On this page we cover triple integrals in spherical coordinates and several applications.
Before going through the material on this page, make sure you understand spherical coordinates and how to convert between spherical and rectangular coordinates. See the spherical coordinates page for detailed explanation and practice problems.
Recommended Books on Amazon (affiliate links) | ||
---|---|---|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Setting Up and Evaluating Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
Okay, so now you know how to convert an equation or a point to spherical coordinates. So how do we set up a triple integral in spherical coordinates? If you are thinking ahead you probably are anticipating that the \(dV\) term has at least one extra term like we had in cylindrical coordinates and you would be right. The \(dV\) term in spherical coordinates has two extra terms, \(\rho^2~\sin\phi\). So \(dV=\rho^2~\sin\phi~d\rho~d\phi~d\theta\). Remember that the order of \(d\rho~d\phi~d\theta\) depends on the order of integration and there are six possible orders. This is just one of them.
In integral form, triple integrals in spherical coordinates look like this.
\(\displaystyle{ \iiint\limits_V {f(x,y,z) ~ dV} = }\) \(\displaystyle{ \iiint\limits_V{ f(\rho\sin\phi\cos\theta, \rho\sin\phi\sin\theta, \rho\cos\phi ) ~ \rho^2~\sin\phi~d\rho~d\phi~d\theta } }\)
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE - - - Do not forget \(\rho^2~\sin\phi\) in \(\color{red}{\rho^2~\sin\phi}~d\rho~d\phi~d\theta\) in the above equation. This is the most common mistake made by students learning this technique.
The next step is to describe the volume in spherical coordinates or, in terms of the integral above, determining the limits of integration. The same techniques apply that you used when setting up triple integrals in rectangular coordinates.
Applications of Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
Just as with rectangular and cylindrical coordinates, the meaning of the function f will determine what is being calculated with the triple integral. Here is a review of a couple of examples.
f |
\(\iiint_V{f~dV}\) |
---|---|
1 |
volume |
volume density | mass |
Also, physical properties like moment of inertia, center of gravity and force can be calculated using triple integrals.
Okay, time for some practice problems.
Practice
Unless otherwise instructed, evaluate these integrals in the spherical coordinate system.
Basic |
---|
Evaluate \(\displaystyle{ \iiint\limits_V { x^2 + y^2 + z^2 ~dV } }\) where V is the unit ball \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 \leq 1 \), using spherical coordinates.
Problem Statement |
---|
Evaluate \(\displaystyle{ \iiint\limits_V { x^2 + y^2 + z^2 ~dV } }\) where V is the unit ball \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 \leq 1 \), using spherical coordinates.
Final Answer |
---|
\( 4 \pi/5 \)
Problem Statement
Evaluate \(\displaystyle{ \iiint\limits_V { x^2 + y^2 + z^2 ~dV } }\) where V is the unit ball \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 \leq 1 \), using spherical coordinates.
Solution
video by PatrickJMT |
---|
Final Answer
\( 4 \pi/5 \)
Log in to rate this practice problem and to see it's current rating. |
---|
Integrate \(\displaystyle{ f(x,y,z) = 3e^{(x^2 + y^2 + z^2)^{3/2}} }\) over the region inside \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 1 \) in the first octant, using spherical coordinates.
Problem Statement |
---|
Integrate \(\displaystyle{ f(x,y,z) = 3e^{(x^2 + y^2 + z^2)^{3/2}} }\) over the region inside \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 1 \) in the first octant, using spherical coordinates.
Final Answer |
---|
\( \pi(e-1)/2 \)
Problem Statement
Integrate \(\displaystyle{ f(x,y,z) = 3e^{(x^2 + y^2 + z^2)^{3/2}} }\) over the region inside \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 1 \) in the first octant, using spherical coordinates.
Solution
video by MIP4U |
---|
Final Answer
\( \pi(e-1)/2 \)
Log in to rate this practice problem and to see it's current rating. |
---|
Determine the volume outside \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 1 \) and inside \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 4 \).
Problem Statement |
---|
Determine the volume outside \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 1 \) and inside \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 4 \).
Final Answer |
---|
\( 28 \pi/3 \)
Problem Statement
Determine the volume outside \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 1 \) and inside \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 4 \).
Solution
video by MIP4U |
---|
Final Answer
\( 28 \pi/3 \)
Log in to rate this practice problem and to see it's current rating. |
---|
Calculate the volume of the region outside the cone \( \phi = \pi/3 \) and inside the sphere \( \rho = 6 \cos \phi \).
Problem Statement |
---|
Calculate the volume of the region outside the cone \( \phi = \pi/3 \) and inside the sphere \( \rho = 6 \cos \phi \).
Final Answer |
---|
\( 9 \pi/4 \)
Problem Statement
Calculate the volume of the region outside the cone \( \phi = \pi/3 \) and inside the sphere \( \rho = 6 \cos \phi \).
Solution
video by MIP4U |
---|
Final Answer
\( 9 \pi/4 \)
Log in to rate this practice problem and to see it's current rating. |
---|
Use spherical coordinates to evaluate \( \iiint_V{ ( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 )^2 ~dV } \) where V is the ball with center \( (0,0,0) \) and radius 5.
Problem Statement |
---|
Use spherical coordinates to evaluate \( \iiint_V{ ( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 )^2 ~dV } \) where V is the ball with center \( (0,0,0) \) and radius 5.
Final Answer |
---|
\( 312500\pi/7 \)
Problem Statement
Use spherical coordinates to evaluate \( \iiint_V{ ( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 )^2 ~dV } \) where V is the ball with center \( (0,0,0) \) and radius 5.
Solution
Note: Although she calls this a volume in the video, it really is not a volume. Basically, she is evaluating the function \( ( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 )^2 \) over the volume. If she was calculating the volume, the function would be 1.
video by Krista King Math |
---|
Final Answer
\( 312500\pi/7 \)
Log in to rate this practice problem and to see it's current rating. |
---|
Evaluate, using spherical coordinates, \(\displaystyle{ \iiint_V{ \frac{1}{x^2+y^2+z^2}dV } }\) where the volume V is between the spheres \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 4 \) and \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 25 \) in the first octant.
Problem Statement |
---|
Evaluate, using spherical coordinates, \(\displaystyle{ \iiint_V{ \frac{1}{x^2+y^2+z^2}dV } }\) where the volume V is between the spheres \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 4 \) and \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 25 \) in the first octant.
Final Answer |
---|
\( 3\pi/2 \)
Problem Statement
Evaluate, using spherical coordinates, \(\displaystyle{ \iiint_V{ \frac{1}{x^2+y^2+z^2}dV } }\) where the volume V is between the spheres \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 4 \) and \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 25 \) in the first octant.
Solution
video by MIP4U |
---|
Final Answer
\( 3\pi/2 \)
Log in to rate this practice problem and to see it's current rating. |
---|
Calculate the volume of a sphere of radius R where \( \phi \) ranges from 0 to \( \pi/6 \).
Problem Statement |
---|
Calculate the volume of a sphere of radius R where \( \phi \) ranges from 0 to \( \pi/6 \).
Hint |
---|
The integral you set up should look like \( V = \iiint dV = \int_0^{\pi/6}{ \int_0^{2\pi}{ \int_0^R{ \rho^2\sin\phi ~ d\rho ~d\theta ~d\phi }}} \).
Of course, since the limits of integration are constants, you can integrate in any order.
Problem Statement |
---|
Calculate the volume of a sphere of radius R where \( \phi \) ranges from 0 to \( \pi/6 \).
Final Answer |
---|
\( \pi R^3 (2-\sqrt{3})/3 \)
Problem Statement
Calculate the volume of a sphere of radius R where \( \phi \) ranges from 0 to \( \pi/6 \).
Hint
The integral you set up should look like \( V = \iiint dV = \int_0^{\pi/6}{ \int_0^{2\pi}{ \int_0^R{ \rho^2\sin\phi ~ d\rho ~d\theta ~d\phi }}} \).
Of course, since the limits of integration are constants, you can integrate in any order.
Solution
video by Michel vanBiezen |
---|
Final Answer
\( \pi R^3 (2-\sqrt{3})/3 \)
Log in to rate this practice problem and to see it's current rating. |
---|
Intermediate |
---|
Express as a triple integral, using spherical coordinates, the volume of the region above the cone \( z = \sqrt{x^2+y^2} \) and inside the sphere \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 2az, a > 0 \) and evaluate.
Problem Statement |
---|
Express as a triple integral, using spherical coordinates, the volume of the region above the cone \( z = \sqrt{x^2+y^2} \) and inside the sphere \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 2az, a > 0 \) and evaluate.
Final Answer |
---|
\( \pi a^3 \)
Problem Statement
Express as a triple integral, using spherical coordinates, the volume of the region above the cone \( z = \sqrt{x^2+y^2} \) and inside the sphere \( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 2az, a > 0 \) and evaluate.
Solution
Note - This same problem is set up in rectangular coordinates on the rectangular coordinates page and in cylindrical coordinates on the cylindrical coordinates page.
video by Dr Chris Tisdell |
---|
Final Answer
\( \pi a^3 \)
Log in to rate this practice problem and to see it's current rating. |
---|
Really UNDERSTAND Calculus
Log in to rate this page and to see it's current rating.
basic trig identities |
---|
\(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\) | \(1+\tan^2\theta=\sec^2\theta\) |
\(\displaystyle{\tan\theta=\frac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta}}\) | \(\displaystyle{\cot\theta=\frac{\cos\theta}{\sin\theta}}\) |
\(\displaystyle{\sec\theta=\frac{1}{\cos\theta}}\) | \(\displaystyle{\csc\theta=\frac{1}{\sin\theta}}\) |
power reduction (half-angle) formulae |
\(\displaystyle{\sin^2\theta=\frac{1-\cos(2\theta)}{2}}\) | \(\displaystyle{\cos^2\theta=\frac{1+\cos(2\theta)}{2}}\) |
double angle formulae |
\(\sin(2\theta)=2\sin\theta\cos\theta\) | \(\cos(2\theta)=\cos^2\theta-\sin^2\theta\) |
links |
related topics |
---|
external links you may find helpful |
Pauls Online Notes: Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates |
To bookmark this page and practice problems, log in to your account or set up a free account.
Do you have a practice problem number but do not know on which page it is found? If so, enter the number below and click 'page' to go to the page on which it is found or click 'practice' to be taken to the practice problem.
| |
I recently started a Patreon account to help defray the expenses associated with this site. To keep this site free, please consider supporting me. |
---|
Support 17Calculus on Patreon |