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Calculate The Solid Angle Subtended By A Ring Element.

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Let us consider a sphere of radius R and a ring element PQTS of thickness PQ on the surface of the shere.

OA is normal through the centre of the ring element.

Here \angle{QOA}=\theta and the angular width of the ring element is \angle{POQ}=d\theta .

Let r be the radius of the ring QT, so r=R\ \sin\theta .

Now the width of the ring element is PQ=R\ d\theta .

Therefore the area of the surface of the ring element is given by,

dA=2\pi{r}\times{PQ}=2\pi{r}\times{R\ d\theta}

or,\ dA=2\pi{R\ \sin\theta}\times{R\ d\theta}

or,\ dA=2\pi{R^2}\ \sin\theta\ d\theta

Now the solid angle subtended by the ring at the centre O of the sphere is given by,

\displaystyle{d\omega=\frac{dA}{R^2}=\frac{2\pi{R^2}\ \sin\theta\ d\theta}{R^2}}

\displaystyle{or,\ d\omega=2\pi\ \sin\theta\ d\theta}

Again, \displaystyle{\sin\theta=\sin\ 2\frac{\theta}{2}=2\ \sin\frac{\theta}{2}\ \cos\frac{\theta}{2}}

So the solid angle subtended by the circular ring element can be expressed as,

\displaystyle{d\omega=4\pi\ \sin\frac{\theta}{2}\ \cos\frac{\theta}{2}\ d\theta}

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