Calculus explanation (cartesian ----> spherical coordinates)

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i was in a calc 4 class last year (i was on the quarter system) and we were learning really quickly about double and triple integrals and some vector and multivariable stuff. one thing that my professor skipped over that i don't understand is why you add p^sin(phi)dpdthetadphi when switching from cartesian to spherical coordinates. can anyone explain this to me? does it have something to do with a thing called jacobian?

Sep 24 2013 3:38PM

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DrZoidberg

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If I remember correctly, if you do the jacobian transformation, you find that you need to add that to the end of the integral. I believe I did it like a year ago, but I can't remember. I just remembered that that was the take home lesson of that topic. So if you want to prove it to yourself, you'll have to look up how that's done.

Sep 24 2013 3:44PM

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appa

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thanks i just didn't know exactly what to look for. i remember a friend of mine was in a different calc class and they spent some time on jacobian and i guess my professor didn't think it was important.

we can let this thread die now.

Sep 24 2013 3:47PM

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