Stokes Theorem
In this section we are going to take a look at a theorem that is a higher dimensional
version of Greens Theorem. In Greens Theorem we related a line integral to a
double integral over some region. In this section we are going to relate a line integral
to a surface integral. However, before we give the theorem we first need to define the
curve that were going to use in the line integral.
Lets start off with the following surface with the indicated orientation.
Around the edge of this surface we have a curve C. This curve is called the boundary
curve. The orientation of the surface S will induce the positive orientation of C. To
get the positive orientation of C think of yourself as walking along the curve. While
you are walking along the curve if your head is pointing in the same direction as the
unit normal vectors while the surface is on the left then you are walking in the positive
direction on C.
Now that we have this curve definition out of the way we can give Stokes Theorem.
Stokes Theorem
Let S be an oriented smooth surface that is bounded by a simple, closed, smooth boundary
curve C with positive orientation. Also let
be a vector field then,
In this theorem note that the surface S can actually be any surface so long as its
boundary curve is given by C. This is something that can be used to our advantage to
simplify the surface integral on occasion.
Lets take a look at a couple of examples.
Example 1 Use Stokes Theorem to evaluate
where
and S is the part of
. Assume that S is oriented upwards.
above the plane
Solution
Lets start this off with a sketch of the surface.
In this case the boundary curve C will be where the surface intersects the plane
and so will be the curve
So, the boundary curve will be the circle of radius 2 that is in the plane
parameterization of this curve is,
. The
The first two components give the circle and the third component makes sure that it is in the
plane
.
Using Stokes Theorem we can write the surface integral as the following line integral.
So, it looks like we need a couple of quantities before we do this integral. Lets first get the
vector field evaluated on the curve. Remember that this is simply plugging the components of
the parameterization into the vector field.
Next, we need the derivative of the parameterization and the dot product of this and the vector
field.
We can now do the integral.
Example 2 Use Stokes Theorem to evaluate
where
with vertices
counter-clockwise rotation.
and C is the triangle
,
and
with
Solution
We are going to need the curl of the vector field eventually so lets get that out of the way first.
Now, all we have is the boundary curve for the surface that well need to use in the surface
integral. However, as noted above all we need is any surface that has this as its boundary curve.
So, lets use the following plane with upwards orientation for the surface.
Since the plane is oriented upwards this induces the positive direction on C as shown. The
equation of this plane is,
Now, lets use Stokes Theorem and get the surface integral set up.
Okay, we now need to find a couple of quantities. First lets get the gradient. Recall that this
comes from the function of the surface.
Note as well that this also points upwards and so we have the correct direction.
Now, D is the region in the xy-plane shown below,
We get the equation of the line by plugging in
So based on this the ranges that define D are,
into the equation of the plane.
The integral is then,
Dont forget to plug in for z since we are doing the surface integral on the plane. Finishing this
out gives,
In both of these examples we were able to take an integral that would have been
somewhat unpleasant to deal with and by the use of Stokes Theorem we were able to
convert it into an integral that wasnt too bad.
