In mathematics (particularly multivariable calculus), a volume integral (∭) is an integral over a 3-dimensional domain; that is, it is a special case of multiple integrals. Volume integrals are especially important in physics for many applications, for example, to calculate flux densities, or to calculate mass from a corresponding density function.

In coordinates

It can also mean a triple integral within a region of a function f(x,y,z), and is usually written as: A volume integral in cylindrical coordinates is and a volume integral in spherical coordinates (using the ISO convention for angles with \varphi as the azimuth and \theta measured from the polar axis (see more on conventions)) has the form

Example

Integrating the equation over a unit cube yields the following result: So the volume of the unit cube is 1 as expected. This is rather trivial however, and a volume integral is far more powerful. For instance if we have a scalar density function on the unit cube then the volume integral will give the total mass of the cube. For example for density function: the total mass of the cube is: