I want to find the surface area of a cone (excluding the circular 'base') by doing a volume integral with the appropriate Dirac delta. Schematically
$$ \text{Area}=\int d\text{Vol} \ \delta(...) $$
Let the cone have height $h$ and maximum radius $R=1$. The correct area is $A=\pi \sqrt{1+h^2}$. I put the pointy end at the origin and align the cone with the $z$ axis.
In Cartesian co-ordinates, I have tried
$$ A \stackrel{?}{=}\int dx \ dy \int\limits_0^h dz \ \delta \left( z-h\sqrt{x^2+y^2} \right) =\int\limits_{h\sqrt{x^2+y^2}<h} dx \ dy =\pi \neq A $$
As pointed out in the comments, the correct expression should be
$$\tag{1} A=\int dx \ dy \int\limits_0^h dz \ \left[ \delta \left( z-h\sqrt{x^2+y^2} \right) \sqrt{1+h^2}\right] $$
In spherical co-ordinates, I find by comparing to the correct answer
$$\tag{2} \int d\theta \ d\phi \int\limits_0^L dr \ r^2\sin\theta \left[ \frac{\delta(\theta-\theta_0)}{r} \right]=A $$
Where $L=\sqrt{1+h^2}$ and $\sin \theta_0=1/L$. I am unable to 'derive' (or even intuit) the terms in $[ ...]$ in eq (1) and eq (2). What I know:
- The 'composition with a function' property of the delta.
- The delta picks up an inverse Jacobian under co-ordinate transforms.
- It is necessary to integrate out singular variables in the Jacobian eg. for a point at the origin in spherical co-ordinates.
- It is necessary to be careful when using the delta to find areas or lengths.
Question: How to derive (by means other than 'comparing to the correct answer') the expressions in eq. (1) and eq. (2) which include factors appended to the deltas?