Spherical coordinates surface integral

In summary, the conversation is about evaluating an integral involving a constant vector and the position unit vector in spherical coordinates. The question is whether it is possible to evaluate the integral without explicitly calculating the dot product. The answer is that it is possible, as the integral over the position unit vector can be summed with its opposite to give 0 due to the symmetry of the sphere.
  • #1
daudaudaudau
302
0
Hi.

I have this integral
[tex]
\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^\pi \mathbf A\cdot\hat r d\theta d\phi
[/tex]
where [itex]\hat r[/itex] is the position unit vector in spherical coordinates and [itex]\mathbf A[/itex] is a constant vector. Is it possible to evaluate this integral without calculating the dot product explicitly, i.e. without knowing that that [itex]\hat r=(\sin\theta\cos\phi,\sin\theta\sin\phi,\cos\theta) [/itex] ?

Thanks.
 
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  • #2
I guess that the answer is 0:

[tex]\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\pi}{A\cdot\widehat{r}d\theta d\phi} = A \cdot \int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\pi}{\widehat{r}d\theta d\phi}[/tex]

But you are now integrating normal vectors over the sphere, which is perfectly symmetric. Every vector can be summed with its opposite to give 0.
 

Related to Spherical coordinates surface integral

1. What are spherical coordinates?

Spherical coordinates are a method of representing points in three-dimensional space using two angles, typically denoted as theta and phi, and a radial distance from the origin.

2. How is a surface integral calculated using spherical coordinates?

A surface integral in spherical coordinates is calculated by first converting the surface into a parametric form using the spherical coordinate equations, then integrating over the appropriate limits of the angles and radial distance.

3. What is the significance of using spherical coordinates for surface integrals?

Spherical coordinates are particularly useful for calculating surface integrals when the surface being integrated over has a spherical or symmetric shape. It also allows for easier visualization and calculation in certain cases.

4. Can spherical coordinates be used for any surface integral?

While spherical coordinates can be used for a wide range of surface integrals, they may not always be the most efficient or appropriate choice. Other coordinate systems, such as cylindrical or Cartesian coordinates, may be more suitable in certain cases.

5. Are there any limitations to using spherical coordinates for surface integrals?

One limitation of using spherical coordinates for surface integrals is that it may not be applicable for surfaces that are not smooth or have sharp corners. In these cases, a different coordinate system may be necessary for an accurate calculation.

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