1

Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

A point P in spherical coordinates is written as ( , , ) | u , where is the distance from
centre to P, u is the angle between P and the polar line, and | is the angle from z-axis
to line .


To covert from Cartesian coordinate ( , , ) x y z to ( , , ) | u , the following substitution
will be employed.
2 2 2 2
cos sin
sin sin
cos
x
y
z
x y z
u |
u |
|

=
=
=
+ + =


where 0 2 u t s s and 0 | t s s .

The volume of solid by using triple integrals in spherical coordinate ( , , ) | u is thus
given by:
2
sin
G G
volume dV d d d | | u = =
}}} }}}


In practice, triple integral in spherical coordinates is suitable for the solid which has
the spherical shape.



Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinate
2
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Example 1
By using spherical coordinates, evaluate
G
dV
}}}
, if G is a sphere of radius 2 .
Solution
2 2
2
0 0 0
( sin )
G
volume dV d d d
| t u t
| u
| u |
= = =
= = =
= =
}}} } } }


2
2 4
0 0
0
2 4
0 0
2
0 0
2
0
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
sin
4
( 2)
[0]sin
4
sin
[ cos ]
( cos ) ( cos 0)
( 1) ( 1)
2
2
4
d d
d d
d d
d
d
d
d
| t u t
u |
| t u t
u |
| t u t
u |
u t
t
u
u t
u
u t
u
u t
u
t

| | u
| | u
| | u
u u
t u
u
u
u
t
= =
= =
= =
= =
= =
= =
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
(
=
(

(
=
(

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
} }
} }
} }
}
}
}
}









3
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Example 2
(a) Sketch the solid bounded above by sphere 3 = and below by cone
3
t
| = , as well as
its projection on xy-plane.
(b) By using spherical coordinate, find the volume of the solid in part (a).
Solution
(a) Note: The alternative form of sphere equation is
0
= , which is equivalent to
2 2 2 2
0
( ) x y z + + = .
The alternative form of cone is
0
| | = , where
0
| is the angle as shown in the
following diagram.





Sketching the graph, we have:







Its projection on xy-plane is:






2 2 2
9 x y z + + =

3
3
t
| =

3
3
From the graph, the following
information can be obtained:
0
3
0 3
t
|

s s
s s

From the projection on xy-plane,
the following information can be
obtained:
0 2 u t s s

4
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

(b)
3 2 3
2
0 0 0
, sin Volume V d d d
t
|
u t
u |
| | u
=
= =
= = =
=
} } }


3
2 3 3
0 0 0
2 3
0 0
2
3
0
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
sin
3
9sin
9 [ cos ]
9 [ cos ] [ cos 0]
3
1
9 [ ] [ 1]
2
1
9
2
9
2
9
d d
d d
d
d
d
d
t
|
u t
u |
t
|
u t
u |
u t t
u
u t
u
u t
u
u t
u
t

| | u
| | u
| u
t
u
u
u
u
t
=
=
= =
=
=
= =
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
(
=
(

=
=
=
=
=
(
=
(

=
} }
} }
}
}
}
}


Example 3
By using spherical coordinates, find the volume of the solid bounded above by sphere
2 2 2
2 x y z z + + = and below by cone
2 2
z x y = + .
Solution
In order to sketch the graph of
2 2 2
2 x y z z + + = , let rearrange the equation to:
2 2 2
2 0 x y z z + + = .
By using the technique of completing the square, we obtain:
2 2 2
2 2 2
( 1) 1 0
( 1) 1
x y z
x y z
+ + =
+ + =

This implies that the graph is a sphere with center at (0, 0,1) and radius = 1.

5
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

To find the interception between the sphere and cone:
From the equation of cone
2 2
z x y = + ,
2 2 2
z x y = +
Substituting into the equation of sphere, we obtain:
2 2
2
2
2 2
( 1) 0
0 1
z z z
z z
z z
z or z
+ =
=
=
= =

It implies that the sphere and cone are intercepting with each other at plane z = 0 and z = 1.
Putting all the information together, the graph is shown as follows:










Its projection on xy-plane is:







1
2
y
x
z
1
-1
-1
1
6
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

In order to use the spherical coordinates, we need to convert the Cartesan coordinates to
spherical coordinates.
Conversion formula,:
2 2 2 2
cos sin
sin sin
cos
x
y
z
x y z
u |
u |
|

=
=
=
+ + =

From equation of sphere, rearrange
2 2 2
2 0 x y z z + + = , we obtain:

2 2 2
2 x y z z + + =
2
2
2
2 cos
2cos
z
|
|
=
=
=

From equation of cone,
2 2
2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2
2 2
2
cos ( cos sin ) ( sin sin )
cos cos sin sin sin
cos sin (cos sin )
cos sin
tan 1
tan 1
4
z x y
| u | u |
| u | u |
| | u u
| |
|
|
t
|
= +
= +
= +
= +
=
=
=
=

| is chosen as
4
t
, since 0 | t s s .
Hence,
2cos 2 4
2
0 0 0
, sin Volume V d d d
t
|
| u t
u |
| | u
=
= =
= = =
=
} } }


2cos
2 3 4
0 0 0
sin
3
d d
t
|
|
u t
u |

| | u
=
=
= =
(
=
(

} }

7
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals


2cos
2 3 4
0 0 0
sin
3
d d
t
|
|
u t
u |

| | u
=
=
= =
(
=
(

} }


| |
2 3 4
0 0
2
4
4
0
0
2
4 4
0
4
2
4
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
8cos
sin
3
2
cos
3
2
cos ( ) cos (0)
3 4
2 2
1
3 2
2 1
1
3 4
1
2
1
2
d d
d
d
d
d
d
t
|
u t
u |
u t t
u
u t
u
u t
u
u t
u
u t
u
t
|
| | u
| u
t
u
u
u
u
u
t
=
=
= =
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
( =

(
( =
(

(
| |
( ( =
|

|
(
\ .

(
=
(

=
(
=
(

=
} }
}
}
}
}
}

Use technique of substitution:
Let cos u | =
sin du d | | =
Hence,
3 3
8cos 8
sin ( )
3 3
u
d du
|
| | =
} }


4
4
8
3 4
2
cos
3
u
|
=
=