Local Transformations and Differential Elements
This note explains how infinitesimal changes transform under coordinate maps via the Jacobian matrix—from differential displacement to differential area and volume—in Cartesian, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates.
Note: Everything here is 3D and the cross product is used. In general dimensions, area/volume elements are best expressed using differential forms (wedge products); the 3D vector formulas here are a special case.
Sources:
- Fawwaz Ulaby. (2020). Chapter 3: Vector Analysis. Fundamentals of applied electromagnetics (8rd ed., pp. 130–163). Pearson.
