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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics

2(c). Cylindrical Polar Coordinate System

The cylindrical coordinates r,  , z of a point P are defined in figure. Notice that  has
the same meaning as in spherical coordinates, and z z
is the same as Cartesian; r is the distance to P from r
ẑ
the z axis, whereas the spherical coordinate r is the P
z ˆ
distance from the origin. The relation to Cartesian r̂
y
coordinates is

x  r cos  , y  r sin  , z = z x

The range of r is 0   ,  goes from 0  2 , and z from   to 

If we have cylinder or any part of the cylinder, then we can specify r,  and z . Lets
consider some examples shown in figure below:
Cylinder Cylinder Quarter Cylinder
z z z
r :0  R r :0  R
r :0  R R
 : 0  2  :0  /2
 : 0  2
z : L / 2  L / 2 L z :0  L
z :0  L
L L y R y
R
R x
y x


Infinitesimal Displacement Vector dl  
If  r ,  , z  changes to  r  dr ,   d , z  dz  ,

The infinitesimal displacements are

dl r  dr , dl  rd , dl z  dz ,

So d l  dr rˆ  r dˆ  dz zˆ

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 fiziks
Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics

 
Area Element d a Quarter Cylinder
If we are integrating over the surface of an quarter cylinder, for z ẑ
R
instance, then r is constant  r  R  , whereas  and z change, so, zL ˆ
 ˆ r̂
d a1  dl dlz rˆ  rd dzrˆ .
 0   /2
If the surface lies in the xy plane, then z is constant ( z  L ) y
z0
while r and  vary, then  ẑ
x

d a 2  dlr dl zˆ  rdrd zˆ

If the surface lies in the xy plane, then z is constant ( z  0 ) while r and  vary, then

d a 2  dlr dlˆ  rdrd zˆ

If the surface lies in the yz plane, then  is constant (    / 2 ) while r and z vary, then

d a 3  dlr dl zˆ  drdzˆ

If the surface lies in the xz plane, then  is constant (   0 ) while r and z vary, then

d a 4  dlr dlzˆ   drdzˆ

Volume Element  d 

The infinitesimal volume element d , in cylindrical coordinates, is the product of the

three infinitesimal displacements:
d  dlr dl dlz  rdrd dz

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Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498
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