordinate Systems: Learn It 4

Integration in Spherical Coordinates

We now establish a triple integral in the spherical coordinate system, as we did before in the cylindrical coordinate system. Let the function [latex]{f}{({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})}[/latex] be continuous in a bounded spherical box:

[latex]{B} = {{ {({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})}{\mid}{a} \ {\leq} \ {\rho} \ {\leq} \ {{b},{\alpha}} \ {\leq} \ {\theta} \ {\leq} \ {{\beta},{\gamma}} \ {\leq} \ {\varphi} \ {\leq} \ {\psi} }}[/latex].

We then divide each interval into [latex]l[/latex], [latex]m[/latex], and [latex]n[/latex] subdivisions such that [latex]{{\Delta}{\rho} = {\frac{{b}-{a}}{l}}}[/latex], [latex]{{\Delta}{\theta} = {\frac{{\beta}-{\alpha}}{m}}}[/latex], and [latex]{{\Delta}{\varphi} = {\frac{{\psi}-{\gamma}}{n}}}[/latex].

For the volume element of the subbox [latex]{\Delta}{V}[/latex] in spherical coordinates, we have [latex]{\Delta}{V} = {({\Delta}{\rho})}{({\rho}{\Delta}{\varphi})}{({\rho} \sin \varphi{\Delta}{\theta})}[/latex], as shown in the following figure.

In the spherical coordinate space, a box is projected onto the polar coordinate plane. On the polar coordinate plane, the projection has area rho sin phi Delta theta. On the z axis, a distance Delta rho is indicated, and from these boundaries, angles are made that project through the edges of the box. There is also a blown up version of the box that shows it has sides Delta rho, rho Delta phi, and rho sin phi Delta theta, with overall volume Delta V = rho squared sin phi Delta rho Delta phi Delta theta.
Figure 3. The volume element of a box in spherical coordinates.

Just as with cylindrical coordinates, we must account for how volume elements change in spherical coordinates. The volume element includes factors that account for the geometry of the spherical “wedge” shape that results from our subdivisions.

The triple integral in spherical coordinates is the limit of a triple Riemann sum:

[latex]\displaystyle\lim_{l,m,n\to\infty}\displaystyle\sum^l_{i=1}\displaystyle\sum^m_{j=1}\displaystyle\sum^n_{k=1}f(\rho^*_{ijk},\theta^*_{ijk},\varphi^*_{ijk})(\rho^*_{ijk})^2\sin\varphi\Delta\rho\Delta\theta\Delta\varphi[/latex]

provided the limit exists.

Notice the extra factors of [latex]\rho^2\sin\varphi[/latex] in the sum. These come from the geometry of spherical coordinates and are essential for obtaining correct results.

converting triple integrals to spherical coordinates

If [latex]g(x, y, z)[/latex] is a continuous function in rectangular coordinates, then we can convert to spherical coordinates:

[latex]\underset{B}{\displaystyle\iiint}{g}{(x,y,z)}{dV} = \underset{B}{\displaystyle\iiint}{g}{({\rho}\sin\varphi\cos\theta, {\rho}\sin\varphi\sin\theta, {\rho}\cos\varphi)}{\rho}^{2}\sin\varphi \, d{\rho} \, d{\varphi} \, d{\theta}[/latex].

The volume element in spherical coordinates is [latex]dV = {\rho}^{2}\sin\varphi \, d{\rho} \, d{\varphi} \, d{\theta}[/latex].

Don’t Forget [latex]\rho^2\sin\varphi[/latex]!

When converting to spherical coordinates, the volume element [latex]dV[/latex] becomes [latex]{\rho}^{2}\sin\varphi , d{\rho} , d{\varphi} , d{\theta}[/latex]. Students often forget these extra factors, which leads to incorrect results. The [latex]\rho^2[/latex] accounts for the radial expansion, while [latex]\sin\varphi[/latex] accounts for the changing circumference at different angles from the [latex]z[/latex]-axis.

Fubini’s Theorem in Spherical Coordinates

As with the other multiple integrals we have examined, all the properties work similarly for a triple integral in the spherical coordinate system, and so do the iterated integrals.

Fubini’s theorem for spherical coordinates

If [latex]{f}{({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})}[/latex] is continuous on a spherical solid box [latex]{B} = {[{a},{b}]} \ {\times} \ {[{\alpha},{\beta}]} \ {\times} {[{\gamma},{\psi}]}[/latex], then:

[latex]\underset{B}{\displaystyle\iiint}{f}{({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})} \ {\rho}^{2}{\sin} \ {\varphi} \ {{d}{\rho}} \ {{d}{\varphi}} \ {{d}{\theta}} = {\displaystyle\int^{{\varphi}={\psi}}_{{\varphi}={\gamma}}} \ {\displaystyle\int^{{\theta}={\beta}}_{{\theta}={\alpha}}} \ {\displaystyle\int^{{\rho}={b}}_{{\rho}={a}}} \ {f}{({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})} \ {\rho}^{2}{\sin} \ {\varphi} \ {{d}{\rho}} \ {{d}{\varphi}} \ {{d}{\theta}}.[/latex]

This iterated integral may be replaced by other iterated integrals by integrating with respect to the three variables in other orders.

When to Use Spherical Coordinates

Spherical coordinate systems work well for solids that are symmetric around a point, such as spheres and cones. Look for problems involving expressions like [latex]x^2 + y^2 + z^2[/latex] or solids centered at the origin.

Evaluate the iterated triple integral[latex]{\displaystyle\int^{{\theta}={{2}{\pi}}}_{{\theta}={0}}} \ {\displaystyle\int^{{\varphi}={{\pi}/{2}}}_{{\varphi}={0}}} \ {\displaystyle\int^{{\rho}={1}}_{{p}={0}}} \ {\rho}^{2}{\sin} \ {\varphi} \ {{d}{\rho}} \ {{d}{\varphi}} \ {{d}{\theta}}[/latex].

Triple Integrals over General Spherical Regions

The concept of triple integration in spherical coordinates can be extended to integration over a general solid, using the projections onto the coordinate planes. Note that [latex]dV[/latex] and [latex]dA[/latex] mean the increments in volume and area, respectively. The variables [latex]V[/latex] and [latex]A[/latex] are used as the variables for integration to express the integrals.

The triple integral of a continuous function [latex]{f}{({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})}[/latex] over a general solid region:

[latex]{E} = {\left \{ {({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})}{\mid}{({\rho},{\theta})} \ {\in} \ {{D},{{u_1} \ {({\rho},{\theta}}})} \ {\leq} \ {\varphi} \ {\leq} \ {{u_2} \ {({\rho},{\theta})}} \right \}}[/latex]

in [latex]{\mathbb{R}}^{3}[/latex], where [latex]D[/latex] is the projection of [latex]E[/latex] onto the [latex]{\rho}{\theta}[/latex]-plane, is:

[latex]\underset{E}{\displaystyle\iiint}{f}{({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})}{dV} = {\iint\limits_{D}}{\left [ \ {\int\limits^{{u_2}{({\rho},{\theta})}}_{{u_1}{({\rho},{\theta})}}} \ {f}{({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})}{d}{\varphi} \right ]}{{d}{A}}.[/latex]

In particular, [latex]{D} = {\left \{ {({\rho},{\theta})}{\mid}{g_1} \ {(\theta)} \ {\leq} \ {\rho} \ {\leq} \ {{g_2} \ {(\theta)},{\alpha}} \ {\leq} \ {\theta} \ {\leq} \ {\beta} \right \}}[/latex], then we have:

[latex]\underset{E}{\displaystyle\iiint}{f}{({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})}{dV} = {\displaystyle\int^{\beta}_{\alpha}} \ {\displaystyle\int^{{g_2}{({\theta})}}_{{g_1}{({\theta})}}} \ {\displaystyle\int^{{u_2}{({\rho},{\theta})}}_{{u_1}{({\rho},{\theta})}}} \ {f}{({\rho},{\theta},{\varphi})}{{\rho}^{2}}{\sin} \ {\varphi} \ {{d}{\varphi}} \ {{d}{\rho}} \ {{d}{\theta}}.[/latex]

Similar formulas occur for projections onto the other coordinate planes.

Set up an integral for the volume of the region bounded by the cone [latex]{z} = {\sqrt{{3}{({x^2}+{y^2})}}}[/latex] and the hemisphere [latex]{z} = {\sqrt{{4}-{x^2}-{y^2}}}[/latex] (see the figure below).

A hemisphere with equation z = the square root of (4 minus x squared minus y squared) in the upper half plane, and within it, a cone with equation z = the square root of (3 times (x squared + y squared)) that is pointing down, with vertex at the origin.
Figure 4. A region bounded below by a cone and above by a hemisphere.

Let [latex]E[/latex] be the region bounded below by the cone [latex]{z} = {\sqrt{{x^2}+{y^2}}}[/latex] and above by the sphere [latex]{z} = {x^2} + {y^2} + {z^2}[/latex] (Figure 5). Set up a triple integral in spherical coordinates and find the volume of the region using the following orders of integration:

  1. [latex]{{d}{\rho}} \ {{d}{\phi}} \ {{d}{\theta}}[/latex],
  2. [latex]{{d}{\varphi}} \ {{d}{\rho}} \ {{d}{\theta}}[/latex].
A sphere with equation z = x squared + y squared + z squared, and within it, a cone with equation z = the square root of (x squared + y squared) that is pointing down, with vertex at the origin.
Figure 5. A region bounded below by a cone and above by a sphere.

Convert the following integral into cylindrical coordinates:

[latex]{\displaystyle\int^{{y} = {1}}_{{y} = {-1}}}\displaystyle\int^{{x} = {\sqrt{{1} - {{y}^{2}}}}}_{{x} = {0}} \ {\displaystyle\int^{{z} = {\sqrt{{x^2}+{y^2}}}}_{{z} = {{x}^{2}}+{{y}^{2}}}} \ {{x}{y}{z}} \ {{d}{z}} \ {{d}{x}} \ {{d}{y}}.[/latex]

Convert the following integral into spherical coordinates:

[latex]{\displaystyle\int^{{y} = {3}}_{{y} = {0}}}\displaystyle\int^{{x} = {\sqrt{{9} - {{y}^{2}}}}}_{{x} = {0}}\displaystyle\int^{{z} = {\sqrt{{18} - {{x}^{2}} - {{y}^{2}}}}}_{{z} = {\sqrt{{x}^{2} + {{y}^{2}}}}} \ {({{x}^{2}} + {{y}^{2}} + {{z}^{2}})} \ {{d}{z}} \ {{d}{x}} \ {{d}{y}}.[/latex]

Finding Volumes Using Spherical Coordinates

Now that we are familiar with the spherical coordinate system, let’s find the volume of some known geometric figures, such as spheres and ellipsoids.

Find the volume of the spherical planetarium in l’Hemisphèric in Valencia, Spain, which is five stories tall and has a radius of approximately [latex]50[/latex] ft, using the equation [latex]x^2+y^2+z^2=r^2[/latex].

A picture of l’Hemisphèric, which is a giant glass structure that is in the shape of an ellipsoid.
Figure 7. (credit: modification of work by Javier Yaya Tur, Wikimedia Commons)

Find the volume of the ellipsoid [latex]\frac{x^2}{a^2}+\frac{y^2}{b^2}+\frac{z^2}{c^2}=1[/latex].

Find the volume of the space inside the ellipsoid [latex]\frac{x^2}{75^2}+\frac{y^2}{80^2}+\frac{z^2}{90^2}=1[/latex] and outside the sphere [latex]x^2+y^2+z^2=50^2[/latex].