Volume and surface elements in different co-ordinate systems

This page outlines the value of different volume and surface elements in several different co-ordinate systems.

System

Volume

Surface

Cartesian

dV = dxdydz

dS = dxdy

Cylindrical

dV = rdrdϕdz

dS = rdϕdz

Spherical

dV = r2sin ϕdrdϕdθ

dS = r2sin ϕdϕdθ

These elements are computed according to following parametrizations:

Spherical coordinates:

x = rsin ϕ cos θ  

y = rsin ϕ sin θ  , ϕ ∈ (0,π), θ ∈ (0,2π)  

z = rcos ϕ  

Cylindrical coordinates:

x = rcos ϕ  

y = rsin ϕ  , ϕ ∈ (0,2π)  

z = z  

See also

  • Line integral
  • Volume integral
  • Surface integral
  • Spherical coordinates