Surfaces and Coordinates

Surfaces

Planes

A sheet on a 3D graph

A(x-x0)+B(y-y0)+C(z-z0)=0

(A, B, C)= Normal Vector

Different from Parametrized Curves, this normal vector is perpendicular to the plane in the equation

(x0, y0, z0)= a point on plane

Can be found by using techniques to find perpendiculars, such as cross product

Alternative:

x/a + y/b + z/c= 1

a, b, and c are the intercepts of their respective axis

Spheres and Ellipsoids

Sphere: (x-xc)^2 +(y-yc)^2 +(z-zc)^2=r^2

(xc, yc, zc) = the center of the sphere

Ellipsiod: x^2/a^2 +y^2/b^2 +z^2/c^2 =1

a, b, and c are intercepts of respective axis

Coordinates

Rectangular or Cartesian

(x, y, z)

Cylindrical

(r, theta, z)

r= sqrt(x^2 +y^2)

theta= arctan(y/x) (+ pi if x<0)

Spherical

(rho, theta, phi)

rho (p)

=sqrt(x^2+y^2+z^2)

theta

same as cylindrical

phi

=arccos(z/rho)

x

=rcos(theta)

=rho*sin(phi)cos(theta)

y

=rsin(theta)

=rho*sin(phi)cos(theta)

z

=rho*cos(phi)