1.

BACKGROUND
When a solid region S in thee-space has an axis of symmetry, the evaluation of
triple integrals over S is often facilitated by using cylindrical coordinates. Similarly if S is
symmetric with respect to a point, spherical coordinates may be helpful. Cylindrical and
spherical coordinates are special cases of transformations of variables for multiple
integrals.

2. PURPOSE
Our paper aims to complete the task of subject Multivariate Calculus given by Mrs.
Trianingsih Eni Lestari. Moreover, the paper also made to help us and all of the readers to
know more about triple integrals in cylindrical and spherical coordinates.
This paper also aims to help the readers to solve the problem or some exercises in
the book with see our examples of exercises that we have done, of course, about Triple
integrals in cylindrical and spherical coordinates.

3. DISCUSSION
1. Cylindrical Coordinates

Figure 1 serves to remind us of the meaning of cylindrical coordinates and displays the
symbols that we use. Cylindrical and Cartesian (rectangular) coordinates are related by
the equations
2 2 2
x=r cos θ , y=r sin θ , x + y =r
As a result, the function f (x , y , z) transforms to

1
 f ( x , y , z )=f ( r cos θ , r sinθ , z )=F (r , θ , z )
when written in cylindrical coordinates.
❑

Suppose now that we wish to evaluate ∭ f (x , y , z)dV , where S is a solid

S

region. Consider partitioning S by means of a cylindrical grid, where the typical

volume element has the shape shown in Figure 2. Since this piece (called a cylindrical
wedge) has volume ∆ V k =r k ∆ r k ∆ θ k ∆ z k, the sum that approximates the integral has
the form
n

∑ F (r k , θk , z k )r k ∆ z k ∆ r k ∆ θ k
k =1

Taking the limit as the norm of the partition tends to zero leads to a new integral and
suggests an important formula for changing from Cartesian to cylindrical coordinates
in a triple integral.

Let S be a z -simple solid and suppose that its projection S xy in the xy -plane is
r -simple, as shown in Figure 3. If f is continuous on S, then
❑ θ 2 r2(θ) g2(r , θ)

∭ f (x , y , z)dV =∫ ∫ ∫ f ( r cos θ , r sin θ , z ) r dz dr dθ

S θ 1 r1(θ) g1(r , θ)

The key fact to note is that the dz dy dx of Cartesian coordinates becomes

r dz dr dθ in cylindrical coordinates.

2
 2. Spherical Coordinates

Figure 7 serves to remind us of the meaning of spherical coordinates, which were

introduce were intrroduced in section 11.9. There we learned that the equation

x=ρ sin ϕ cos θ , y= ρsin ϕ sin θ , z=ρ sin ϕ

relate spherical coordinates and cartesian coordinates. Figure 8 exhibits the volume
element in spherical coordinates (calles a spherical wedge). Though we omit the
details, it can be shown that the volume of the indicated spherical wedge is

2
∆ V = p sin ϕ ∆ ρ ∆ θ ∆ ϕ

where (ρ , θ , ϕ) is an appropriately chosen point in the wedge.

Partitioning a solid S by means of a spherical grid, forming the appropiate sum, and
taking the limit leads to an iterated integral in which dz dy dx is replace by
ρ ² sin ϕ dρ dθ dϕ ,

❑ ❑

∭ f (x , y , z)dV = ∭ f (¿ ρ sin ϕ cos θ , ρsin ϕ sin θ , ρ sin ϕ) ρ ² sin ϕ dρ dθ dϕ ¿

S appropiate
limit

4. EXAMPLES

3
1. Find the mass and center of mass of a solid right circular cylinder S, assuming that the
density is proportional to the distance from the base.
Solution:

With S oriented as shown in Figure 4, we can write the density function as

δ ( x , y , z )=kz, where k is constant. Then
❑ 2π a h
m=∭ δ ( x , y , z ) dV =k ∫ ∫ ∫ zr dz dr dθ
S 0 0 0

2π a 2π a
1 2 1 2
¿ k ∫ ∫ h r dr dθ= k h ∫ ∫ r dr dθ
0 0 2 2 0 0

2π
1 2 1 2 1 2 2
¿ k h ∫ a dθ= k h π a
2 0 2 2
❑ 2π a h
M xy =∭ z δ ( x , y , z ) dV =k ∫ ∫ ∫ z r dz dr dθ
2

S 0 0 0

2π a 2π a
1 3 1 3
¿ k ∫ ∫ h r dr dθ= k h ∫ ∫ r dr dθ
0 0 3 3 0 0

1 3 2
¿ kh πa
3
1 3 2
kh π a
M xy 3 2
z= = = h
m 1 2 2 3
kh πa
2
By symmetry, x= y =0.

2. Find the volume of the solid region S in the first octant bounded above by the
paraboloid z=4−x2 − y 2, and laterally by the cylinder x 2+ y 2=2 x, as shown in figure 5

4
 Solution:
In cylinder coordinates, the paraboloid is z=4−r 2 and the cylinder is r =2cos θ. The z-
variable runs from the xy-plane up to paraboloid, that is, from 0 to 4−r 2. Figure 6
shows the “footprint” of the solid in the xy-plane; this figure suggest that for a fixed θ,
r goes from 0 to 2 cos θ. Finally, θ goes from 0 to π /2. Thus,
❑
V =∭ 1 dV
S
2
π /2 2 cos θ 4 −r
¿∫ ∫ ∫ r dz dr dθ
0 0 0

π /2 2 cos θ
¿∫ ∫ 2
r (4−r )dr dθ
0 0

[ ]
π /2 2 cos θ
1 4
¿ ∫ 2r − r
2
dθ
0 4 0

π /2
¿ ∫ (8 cos θ−4 cos ² θ ¿ )dθ ¿
2

1 π 3 π 5π
¿ 8. . −4. . =
2 2 8 2 4
3. Find the mass of a solid sphere S if its density δ is proportional to the distance from
the center.

Solution:

Center the sphere at the origin and let its radius be a . The density δ is given by
δ=k √ x 2+ y 2+ z 2=kρ. Thus, the mass m is given by

5
 ❑ π 2π a
m=∭ δ dV =k ∫ ∫ ∫ ρ ρ sin ϕ dp dθ dϕ
2

S 0 0 0

4 π 2π π
a
¿k ∫ ∫ sin ϕ dθ dϕ= 12 kπ a 4∫ sin ϕ dϕ
4 0 0 0

4
¿ kπ a

4. Find the volume and center of mass of the homogeneous solid S that is bounded above
by the sphere ρ=aand below by the cone ϕ=α ,
where a and α are constants (Figure 9).

Solution:

The volume V is given by

α 2π a
V =∫ ∫ ∫ ρ sin ϕ dp dθ dϕ
2

0 0 0

( )
α 2π 3
a
¿ ∫∫ sin ϕ dθ dϕ
0 0 3

3 α 3
2π a
¿
3
∫ sin ϕ dθ dϕ= 2 π3a ( 1−cos α )
0

It follows that the mass m of the solid is

3
2π a k
m=kV = ¿
3

where k is the constant density.

From symmetry, the center of mass is on the z -axis; that is, x= y =0. To find z ,
we first calculate M xy .

❑ α 2π a
M xy =∭ kz dV =∫ ∫ ∫ k ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿
S 0 0 0

α 2π a
¿ ∫ ∫ ∫ k ρ sin ϕ cos ϕ dρ dθ dϕ
3

0 0 0

6
 α 2π
1 4
¿ ∫∫ k a sin ϕ cos ϕ dθ dϕ
0 0 4

α
1 1
¿ ∫ πk a sin ϕ cos ϕ dϕ= π a k sin α
4 4 2

0 2 4

Thus

1 4 2
π a k sin α
4
z=
2 3
π a k ¿¿
3

3
¿ a¿
8

5. SOLUTION OF SOME EXERCISES

1. Evaluate the integral which is given in cylindrical or spherical coordinates, and
describe the region R of integration
π /4 3 9−r ²

∫∫ ∫ zr dz dr dθ
0 0 0

Solution:

The region is the region under the paraboloid z=9−r 2 above the xy−¿ plane in that
π
part of the first quadrant satisfying 0 ≤ θ ≤ .
4

[ ]
π /4 3 9−r ² π /4 3 9−r ²
1
∫∫ ∫ zr dz dr dθ = ∫∫ 2
z²r dr dθ
0 0 0 0 0 0

π /4 3
1
= ∫ ∫ r ( 81−18 r 2 +r 4 ) dr dθ
2 0 0
π /4 3
1
= ∫ ∫ ( 81 r−18 r +r ) dr dθ
3 5
2 0 0

[ ]
π /4 3
1 81 2 9 4 1 6
= ∫ r − r + r dθ
2 0 2 2 6 0
π /4
1 729
= ∫ dθ
2 0 6

7
 π /4
729
= ∫ 1 dθ
12 0
729 π /4
= [ θ]
12 0
243
= π
16

π /2 π /2 a

2. ∫ ∫ ∫ ρ2 cos 2 ϕ sin ϕ dρ dθ dϕ
0 0 0

Solution:
π /2 π /2 a

∫ ∫ ∫ ρ2 cos 2 ϕ sin ϕ dρ dθ dϕ
0 0 0

[ ]
π /2 π /2 a
ρ3
¿∫ ∫
2
cos ϕ sin ϕ dθ dϕ
0 0
3 0

π /2 π /2
1 3 2
¿∫ ∫ a cos ϕ sin ϕ dθ dϕ
0 0 3

[ ]
π /2 π/2
1 3 2
¿∫ a cos ϕ sin ϕ θ dϕ
0 3 0

π /2
1 3π
¿∫
2
a cos ϕ sin ϕ dϕ
0 3 2
π /2 3
π
¿∫
2
a cos ϕ sin ϕ dϕ
0 6
3 π/2
π
¿ a
6
∫ cos 2 ϕ sin ϕ dϕ
0

Let u=cos ϕ
du
=−sin ϕ
dϕ
du
d ϕ= , then we get
−sin ϕ

3 π/2 0
π
6
a ∫ cos ϕ sin ϕ dϕ= π6 a3∫ u2 sin ϕ −sin
2 du
ϕ
0 1

0
π 3
¿ a ∫ −u du
2
6 1

8
 π 31
¿ a
6 3
3
a π
¿
18

3. Volume of the solid bounded by the paraboloid z=x 2 + y 2 and the plane z=4

Solution:

By observe, the paraboloid z=x 2 + y 2 and the plane z=4 intersect at circle x 2+ y 2=4.
So, z change from x 2+ y 2=r 2 to 4. The value of r at the xy -plane is 0, and at the circle
x + y =4 is √ 4=2 ,so it change from 0 to 2. θ change from 0 to 2 π .
2 2

2 2
z=x + y

z=4 2π 2 4
V =∫ ∫ ∫ 1 r dz dr dθ
0 0 r2

2π 2 4
¿ ∫ ∫ r ∫ 1dz dr dθ
0 0 r
2

2π 2
¿ ∫ ∫ r ( 4−r ) dr dθ
2

0 0

2π 2
¿ ∫ ∫ 4 r−r dr dθ
3

0 0

[ ]
2π 2
1 4
¿∫
2
2 r − r dθ
0 4 0

2π
¿ ∫ 4 dθ
0

9
 ¿8 π

4. Center of mass of the homogeneous solid bounded above by z=12−2 x 2−2 y 2and
below by z=x 2 + y 2.

Solution:

From symmetry, the center of mass is on the z -axis; that is, x= y =0. To find z , we
first calculate M xy .

12
2 2
z=x + y

2 2
z=12−2 x −2 y

The solid is bounded above by z=12−2 x 2−2 y 2=12−2r 2 and below by

2 2 2 2 2 2 2
z=x + y =r .So z is change from r to 12−2 r . By observe, the paraboloid z=x + y
and the paraboloid z=12−2 x 2−2 y 2 intersect at circle x 2+ y 2=4. The value of r at the
xy -plane is 0, and at the circle x 2+ y 2=4 is √ 4=2 ,so it change from 0 to 2. θ change
from 0 to 2 π .
2 2
2 π 2 12−2 r 2π 2 12−2 r
m=∫ ∫ ∫ k r dz dr dθ=k ∫ ∫ r ∫ 1 dz dr dθ
2 2
0 0 r 0 0 r

10
 2π 2
2π 2
dr dθ=k ∫ ∫ r ( 12−3 r ) dr dθ ¿
12−2 r2
¿ k ∫ ∫ r [ z ]r
2
2

0 0
0 0
¿

[ ]
2π 2 2π 2
3 4
¿ k ∫ ∫ ( 12 r−3 r ) dr dθ=k ∫
3 2
6 r − r dθ
0 0 0 4 0

2π
¿ k ∫ 12 dθ=k 2 π 12=24 kπ
0

2 2
2 π 2 12−2 r 2π 2 12−2 r
M xy =∫ ∫ ∫ kzr dz dr dθ=k ∫ ∫ r ∫ z dz dr dθ
2 2
0 0 r 0 0 r

[ ]
2
12−2 r 2π 2
2π 2
1 2 3
¿k∫∫r 2 z dr dθ=k ∫ ∫ 72 r−24 r 3 + r 5 dr dθ ¿
r
2
0 0 2
0 0
¿

[ ]
2π 2 2π
1 6
¿k∫ 36 r −6 r + r dθ=k ∫ 64 dθ=128 kπ
2 4

0 4 0 0

M xy 128 kπ 16
z= = =
m 24 kπ 3

5. Use spherical coordinates to find the indicated quantity.

Mass of the solid inside the sphere ρ=b and outside the sphere ρ=a(a<b) if the
density is proportional to the distance from the origin.
Solution:
Mass of the solid
❑
m=∭ δ ( x , y , z) dV
S

δ ( x , y , z )=kρ

π 2π b
m=k ∫ ∫ ∫ ρ ρ sin ϕ dρ dθ d ϕ
2

0 0 a

[ ]
π 2π
1 4 b
¿ k ∫∫ ρ sin ϕ dθ d ϕ
0 0 4 a
π 2π
¿ k ∫∫
0 0
( 14 b sin ϕ− 14 a sin ϕ) dθ d ϕ
4 4

11
 [ ]
π
1 4 1 4 2π
¿k∫ b θ sin ϕ− a θ sin ϕ dϕ
0 4 4 0

∫[ ]
π
1 4 4 2π
¿k θ sin ϕ (b −a ) dϕ
0 4 0
π
2π
¿k∫
4 4
sin ϕ (b −a )d ϕ
0 4
π
π
¿k∫
4 4
sin ϕ (b −a )d ϕ
0 2

¿k
[ −π
2
cos ϕ (b 4−a 4 ) π
0 ]
¿k ( π2 ( b −a )+ π2 (b −a ))
4 4 4 4

4 4
¿ kπ (b −a )
6. Find the volume of the solid bounded above by the plane z= y and below by the
paraboloid z=x 2 + y 2.
Solution:
Bounded above by z=r sin θ and bounded below by z=r 2

π sin θ r sin θ π sin θ

V =∫ ∫ ∫ = ∫ ∫ [ r z ]r
r sinθ
r dz dr dθ 2 dr dθ
0 0 r
2
0 0

π sin θ
= ∫ ∫ r ( r sin θ−r ) dr dθ
2

0 0

12
 [ ]
π sin θ sin θ
1 3 1 4
=∫∫ r sin θ− r dθ
0 0 3 4 0

π
= ∫¿¿
0

π
1
=∫
4
sin θ dθ
0 12
π
1
= ∫ si n2 θ sin2 θ dθ
12 0
π
=
1
∫ 1 1
(
− cos θ
12 0 2 2
1 1
− cos θ dθ
2 2 )( )
π
=
1
(
∫ 1 − 1 cos 2 θ+ 14 cos 2 θ dθ
12 0 4 2 )
( ))
π

=
1
∫ 1 1
− cos 2 θ+
12 0 4 2
1 1 1
+ cos 4 θ dθ
4 2 2 (
π
=
1
(
∫ 1 − 1 cos 2 θ+ 18 + 18 cos 4 θ dθ
12 0 4 2 )
π
=
1
∫ 3 1
( 1
− cos 2θ+ cos 4 θ dθ
12 0 8 2 8 )
[ ]
π
1 3 1 1
= θ− sin 2θ+ cos 4 θ
12 8 4 32 0

π
=
32

7. CONCLUSION
Cylindrical and Cartesian (rectangular) coordinates are related by the equations
2 2 2
x=r cos θ , y=r sin θ , x + y =r

As a result, the function f (x , y , z) transforms to

f ( x , y , z )=f ( r cos θ , r sinθ , z )=F (r , θ , z )

when written in cylindrical coordinates.

13
Let S be a z -simple solid and suppose that its projection S xy in the xy -plane is r -simple. If
f is continuous on S, then
❑ θ 2 r2(θ) g2(r , θ)

∭ f (x , y , z)dV =∫ ∫ ∫ f ( r cos θ , r sin θ , z ) r dz dr dθ

S θ 1 r1(θ) g1(r , θ)

is the formula to get the volume of thus solid.

The equation
x=ρ sin ϕ cos θ , y= ρsin ϕ sin θ , z=ρ sin ϕ
relate spherical coordinates and cartesian coordinates.
Partitioning a solid S by means of a spherical grid, forming the appropiate sum, and taking
the limit leads to an iterated integral in which dz dy dx is replace by ρ ² sin ϕ dρ dθ dϕ , we
get
❑ ❑

∭ f (x , y , z)dV = ∭ f (¿ ρ sin ϕ cos θ , ρsin ϕ sin θ , ρ sin ϕ) ρ ² sin ϕ dρ dθ dϕ ¿

S appropiate
limit

as the formula to get the volume of thus solid.

REFERENCE
Purcell & Varberg, Dale. 2002. Calculus Ninth Editions.

14