 Solution

For the spherical coordinates in the question, the coordinate tangent vectors are mutually orthogonal, with lengths $1,r,r\sin \theta$. Their metric tensor is therefore $\mathrm{diag}(1,r^2,r^2{\sin }^2\theta )$ and the Jacobian determinant is $r^2\sin \theta$. Applying the divergence formula to the gradient givesFor example, the formula follows directly from $\Delta u=|\det h{|}^{-1/2}{\partial }_i(|\det h{|}^{1/2}{h}^{ij}{\partial }_{j}u)$ for this diagonal metric. These coordinates are valid away from the polar axis and angular seam; the Laplacian is a smooth geometric operator there as well, described by other charts. The coordinate volume form integrates over $1/2<r<2$, $0<\theta <\pi$, $0\le \varphi <2\pi$, with the usual periodic identification.