.

Chapter 15 Vector Calculus

.
15.1 Vector Fields
15.2 Line Integrals
15.3 Fundamental Theorem and Independence of Path
15.3 Conservative Fields and Potential Functions
15.4 Greens Theorem
15.5 Surface Integrals
15.5 Flux of Vector Field across Surface
15.5 Divergence Theorem
15.6 Stokes Theorem
15.6 Simply Connected, Orientation
15.6 Irrotational and Conservative Vector Fields
15.* Further discussion of nature of curl of F, not included in final
.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

. Surface Area Elements and Surface Integrals
.
If surface S is given by the graph z = z(x, y), where (x, y) lies in the domain of
R R 2 , i.e. S = { (x, y, z(x, y)) | (x, y) R }, then the surface area element

dS = 1 + z2x + z2y dxdy.

.
.
If the surface S is given by parametric form
r(u, v) = x(u, v)i + y(u, v)j + z(u, v)k, where (u, v) lies in the domain
of R of uv-plane.
 Surface area element dS = Ndudv
 r r   (y, z) (z, x) (x, y) 
=   dudv =  i+ j+ k dudv
u v ( u, v ) ( u, v ) (u, v) 
.= (yu zv zu yv ) + (xu zv zu xv ) + (xu yv yu xv ) du dv.
2 2 2

.
Definition. Let g = g(x, y, z) be a continuous function defined on domain
containing
S, the surface
integral of the function
g on S is
g(x, y, z) dS = g(x, y, z(x, y)) 1 + z2x + z2y dxdy, ( in graph surface),
S R  
 r r 
= 
g(x(u, v), y(u, v), z(u, v))  du dv (in parameterized surface).
. R u u 
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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

. Surface Integrals
.
Definition. Let g = g(x, y, z) be a continuous function defined on domain
containing
S, the surface
integral of the function
g on S is
g(x, y, z) dS = g(x, y, z(x, y)) 1 + z2x + z2y dxdy, ( in graph surface),
S R  
 r r 
= 
g(x(u, v), y(u, v), z(u, v))  du dv (in parameterized surface).
. R u u 
.
Proposition. If S is surface can be written as a union of two surfaces S1 and S2
such S1 S2 is a continuous
that the intersection curve, one has
g(x, y, z) dS = g(x, y, z) dS + g(x, y, z) dS.
. S S1 S1

.
Remark. Sometimes, one may confuse with the surface area element dS and
surface S, for this reason, we sometimes used the letter T instead of the
surface
. S.

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.
Definition. Let S be a parameterized surface or a graph, then the surface area
S is given by
of
1 dS = 1 + z2x + z2y dxdy, or
S D
= ru rv dudv.
. D

.
Example.Find the area of the part of the surface 2z = x2 that lies directly
above
. the triangle in the xy-plane with vertices at A(0, 0), B(1, 0) and C(1, 1).

Solution. The surface is a graph z(x, y) = x2 /2 defined on the region

D = { (x, y) | 0 x 1, 0 y x }, then zx = x and zy = 0. The surface area
1 x 1
is 1 + z2x + z2y dxdy = 1 + x2 dydx = x 1 + x2 dx =
0 0 0
ABC
1
[ ]1
1 1 (1 + x2 )1/2+1 1
1 + x2 d(1 + x2 ) = = (2 2 1).
2 0 2 1 + 1/2 3
0

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.
Definition. Let (x, y, z) be the density (mass
per unit area) of the a surface S
in space, and the mass of S is given by (x, y, z) dS.
. S

.
Example. Let (x, y, z) = z2 be the density function of the upper hemisphere
.S : x + y + z = a , z 0. Find its mass.
2 2 2 2

Solution. Write S as in the graph of the function z(x, y) = a2 x2 y2 ,
defined on the shadow D = { (x, y) | x2 + y2 a2 } in xy-plane.
For any point (x, y, z) S, we have z = a2 x2 y2 , zx = 2 x 2 2 , and
a x y
x2 + y2 2
zy =
y
. Then 1 + z2x + z2y = 1 + a2 x2 y2 = a2 xa2 y2 .
a2 x2 y2

Moreover on S, we have z2 = ( a2 x2 y2 )2 = a2 x2 y2 .
the mass of S isgiven
Then by
a
(x, y, z) dS = (a x2 y2 )
2
dx dy
S D a x2 y2
2
2 a a
2a
=a a2 r2 r dr d = a2 r2 d(a2 r2 )
0[ 0 ]a 2 0
= a (a2 r2 )3/2 = a4 .
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.
Proposition. The vector field N is continuous on S, and is normal to the tangent
.plane of the surface S everywhere.
Solution. As the curves C1 : r1 (u) = r(u, v0 ) and C2 : r2 (v) = r(u0 , v) are two
curves on S as (curved) coordinates for (u, v0 ), and (u0 , v) D passing
through P = r(u0 , v0 ) of S. Their tangent vector at P are r1 (u0 ) = ru (u0 , v0 ),
and r2 (v0 ) = rv (u0 , v0 ), and hence the vector
r1 (u0 ) r2 (v0 ) = ru (u0 , v0 ) rv (u0 , v0 ) = N (u0 , v0 )
is a vector perpendicular to tangent plane of S at P.
.
Definition. Let S be a parametric surface given by
r(u, v) = x(u, v)i + y(u, v)j + z(u, v)k, where (u, v) lies in the domain of D of
uv-plane. On S, define a vector field N perpendicular to the tangent plane at
i j k

each point of S, by N(u, v) = ru rv = x

u
y
u
y
z
u
x z
v v v
(y,z) (z,x) (x,y)
= (yu zv zu yv ) i(xu zv zu xv )j + (xu yv yu xv )k = (u,v)
i+ (u,v) j + (u,v) k.
.
.
Remark. One can easily check N(x, y, z) = xi + yj + zk is a normal vector field
to sphere S : x2 + y2 + z2 = a2 . But, in general, it is not clear why N is nowhere
vanishing
. on S. It turns out that this non-vanishing property depends on S.
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.
Definition. A parametric surface S given by r = r(u, v) is called orientable if
there is a continuous unit normal vector field n on S. A choice of n is called an
orientation
. of S, in this case, S is called an oriented surface.

For an oriented surface S with an orientation n, one defines the unit normal
vector field n(u, v) on S, by
( )
N 1 (y, z) (z, x) (x, y)
n(u, v) = = i+ j+ k .
N N (u, v) (u, v) (u, v)

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

 Surface Integral with respect to coordinate area
. elements
.
Definition. Let g = g(x, y, z) be a scalar function defined on a domain
containing S, define the surface integral of S with respect to the coordinate
x-axis, y-axis and z-axis respectively as

(y, z)
g(x, y, z)n i dS = g(r(u, v)) du dv,
S D (u, v)

(z, x)
g(x, y, z)n j dS = g(r(u, v)) du dv, and
S D (u, v)

(x, y)
g(x, y, z)n k dS = g(r(u, v)) du dv,
. S D (u, v)

( )
1 (y, z) (y, z)
n i dS = , , (1, 0, 0) N du dv = du dv = dx dy.
N (u, v) (u, v)
Remark. The jacobian factors are used to make the integral independent of
parametrization of the surface S.
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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

. Surface Integral of Vector Field
.
Let F = (P, Q, R) be a continuous vector field defined in a domain containing a
smooth oriented surface S, with unit normal vector field.
Define the flux of F across S, or the surface integral of F over S as
( )
(y, z) (z, x) (x, y)
F n dS = (P, Q, R) , , du dv
S D (u, v) (u, v) (u, v)
= P dydz + Q dzdx + R dxdy.
S
We
. will not use the last notation, which is commonly used in Chinese text.
Remark. If we change the orientation of S, the surface integral will change by a
minus sign.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Suppose that S is given as a graph of the function z = z(x, y) where
(x, y) is in a domain D in xy-plane. Prove that the flux of F = (P, Q, R) is given
by F n dS
S ( )
z z
= P(x, y, z(x, y)) Q(x, y, z(x, y)) + R(x, y, z(x, y)) dxdy.
. D x y

Proof. Parameterize S by r(x, y) = (x, y, z(x, y)), then

(y, z) y y 0 1 (z, x) z z
= x y = = zx , = x y = zy , and
(x, y) zx zy zx zy (x, y) xx xy
(x, y)
= 1. Hence,
(x, y) ( )

(y, z) (z, x) (x, y)
F n dS = (P, Q, R) , , dx dy
(x, y) (x, y) (x, y)
( )
S D
z z
= P(x, y, z(x, y)) Q(x, y, z(x, y)) + R(x, y, z(x, y)) dxdy.
D x y
Remark. The formula above may be used to calculate the flux of F across the
graph of a function z = z(x, y).

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Calculate the flux F n dS, where F = k, and S is the upper
S
hemi-sphere z = a2 x2 y2 with D : x2 + y2 a2 , with the outer normal
.vector field on S.
Solution.
As the flux of F = (P, Q, R) = (0, 0, 1) across S is given by
F n dS
S( )
z z
= P(x, y, z(x, y)) Q(x, y, z(x, y)) + R(x, y, z(x, y)) dxdy
D x y
= 1 dxdy = Area of D = a2 .
D
Remark. In the following, we directly compute F n and dS in terms of x and y.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Calculate the flux F n dS, where F = k, and S is the upper
S
hemi-sphere x2 + y2 + z2
= z 0 of radius a centered at (0, 0, 0), with the
a2 ,
.outer normal vector field n on S.
(x2 +y2 +z2 ) (x,y,z)
Solution. It follows from the gradient that n(x, y, z) = (x2 +y2 +z2 )
= a ,
and F n = az .
So one can rewrite S as the graph of the function z = a2 x2 y2 defined on
D = { (x, y) | x2 + y2 a2 }. Then it follows from dS = 1 + z2x + z2y dxdy that
2
z a x2 y2
F n dS = dS = 1 + z2x + z2y dxdy
S S a D a

a2 x2 y2 a
= dxdy = dxdy = a2 .
D a a x2 y2 D

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Find the flux of F(x, y, z) = (x, y, 3) out of the region D bounded by
2 2
.the paraboloid z = x + y and the plane z = 4.
Solution. Let S1 be the circular top { (x, y, 4) | x2 + y2 22 }, and S2 be the
parabolic part parameterized by z(x, y) = x2 + y2 with x2 + y2 4 as shown in
the diagram. In this case, the outward unit normal vector field is given by on
S1 : n1 (x, y, z) = k, and on S2 by
(z + x2 + y2 ) (2x, 2y, 1)
n2 (x, y, z) = = . In fact, one can check
(z + x2 + y2 ) 4x2 + 4y2 + 1
n2 (0, 0, 0) = 1, so F n1 = (x, y, 3) (0, 0, 1) = 3, and
(2x,2y,1) 2x2 +2y2 3
F2 n2 = (x, y, 3) 2 2 = 2 2 . On S2 , the surface area element
4x +4y +1 4x +4y +1

dS = 1 + zx + zy dxdy = 4x + 4y2 + 1 dxdy for D = { (x, y) | x2 + y2 4}.
2 2 2

Then F n dS = F n1 dS + F n2 dS
S S1 S2
= 3 dxdy + (2x + 2y2 3) dxdy
2
D D
2 2 [ ]2
2r4
= (2x2 + 2y2 ) dxdy = 2r2 r dr d = 2 = 16.
D 0 0 4 0
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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Suppose that a body has temperature u(x, y, z) at its point (x, y, z).
The flow of heat in the body is described by the heat-flow vector
. (x, y, z) = ku(x, y, z) for some constant k.
q
.
Definition. Let S be a closed surface within the body bounding the solid region
D and let n denote the outer unit normal vector for S. Then the net heat flow
across
the sphere S out of the region D across its boundary D is defined by
q n dS = ku n dS.
. S S

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Suppose that a uniform solid ball B of radius R is centered at the
origin, and at its point (x, y, z) the temperature u(x, y, z) = c(R2 x2 y2 ). Find
the rate of the flow of heat across the sphere S of radius a < R centered at
O
. (0, 0, 0).

the sphere S = { (x, y, z) | x + y + z = a } is

Solution. The 2 2 2 2
heat flow across
given by q n dS = ku n dS
S S
(x, y, z)
= k (R2 x2 y2 z2 ) n dS = k (2x, 2y, 2z) dS
a
S S
2(x2 + y2 + z2 )
=k dS = 2ak dS = 2ak(4a2 ) = 8ka3 .
S a S

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

. Divergence Theorem
.
Definitions. A surface S is called piecewise smooth, if it consists of a finite
number of smooth parametric surfaces.
A surface S is called closed if it is the boundary of a bounded solid region in
.space.
.
Divergence Theorem. Suppose that S is a closed piecewise smooth surface
that bounds a space region D. Let n be the outer unit normal vector field,
which is continuous on each smooth piece of S. If F = (P, Q, R) is continuously
differentiable on a region containing D,then

F n dS = F dV, i.e.
S (
D )
P Q R
P dydz + Q dzdx + R dxdy = + + dV.
. S D x y z

Remark. The condition that the surface S is closed plays a crucial roles in
divergence theorem.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let S be the surface (with outer unit normal vector n) of the region D
bounded by the planes z = 0, y = 0, y = 2 and the parabolic
cylinder
z = 1 x2 . Apply the divergence theorem to compute F n dS, where
S
.F(x, y, z) = (x + cos y)i + (y + sin z)j + (z + ex )k.

Solution. For any point (x, y, z) in D, we have 0 z 1 x2 , hence 1 x2 0,

so x2 1, i.e. 1 x 1, hence we have
D = { (x, y, z) | 1 x 1, 0 y 2, 0 z 1 x2 }.
F(x, y, z) = (x + cos y)x + (y + sin z)y + (z + ex )z = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. Instead
of evaluating the surface integral directly, we can apply the divergence theorem
1 2 1 x2
that F n dS = F dV = 3 dV = 3 dz dy dx
S D D 1 0 0
1
2
= 32 (1 x2 ) dx = 6(2 ) = 8.
1 3
.
Remark. Though we had not determined the outer normal vector field n, but it
is necessary to know that n is pointing outward on the boundary S of the solid
region
. D, before we apply divergence theorem.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let S be the surface of the solid cylinder D bounded by the planes
z = 0, z = 3 and the cylinder x2 + y2 = 4. Calculate the outward flux
F n dS, where F(x, y, z) = (x2 + y2 + z2 )(xi + yj + zk).
. S

Solution. Note that the divergence divF of F at (x, y, z) is given by

divF(x, y, z) = F(x, y, z)
= (x3 + xy2 + xz2 )x + (x2 y + y3 + yz2 )y + (x2 z + y2 z + z3 )z
= 5(x2 + y2 + z2 ).
By the divergence theorem and using cylindrical coordinates, we have

F n dS = F dV = 5(x2 + y2 + z2 ) dV
2 2S 3 D D

= 5(r2 + z2 ) r dz dr d
0
[ 0
2
0
]3 2
1
= 10 r3 z + rz3 dr = 10 (3r3 + 9r) dr
0 3 0
[ ] 0
3 4 9 2 2
= 10 r + r = 300.
4 2 0

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let S be the sphere 2 2 2
x + y + z = 4, which bounds a solid ball D.
Calculate the outward flux F n dS, where
S
2 2 2
. (x, y, z) = (x + y + z )(xi + yj + zk).
F

Solution. Note that the divergence divF of F at (x, y, z) is given by

divF(x, y, z) = F(x, y, z)
= (x3 + xy2 + xz2 )x + (x2 y + y3 + yz2 )y + (x2 z + y2 z + z3 )z
= 5(x2 + y2 + z2 ).
By the divergence theorem and using spherical coordinates, we have

F n dS = F dV = 5(x2 + y2 + z2 ) dV
S
D D
2 a
= 52 2 sin d d d
0 a
0 0
2
= 54 d sin d d
0 0 0
= a [1 (1)] 2 = 4a .
5 5

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let D be a solid region bounded by a smooth parametric closed
surface S,with
the outer unit normal vector field n to S. Prove that the volume
1
of D is x dydz + y dzdx + z dxdy.
. 3 S
Solution. Let F(x, y, z) = (x, y, z), so we have
div F(x, y, z) = (x, y, z) = (x)x + (y)y + (z)z = 3.
Then it follows from the definition of flux integral and divergence theorem that

1 1
x dydz + y dzdx + z dxdy = F n dS
3 S 3 S
1 1
= div F dV = 3 dV = volume of D.
. 3 D 3 D
Example. Let V and A be the volume and the surface area of the sphere of
.radius a centered at (0, 0, 0). Prove that 3V = aA.
Solution. Let S be the sphere given by { (x, y, z) | x2 + y2 + z2 = a2 }, hence
(x, y, z)
the outer normal vector n(x, y, z) = . Then 3V
a
1
= x dydz + y dzdx + z dxdy = (x, y, z) n dS =
3 S S
(x, y, z) 1
(x, y, z) dS = (x2 + y2 + z2 ) dS = a dS = aA.
S a a S .
S. . . . .

Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Show that the divergence of the continuously differentiable vector
1
field F at the point P is given by F(P) = lim F n dS, where Sr is the
r0 |Br | Sr
sphere of radius r centered at P and |Br | = 43 r3 is the volume of the ball Br
that
. the sphere bounds.

Solution. As F is continuously differentiable at P(a, b, c), so F is continuous

at P. Then for any > 0, there exists > 0 such that
| F(x, y, z) F(a, b, c)| < for all point (x, y, z) in the open ball centered
at P(a, b, c) with radius > 0. Then  
 
 F(P) 1  1  
 F n dS =  |Br | F(P) F n dS 
 |Br | Sr | Br |  Sr

1  

= F(P)dV F dS
| Br |  B Br
r
1 1 | Br |
= | F(P) F| dS < dV = = , and hence
| Br | Br |Br | Br | Br |
the result follows.
.
Remark. Let F be a vector field defined on a region containing a point P, then P
. called a source if F(P) > 0, and sink if F(P) < 0.
is
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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. The outward flux of vector field F(x, y, z) = xi + yj + zk across the
sphere
. x2 + y2 + z2 2x 2y 2z = 3 is .

Solution. Let D be the solid bounded by the sphere, then from divergence
theorem
we have the outward flux of
F is
x x x
F n dS = F dV = ( + + ) dV = 3 dV
S D 3 D x x x D
= 3 volume of D = 3 4( 6) /3 = 24 6.

. . . . . .

Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let F(x, y, z) = (x, y, z), and T be the surface defined by
{ (x, y, z) R3 | |x| + |y| + |z|=
1 }, with outward pointing unit normal n on T.
Evaluate the surface integral F ndS.
. T

Solution. Let D be the solid bounded by the surface T, i.e.

D = { (x, y, z) R3 | |x| + |y| + |z| 1 }. One can check that the condition of
the

divergence theorem

holds, and

hence
x x x
F ndS = divFdV = ( + + ) dV
T D D x x x
1
= 3 dV = 3Vol(D) = 3 8 1 1 1 = 4.
D 3!

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let T be the solid cylinder defined by the inequalities x2 + y2 1
and 0 z 4. Let S be the entire boundary of T. Let F(x, y, z) = (5z + 3)k.
Find
. the outward flux of F through S.

Solution I. Let S1 = { (x, y, 4) | x2 + y2 4 } be the top of T, and

S2 = { (x, y, 0) | x2 + y2 4 } be the bottom of T. The outer unit normal vector
field on S1 andS2 are n1 = k,and n2 = k respectively. The outward flux of F
through S1 = S F n dS = S (5 4 + 3)k k dS = 23Area of S1 = 23.
1 1
The outward
flux of Fthrough
S2 = S F n dS = S (5 0 + 3)k (k) dS = 3Area of S2 = 3. The flux
2 2
through the curved part of the boundary is 0 since n is horizontal there, so
F n = 0, So the total flux of F across S is 23 3 = 20.
Solution II. We
have div F = 0 + 0 + 5 = 5, so by the divergence theorem, the
flux equals F n dS = F dV = 5 Volume of T
S T
= 5 1 4 = 20.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

. Stokes Theorem
.
Definition. A piecewise smooth surface S in space is called an oriented
surface, if one chooses a continuous unit normal vector field on each smooth
piece S.
A positive orientation of the boundary C of an oriented surface is a unit tangent
vector
. T such that n T always points into S.

Remark. Think of a man walks along C as T, and heads up in n, then the

region is always on the left hand side of the man.
.
Stokes Theorem. Let S be an oriented, bounded, and piecewise smooth
surface in space with positive oriented boundary C with respect to the unit
normal vector field n on S. Suppose that T is a positively oriented unit vector
field tangent to C in the right orientation of C. If F is
a continuously
differentiable
vector field defined in a region containing S, then F T ds = (curl F) n dS.
. C S

.
Remark. The condition that the positive orientation of C agrees with the choice
of
. unit normal vector field n is essential. . . . . . .

Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let F(x, y, z) = (2y, 2x, sin z). Let S be the upper half of the sphere
x. 2 + y2 + z2 = 9. Evaluate the outward (i.e., upward) flux of curl F through S.

Solution. The surface S is given by { (x, y, z) | x2 + y2 + z2 = 9, z 0 }, then

its boundary C is the circle x2 + y2 = 9 in the xy-plane oriented
counterclockwise. So C is parameterized by r(t) = (3 cos t, 3 sin t, 0) for
t [0, 2 ]. The flux is curlF n dS = F T ds
2 S C

= (2 3 sin t, 2 3 cos t, 0) (3 sin t, 3 cos t, 0) dt

02
= 18(cos2 t + sin2 t) dt = 36.
0
.
Remark. As n is already fixed in the question, you can use the same idea of a
man walking along the boundary C so that the surface appears in his left hand
.side to determine the positive orientation of C with respect to n of S.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let F(x, y, z) = 3zi + 5xj 2yk. Evaluate the line integral F T ds
C
where C is the ellipse in which the plane z = y + 3 intersects the cylinder
x. 2 + y2 = 1. Orient C counterclockwise as view from above.

Solution. Let S be the region on the plane z = y + 3 bounded by the cylinder

x2 + y2 = 1. Then S = { (x, y, z) | z y = 3, x2 + y2 1 } is part of a level
surface z y = 3, with a unit normal vector field
(z y) (0, 1, 1)
n(x, y, z) = = on S. Next the
(z y) 2
i j k
curl F(x, y, z) =
x

y

z= 2i + 3j + 5k, hence

3z 5x 2y

curl F n = (2, 3, 5) (0, 1, 1)/ 2 = (3 + 5)/ 2 = 2. F T ds =
C
(curl F) n dS = 2 dS = 2Area of (S) = 2 1 2 = 2.
S S
.
Remark. S can be parameterized by r(x, y) = (x, y, y + 3) defined on
.D = { (x, y) | x + y 1 }.
2 2

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let F(x, y, z) = (y, z, 2x). Let
C be a simple closed curve contained
in the plane x + y + z = 1. Show that F T ds = 0.
. C

Solution. By Stokes theorem, F T ds = (curl F) n dS. Here n is
C S
perpendicular to S everywhere, and hence perpendicular to the plane with the
(x + y + z) (1, 1, 1)
unit normal vector n = = to the plane. On the other
(x + y + z) 3
hand,
y, z) = curl (y, z, 2x) = (1, 2, 1), so curl F(x, y, z) n = 0, thus
curl F(x,
F T ds = 0 ds = 0.
C C

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Evaluate the surface integral ( F) n dS, where
S
F(x, y, z) = 3zi + 5xj 2yk, and S is the parabolic surface z = x2 + y2 that lie
below the plane z = 4 and whose orientation is given by the upper unit normal
vector.
.
Solution. The boundary of S is the circle C parameterized by
r(t) =
(2 cos t, 2 sin t, 4), where
0 t 2. It follows from the Stokes theorem
that ( F) n dS = F T ds = 3z dx + 5x dy 2y dz
2 S C C

= 3 4(2 sin t dt) + 5 (2 cos t) (2 cos t dt) + 2 (2 sin t) (0 dt)

02 2
= (24 sin t + 20 cos2 t) dt = 10(1 + cos 2t) dt = 20.
0 0

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

. Conservative and Irrotational Fields
.
.Definition. A differentiable vector field F is called irrotational if F = 0.
.
yi + xj
Example. The vector field F(x, y) = is irrotational on
x2 + y2
. = R \ {(0, 0)}, but we had proved that F is not conservative on D.
D 2

.
Definition. Let D be a region in space, D is called simply connected, if every
simple closed curve in D can be continuously shrunk to a point while staying
inside
. D.
.
Examples. (a) The entire plane, entire space are simply connected;
(b) Rectangle, the sphere and ball are simply connected;
(c)
. The interior of a torus, and the punctured plane are not a simply connected.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Proposition. Let F be a continuous vector field defined on a region
D, prove
that the line integral of F is independent of path if and only if F T ds = 0 for
C
.any piecewise smooth closed curve C in D.
Proof. Suppose that line integral of F is independent of path, then let C be any
closed curve with the same starting and terminal point A, then the constant
path C with A for all t is also a curve with the same starting and terminal point
A.
It follows from
the path independence of the line integral of F that
F T ds = F T ds = F 0 ds = 0.
C C C
Conversely, suppose C1 and C2 are two paths, both of them starts from the
same point A, and terminates at point B. Let C = C1 (C2 ) be a closed path
from A to B via C1 , and back from B to A via C2 (in reverse direction of C2 ).
Then C is a piecewise
smooth closed curve in D, hence one
has
0= F T ds = F T ds + F T ds = F T ds F T ds. Hence
C C1 C2 C1 C2
F T ds = F T ds. So the line integral of F is independence of path.
C1 C2

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Theorem. Let F be a continuously differentiable vector field in a simply
connected region D in space. Then the vector field F is irrotational if and only if
it is conservative; that is F = 0 in D if and only if F = f for some scalar
.function f defined on D.
Solution. If F = f , then F = f = 0 on D. Conversely, suppose that
F is irrotational on D, one wants to define a function f (x, y, z) such that f = F
on D. Following the same idea in the planar case, Let A(a, b, c) and B(x, y, z)
be two points in D, and C be a path from A to B. If one can show that the line
(x,y,z)
integral of F is path independent, then define f (x, y, z) = F T ds,
(a,b,c)
which depends only on the end points of C. Then it follows from continuity of
the vector field F that f = F on D. It remains to show thatthe line integral of F
is independent of path, which is equivalent to the fact that F T ds = 0 for
C
any closed path C in D. As D is simply connected, it follows one can shrink the
curve C continuously
in such way that C bounds
to a path a surface S via the
shrinking, then F T ds = ( F) n dS = 0 n dS = 0.
C S S

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

. Summary of Line Integral of Vector Field
Let F be a vector field defined on a region D. Then we can summary our
important result as follows:
.

F is conservative on D F = f for some function f

()xy = ()yx
Simply connected
F T ds = 0 = F = 0 on D
C Stokes Thm
. for any closed path in D

Remark. Conservative vector field is irrotational; but the converse is not true.
In fact, it depends on the domain of the vector field ( compare the lower
(y, x)
horizontal arrow). An example is F(x, y) = x2 +y2 on R2 \ {(0, 0)}.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. (a) Show that the vector field F(x, y, z) = 3x2 i + 5z2 j + 10yzk is
irrotational on R3 .
.(b) Find a potential function f (x, y, z) such that f = F.
Solution. (a) One needs to show that
F(x, y, z) = (3x3 , 5z2 , 10yz) = (10z 10z)i = 0.
(b) One can use the line integral of F along the segment from (0, 0, 0) to
(x, y, z) by r(t) = (tx, ty, tz) for 0 t 1 as follows:
(x,y,z)
f (x, y, z) = F T ds
(0,0,0)
1
= ( 3(tx)2 , 5(tz)2 , 10(ty)(tz) ) (x, y, z) dt
0 1
= (3x3 + 15yz2 )t2 dt = x3 + 5yz2 + C.
0

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let T be the solid bounded by the paraboloids S1 : z = x2 + 2y2 and
S2 : z = 12 2x2 y2 . Evaluate the outward flux of F(x, y, z) = xi + yj + zk
across
. the boundary of T.

Solution. Project the solid onto the xy-plane with its shadow R. Let Q(x, y, z) be
the intersection of S1 and S2 , then z = x2 + 2y2 = z = 12 2x2 y2 , so
3(x2 + y2 ) = 12, then x2 + y2 = 4. Then the image Q (x, y) of Q in R satisfies
the equation x2 + y2 = 22 , i.e. Q lies on a circle. Inside the circular disc R, we
have x2 + y2 2, so it follows that x2 + 2y2 12 2x2 y2 , and hence
T = { (x, y, z) | 0 x2 + y2 22 , x2 + 2y2 z 12 2x2 y2 }. It follows
from divergence theorem that
122x2 y2
F n dS = F dV = (1 + 1 + 1) dV
S T x2 +2y2
x2 +y2 22
2 2 [ ]2
3
=3 (12 3r )r drd = 6 6r r4
2 2
= 6 (24 12) = 72.
0 0 4 0

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let F(x, y, z) = (x + y)i + (y x)j + zk be vector field. Let S be the
hemisphere x2 + y2 + z2= 4, z 0, and n be the outward pointing unit normal
vector field of S. Then curlF nd is .
. S

Solution. The boundary of S is the circle given by

C : r(t) = ( x(t), y(t), z(t) ) = (2 cos t, 2 sin t, 0), 0 t 2. From the Stokes
theorem, we have

curlF nd = F Tds
S C
2
= [ (x(t) + y(t))x (t) + (y(t) x(t))y (t) + z(t)z (t) ]dt
t=0
2
= 4(cos t + sin t) sin t + 4(sin t cos t) cos tdt
0
2
= (4 sin2 t 4 cos2 t)dt = 8.
0

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Example. Let F(x, y, z) = f (x, y, z)k, where
f (x, y, z) is a differentiable function
defined in R3 . Then the outward flux curlF n dS of curlF across the upper
S
hemisphere S = { (x, y, z) | x2 + y2 + z2 = 1, z 0 } is
.A. 0 B. f (0, 0, 0) C. grad f (0, 0, 0) D. None of the above.

Solution. Let C be the unit circle x2 + y2 = 1 in the usual counterclockwise

direction,
one canapply Stokes theorem to obtain the following
curlF n dS = F T ds = 0 ds = 0.
S C C

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

.
Suppose that C is an oriented closed curve and v represents the velocity field
in fluid flow. Consider the line integral C v dr := C v T ds. Recall that v T is
.the component of v in the direction of the unit tangent vector T.
This means that the closer
the direction of v is to the direction of T, the larger
the value of v T. Thus C v T ds is a measure of the tendency of the fluid to
move around and is called the circulation of v around C.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

. Further discussion of nature of curl of F
.
.Recall curl of the vector field F is defined to be curlF = F.
Let F be the velocity (vector) field of fluid in R3 . Imagine a tiny paddle wheel
placed in the fluid at a point , as in figure below.

. The paddle will be rotated by the flow of F.

1

. Then paddle wheel rotates fastest when its axis n is parallel to curlF.
2

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015

Let F be the velocity (vector) field of fluid in R3 . Now let P(a, b, c) be a fixed
point in the fluid and S be a plane through P with fixed unit normal n. Let Dr be
a small disk of radius r centered at P, on S, and Cr be the boundary of Dr
oriented positively with respect to n.
As F is continuously differentiable, so curlF is continuous on Dr . Suppose that r
is very small, then for all points on Dr , curlF(Q) curlF(P) and hence
curlF(Q) n(Q) curlF(P) n(P). By Stokes theorem,

F dr = curlF ndS curlF(P) n(P) dS
Cr Dr Dr

= curlF(P) n(P) dS = curlF(P) n(P)r2 .
Dr
It follows from this approximation that

1
curlF(P) n(P) = lim F dr.
r0+ r2 Cr

1. It relates curlF at P and the circulation of F along a small circle centerd at

P with normal n.
2. curlF n is a measure of the rotating effect of the fluid F about the axis n.

3. The curling effect is greatest about the axis parallel to curlF.

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Matb 210 in 2014-2015