Triple Integrals in Cylindrical Coordinates

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Triple Integrals in Cylindrical Coordinates

The position of a point M(x,y,z) in the xyz-space in cylindrical coordinates is defined by three numbers: ?, f, z ,
where ? is the projection of the radius vector of the point M onto the xy-plane, f is the angle formed by the
projection of the radius vector with the x-axis (Figure 1), z is the projection of the radius vector on the z-axis (its
value is the same in Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates).

Differential Equations
1st Order Equations
2nd Order Equations

Fig.1

The relationship between cylindrical and Cartesian coordinates of a point is given by

We assume here that

The Jacobian of transformation from Cartesian to cylindrical coordinates is

Then the formula of change of variables for this transformation can be written in the form

Transition from clindrical coordinates makes calculation of triple integrals simpler in those cases when the region of
integration is formed by a cylindrical surface.

Example 1

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Triple Integrals in Cylindrical Coordinates

Evaluate the integral

where the region U is bounded by the surface x 2 + y 2 = 1 and the planes z = 0, z = 1 (Figure 2).

Fig.2

Fig.3

Solution.

It is more convenient to calculate this integral in cylindrical coordinates. Projection of the region of integration onto
the xy-plane is the circle x 2 + y 2 = 1 or 0 = ? = 1 (Figure 3).
Notice that the integrand can be written as

Then the integral becomes

The second integral contains the factor ? which is the Jacobian of transformation of the Cartesian coordinates into
cylindrical coordinates. All the three integrals over each of the variables do not depend on each other. As a result
the triple integral is easy to calculate as

Example 2

Find he integral

where the region U is bounded by the surfaces x 2 + y 2 = 3z, z = 3 (Figure 4).

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Triple Integrals in Cylindrical Coordinates

Fig.4

Fig.5

Solution.

The region of integrations is shown in Figure 4. To calculate the integral we convert it to cylindrical coordinates:

The differential of this transformation is

The equation of the parabolic surface becomes

The projection of the region of integration U onto the xy-plane is the circle x 2 + y 2 = 9 with radius ? = 3 (Figure 5).
The coordinate ? ranges from 0 to 3, the angle f ranges from 0 to 2p, and the coordinate z ranges from ?/3 to 3. As a
result, the integral becomes

Example 3

Using cylindrical coordinates evaluate the integral

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Triple Integrals in Cylindrical Coordinates

Fig.6

Fig.7

Solution.

The region of integration U is shown in Figure 6. Its projection on the xy-plane is the circle x 2 + y 2 = 22 (Figure 7).
The new variables in the cylindrical coordinates range within the limits:

Substituting x = ? cos f and y = ? sin f, we find the value of the integral:

Example 4

Calculate the integral using cylindrical coordinates:

The region U is bounded by the paraboloid z = 4 - x 2 - y 2 , by the cylinder x 2 + y 2 = 4 and by the planes y = 0,
z = 0 (Figure 8).

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Triple Integrals in Cylindrical Coordinates

Fig.8

Fig.9

Solution.

By sketching the region of integration U (Figure 9), we see that its projection on the xy-plane (the region D) is the
half-circle of radius ? = 2.
We convert to cylindrical coordinates using the substitutions

The new variables will range within the limits

Now we can calculate the integral:

Example 5

Find the integral

where the region U is bounded by the planes z = x + 1, z = 0 and by the cylindrical surfaces x 2 + y 2 = 1,
x 2 + y 2 = 4 (Figure 10).

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Triple Integrals in Cylindrical Coordinates

Fig.10

Fig.11

Solution.

We calculate this integral in cylindrical coordinates. From the condition

it follows that

The projection of the region of integration onto the xy-plane is the ring formed by the two circles: x 2 + y 2 = 1 and
x 2 + y 2 = 4 (Figure 11). Hence, the variables ? and f range in the interval

Calculate the integral:

This result is natural as the region U is symmetric about the xz-plane, and the integrand is even.
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