Ex.

Convert the following vector from Cartesian to Spherical

Coordinates and verify that its magnitude is the same in both
systems.

3 4 5 = + + r x y z

Recall that the representation of a point P in a particular system is given by just
listing the 3 corresponding coordinates in triplet form:


( )
, , x y z Cartesian

( )
, , r u Spherical

and that we could convert the point Ps location from one coordinate system to
another using coordinate transformations.

Cartesian Spherical Spherical Cartesian

2 2 2
2 2
1
1
tan
tan
r x y z
x y
z
y
x
u

= + +
| |
+
= |
|
\ .
| |
=
|
\ .

sin cos
sin sin
cos
x r
y r
z r
u
u
u
=
=
=


To convert the vector from Cartesian to Spherical Coordinates, we must convert
the , , x y z unit vectors in to

, , r unit vectors using:

sin cos cos cos sin u u = + x r

sin sin cos sin cos u u = + + y r

cos sin u u = z r

The expression that needs to be evaluated looks like this:

( )
( )
( )

3 sin cos cos cos sin

4 sin sin cos sin cos

5 cos sin
u u
u u
u u
= +
+ + +
+
r r
r
r

Before r can be determined, u and must be found.
2 2 2 2
o
o
1 1
1 1
(45 )
4
.92729
3 4
tan t
52 (53.13 )
an
5
4
tan tan
3
x y
z
y
x
u
t

| | | |
+ +
= = = | |
| |
\ . \ .
| | | |
= = =
| |
\ . \ .


Rearranging r to group like terms together yields:

( )
( )
( )
3sin cos 4sin sin 5cos

3cos cos 4cos sin 5sin

3sin 4cos
u u u
u u u

= + +
+ +
+ +
r r

Substituting our values for u and , we get:

( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
.9272952 .9272952
4 4 4
.9
3sin cos 4sin sin 5cos

3cos cos 4co 272952 .9272952

4 4 4
.9272952
s sin 5sin
3sin 4cos .9272952
t t t
t t t
| | | | | |
| | |
\ . \ . \ .
| | | | |
| |
= + +
|
\ .
| |
+ +
|
\ .
+ +
|
| | |
\ . \ . \ .
r r

Reducing yields:

( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2
3 .6 4 .8 5
2 2 2
2 2 2

3 .6 4 .8 5
2 2 2
3 .8 4 .6
| |
| | | | | |
= + +
|
| | |
|
\ . \ . \ .
\ .
| |
| | | | | |
+ +
|
| | |
|
\ . \ . \ .
\ .
+ +
r r

( )
( ) ( )

5 2 0 0 = + + r r

( )
5 2 = r r

Therefore, the equivalent (but not unique) vector in spherical coordinates is:
( )
5 2 = r r r will only be unique if u and are given.
Otherwise, r would map out the surface of a
sphere.


Magnitudes:

In Cartesian coordinates, the magnitude of r is given by:

2 2 2
x y z = + + r


2 2 2
3 4 5 50 5 2 = + + = = r



In Spherical coordinates, the magnitude of r is given by:
r = r

5 2 = r