INTEGRATION IN VECTOR FIELDS

At the end of the module, students able to

determine line integral over the curve in
vector field.
Line Integrals:
A line integral is an integral where the function is to be integrated along a
curve.
Line Integrals of Vector Fields:
Definition: Let 𝐹ത be a continuous vector field defined on a smooth curve C given by a vector
function 𝑟ҧ 𝑡 , 𝑎 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑏. Then the line integral of 𝐹ത along C is

 F  dr =  F (r (t )) r (t ) dt
C a

Dot product
 Work Done:
The work (W) done by the force field 𝐹ത in moving a particle along the curve C given
by a vector function r (t ), a  t  b is
b
W =  F  dr =  F (r (t ))  r (t )dt
C a
Note: The vector field 𝐹ത on ℛ3 is given in component form by the equation, F = Pi + Qj + Rk .
Then the line integral of 𝐹ത along the curve C is given by

 F  dr =  Pdx + Qdy + Rdz,

C C

where r = xi + yj + zk and dr = dxi + dyj + dzk .

Also, integrals of the form  Pdx + Qdy + Rdz

C
could be expressed as

 Pdx + Qdy + Rdz =  (P i + Q j + R k ) (dx i + dy j + dz k ) =  F  dr

C C C
Example 1: Evaluate 
C
F .dr where ത 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥𝑧𝑖 ҧ − 𝑦𝑧𝑘ത
𝐹

and C is the line segment −1,2,0 and (3,0,1) .

Solution:

We’ll first need the parameterization of the line segment.

So, let’s get the vector field evaluated along the curve.
The line integral is then,

Next we need the derivative of the parameterization

Finally, let’s get the dot product taken care of.

Example 2: Find the work done by the force field F ( x, y ) = x 2i − xyj in moving a particle
along the quarter-circle r (t ) = cos t i + sin t j, 0  t   / 2.
Solution:
Example 3: Evaluate  F  dr , where F ( x, y, z ) = xyi + yzj + zxk and C is the
C

twisted cubic given by x = t , y = t 2 , z = t 3 , 0  t  1.

Solution:
Example 4: Evaluate  F  dr , where F ( x, y, z ) = zi + yj − xk and C is given by
C

the vector function r (t ) = t i + sin t j + cos t k , 0  t   .

Solution: Try yourself
Example 5: Find the work done by the force field F ( x, y ) = x sin y i + yj on a particle
that moves along the parabola y = x 2 from (-1,1) to (2,4).
Solution:
Note 1: The parametric equations of a line joining the points 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 𝑡𝑜 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1
are
x = x0 + (x1 − x0 )t , y = y0 + ( y1 − y0 )t , z = z0 + (z1 − z0 )t , 0  t  1

Note 2: The vector equation of the line segment joining the points from
𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 𝑡𝑜 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 is

r (t ) = (1 − t )r0 + t r1 , 0  t  1

where r0 = x0 , y0 , z0 and r1 = x1 , y1 , z1
Gradient Fields:
If 𝑓 is a scalar functions of three variables, then its gradient 𝛻𝑓 𝑜𝑟 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑓
is defined as

f (x, y, z ) = f x (x, y, z )iˆ + f y (x, y, z ) ˆj + f z (x, y, z )kˆ

f ˆ f ˆ f ˆ
f ( x , y , z ) = i + j+ k
x y z

Therefore, 𝛻𝑓 is a vector field on ℝ3 and is called gradient vector field.

The Fundamental Theorem for Line Integrals:

Theorem 1: Let C be a smooth curve given by r (t ), a  t  b. Let f be a differentiable scalar functions

of two (or) there variables whose gradient vector f is continuous at C. Then

 f  dr = f (r (b)) − f (r (a ))
C
 Important Note: [Line integrals of conservative vector fields]

If 𝐹ത is a conservative vector field, if it can be expressed as

F = f ,
where f is a scalar function (or) potential function.

 From the fundamental theorem of line integrals, the line integral of a conservative
vector field, F = f is the net change in the value of f along the curve C.

If f is a continuous of two variables and C is a plane curve with initial point A(x1, y1)
and terminal point B(x2, y2), then

 F  dr =  f  dr = f (x , y ) − f (x , y )
C C
2 2 1 1
If f is a continuous of two variables and C is a plane curve with initial point A(x1, y1, z1)
and terminal point B(x2, y2 , z2), then

 F  dr =  f  dr = f (x , y , z ) − f (x , y , z )
C C
2 2 2 1 1 1
Simple curve:
A simple curve is a curve that doesn’t intersect itself anywhere between its endpoints.
Simply connected region: A simply-connected region in the plane is a connected region D such that simple closed
curve in D encloses only points that are in D
Theorem 2: Let F ( x, y ) = P( x, y )i + Q( x, y ) j be a vector field on an open simply-connected region D.
Suppose that P and Q have continuous first-order derivatives and
P Q
= throughout D,
y x

Then F is conservative.

Note: Theorem 2 is useful to verify that a two-dimensional vector field is conservative or not.
Example 6: Determine whether or not the vector field

F (x, y ) = (x − y )i + (x − 2) j
is conservative?

Sol: Let P(x, y) = x - y and Q (x, y) = x - 2

Then
P Q
= −1 and =1
y x
P Q
Since  therefore F (x, y ) is not conservative.
y x
Example 7: (a) If F (x, y ) = (3 + 2 xy )i + (x 2 − 3 y 2 ) j, find a function f such that F = f .

(b) Evaluate the line integral  F  dr , where C is the curve given by

C

r (t ) = et sin t i + et cos t j , 0  t  

Sol: (a) Let P(x, y)=3+2xy and Q(x, y) = x2-3y2

P Q
Then = 2 x and = 2x
y x
P Q
Since =
y x , therefore, F (x, y ) is a conservative vector field and so there exist a function f with
f = F
 Thus,
f f
x
i+
y
( )
j = (3 − 2 xy )i + x 2 − 3 xy 2 j

f
 = 3 + 2 xy → (1)
x Comparing (2) and (4), we see that
f
and = x 2 − 3 y 2 → (2)
y
g ( y ) = −3y 2
Integrating (1) with respect to x keeping y as a constant,
we obtain
Integrating with respect to y, we have
f (x, y ) = 3x + x 2 y + g ( y ) (3) 3y3
g(y) = − +k
3
where g(y) is a constant respect to x.  g(y) = − y 3 + k

where k is a constant. Putting this in (3), we have

Differentiating (3) with respect to y, we have

f f (x, y ) = 3x + x 2 y − y 3 + k
= 0 + x 2 + g ( y )
y
= x 2 + g ( y ) → (4) As the desired potential function.
(b) Here the curve C is given by
r (t ) = et sin ti + et cos(t ) j , 0  t  
 r (t ) = et sin t , et cos t

If t = 0, then r (0) = 0,1

If t =𝜋 then r ( ) = 0,−e 

The initial and terminal points of C are (0,) and (0,−e ) respectively.

Since F is conservative, we have

 Fdr =  fdr = f (0,−e ) − f (0,1)



 
C C

= 0 + 0 − − e( )
3

+ k − 0 + 0 − 13 + k 
= e 3 + 1
Curl and Divergence:
Curl:
If F ( x, y, z ) = P( x, y, z )i + Q( x, y, z ) j + R( x, y, z )k is a vector field in three dimensional space and the partial
derivatives of P, Q, and R exists, then the curl of F is defined by

i j k
  
curl F =   F =
x y z
P Q R
 R Q   R P   Q P 
=  − i −  −  j +  − k
 y z   x z   x y 

Note: Curl of vector is a vector quantity.

Example 8: If F ( x, y, z ) = xz i + xyzj − y 2 k , find curl F .

Solution:
 Theorem 3: If F ( x, y, z ) is a vector field and curl F = 0 , then F is a conservative vector field.

Note: Theorem 3 is use full to verify that a vector field in three dimension space is conservative or not.

Example 9: (a) Show that F ( x, y, z ) = y 2 z 3i + 2 xyz 3 j + 3 xy 2 z 2 k is a conservative vector field.

(b) Find a function f such that F = f .

Solution:
Example 10: (a) Show that F ( x, y, z ) = yzi + xzj + ( xy + 2 z )k is a conservative vector field.

(b) Find a function f such that F = f .


(c) Evaluate F  dr , where C is the line segment from (1, 0, -2) to (4, 6, 3).
C

Solution:
Divergence:
If F ( x, y, z ) = P( x, y, z )i + Q( x, y, z ) j + R( x, y, z )k is a vector field in three dimensional space and the partial
derivatives of P, Q, and R exists, then the divergence of F is denoted by div F and it is defined as

P Q R
div F =   F = + + .
x y z

Example 11: If F ( x, y, z ) = xz i + xyzj − y 2 k , find div F .

Solution:
Example 12: Find (a) The curl and
(b) the divergence of the vector field.
(i) F ( x, y, z ) = xyz i − x 2 y k
(ii) F ( x, y, z ) = x 2 yz i + xy 2 z j + xyz 2 k
(iii) F ( x, y, z ) = i + ( x + yz ) j + ( xy − z ) k
(iv) F ( x, y, z ) = cos xz j − sin xy k
( v) F ( x, y, z ) = e x sin y i + e x cos y j + z k

Solution:
Green’s Theorem:
Let C be a positively oriented, piecewise-smooth, simple closed
curve in the plane and let D be the region bounded by C. If P and Q
have continuous partial derivatives on an open region that contains D,
then

 Q P 
C Pdx + Qdy = D  x − y  dA.

 dx + xydy , where C is the triangular curve consisting of the line segments

4
Example 13: Evaluate x
C

from (0, 0) to (1, 0), from (1, 0) to (0, 1), and from (0, 1) to (0, 0) by using Green’s theorem.
Solution:
  − + + + 1)dy , where C is
sin x 4
Example 14: Use Green’s theorem to evaluate (3 y e ) dx ( 7 x y
C

the circle x 2 + y 2 = 9 .

Solution:
  + 2 3
Example 15: Use Green’s theorem to evaluate xy dx x y dy , where C is triangular vertices (0, 0),
C

(1, 0), and (1, 2).

Solution:
SURFACE INTEGRALS
Surface Integrals of Vector Fields:
Definition: If the surface S has a unique normal at each of its points where direction
depends continuously on the points of S then the surface S is called a smooth surface. If S
is not smooth but can be divided into finitely many smooth portions, then it is called a
piecewise smooth surface. For example, the surface of a sphere is smooth while the
surface of a cube is piecewise smooth.

Smooth surface Piecewise smooth surface

Oriented Surfaces: An oriented surface has two distinct sides with a tangent plane at
each point on the surface except on the boundaries. There will be two unit normal vectors
at each point. One pointing up and one pointing down. If we use the unit normal vectors
pointing up, it gives an upward orientation.
Note: For a closed surface, that is, a surface which is the boundary of a solid region
E, the outward-pointing normal vectors from E gives the positive orientation and
inward-pointing normal vectors give the negative orientation.

Positive orientation Negative orientation

Definition: If F is a continuous vector field defined on an oriented
surface S with unit outward normal vector n , then the surface integral
of F over S is

 F  dS =  F  n dS
S S

This integral is also called the flux of F across S.

Unit Normal Vector ( n ): If the surface S is given by an equation of the form
z = g ( x, y ) or f ( x, y, z ) = z − g ( x, y ) = 0 ,
then the unit normal vector n to the surface S is given by

f
n= .
f
Working Procedure: In order to evaluate the surface integral of F over S, it is
convenient to express it as a double integral taken over the projection of S onto one
of the coordinate planes.
If the surface S is given by an equation z = g ( x, y ), ( x, y )  D , then the surface
integral of F over S is
2
 z   z 
2

S F  dS = S F  n dS = D F  n 1 +  x  +  y  dA = D F  − g x ( x, y), − g y ( x, y), 1 dA

Where n is the unit outward normal to the surface z = g ( x, y ) and D is the

projection of S onto the xy-plane.
Similar formulas apply when S is given by y = h( x, z ) or x = k ( y, z ).
Example 16: Evaluate  F  dS , where F (x, y, z ) = yi + xj + zk and S is the boundary
S

of the solid region E enclosed by the paraboloid 𝑧 = 1 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 and the plane z = 0.

Sol: Here S is a piecewise smooth surface formed by S1 and S2.

 F  dS =  F  dS +  F  dS
S S1 S2

ത 𝑑𝑆ҧ ඵ 𝐹.
ඵ 𝐹. ത 𝑛 𝑑𝑆 = ඵ 𝐹.
ത < −𝑔𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 , −𝑔𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 , 1 > 𝑑𝐴
𝑆 𝑆 𝐷
On S1:
The surface S1 is 𝑧 = 1 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 ඵ 𝐹ത . < −𝑔𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 , −𝑔𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 , 1 > 𝑑𝐴

F (x, y, z ) = yi + xj + (1 − x − y )k
𝐷
2 2

ඵ 𝑦, 𝑥, 1 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 . < −𝑔𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 , −𝑔𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 , 1 > 𝑑𝐴

Let 𝑔 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 1 = 0 𝐷

𝑔𝑥 = −2𝑥 𝑔𝑦 = −2𝑦
ඵ 𝑦, 𝑥, 1 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 . < 2𝑥, 2𝑦, 1 > 𝑑𝐴
𝐷

ඵ(2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 1 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝐴

 
𝐷
=  4 xy + 1 − x 2 − y 2 dA
D
2 1
=   4r cos  r sin  + 1 − r rdrd ( changing to polar coordinates )
2

0 0
2 1
=   4r cos  r sin  + 1 − r rdrd
2

0 0
2 1
=   4r 
cos  sin  + r − r 3 drd
3

0 0
2 1
 4r 4
r r  2 4
=   cos  sin  + −  d
0
4 2 4 0
 2
 1 1
= 0 
 cos  sin  + − d
2 4
2
 1
= 0  cos  sin  + d
4
2 2
1 1
=
2  2 cos  sin  d +
0

0
4
d

2
=
1
 2 cos  sin  d +
1
( )02
2 0
4
2
1  cos 2 
= −  +
1
(2 − 0 )
2 2 0 4

= − (cos 4 − cos 0 ) +
1
4 2
 
= − (1 − 1) +
1
=
4 2 2
On S2:
The surface S2 is z = 0.

  F  dS =  F  n dS =  F dS =  (0)dS ( on S 2 , z = 0) = 0
S2 S2 S2 S2

 
  F .dS = +0= .
S
2 2
Stoke’s Theorem:

Let S be an oriented piecewise-smooth surface (i.e. S be an open surface) bounded by a

simple, closed, piecewise-smooth curve C with positive orientation,
Let 𝐹ത be a vector field whose components have continuous partial derivatives on an open
region in 3 that contains S. Then z

 F  dr =  curl F  dS
C S
S

C
y

x
Example 17: Evaluate  F  dr , where F (x, y, z ) = − y 2 i + xj + z 2 k and C is the
C

Curve of intersection of the plane y + z = 2 and the cylinder x2+y2=1.

Sol: Since the curve C is an eclipse, it is easier to use Stoke’s theorem
to evaluate the given integral.
Given F = − y 2 i + xj + z 2 k
i j k
  
 curl F =   F = z
x y z
− y2 x z2 y+z=2
S
 2    2     
= i ( )
z − (x ) − j  ( ) z − ( )
− y 2  + k  (x ) − ( )
− y2  C
 y z   x y   x y  D
= i (0 − 0) − j (0 − 0) + k (1 + 2 y ) = (1 + 2 y )k y

x2+y2=1
Also, the surface S bounded by the curve C is the elliptical region x
in the plane y + z = 2 or z = 2 − y
∴ The unit normal vector to the surface S is

f
n= , where f (x, y, z ) = y + z − 2 = 0
f
j+k j+k
= =
12 + 12 2
 j+k 
and curl F  n = (1 + 2 y )k   
 2 
1+ 2y
=
2
By Stoke’s theorem  F  dr =  curl F  dS
C S
2
 z   z 
2

curlF  1 +   +   dA
=    x   y 
D
where D is the projection of S onto the plane xy − plane
1+ 2 y
=  1 + 0 + (− 1) dA
2

D 2
1+ 2 y
=  2dA
D 2
=  (1 + 2 y )dA
D
2 1
=   (1 + 2r sin  )rdrd
0 0
2 1
=   (r + 2r )
sin  drd
2

0 0
2 2 1
 r 2 2r 3  1 2 
=  + sin   d =   + sin  d
0  0 0  
2 3 2 3
2
 2   2 2   2 
=  − cos   =  − cos 2  − 0 − cos 0
2 3 0  2 3   3 
 2 2
=  −  + = 
 3 3
Example 18: Evaluate  yzdS, where S is the part of the plane x + y + z =1 that lies in
S

the first octant.

z
Sol: Here S is the part of the plane x + y + z =1 in the first
(0,0,1) octant. Let D be the projection of S onto the xy-plane. Then
x+y+z=1 D is bounded by the lines x = 0, y = 0 and x+y =1.
S
(0,1,0) ∴ D can be described as
D x=0 y
y=0 y=1-x D = (x, y ) / 0  y  1 − x,0  x  1
(1,0,0) x+y=1
x
 2
 z   z 
2

S yz dS = D yz 1 +   +   dA
 x   y 
=  y (1 − x − y ) 1 + (− 1) + (− 1) dA
2 2

=  3 y (1 − x − y )dA
D
1 1− x
= 3  (1 − x )y − y dydx
2

0 0
1− x

1
y2 y3 
= 3  (1 − x ) −  dx
0 
2 3 0
 (1 − x )3 (1 − x )3 
1
= 3  −  dx
0  
2 3

= 3
1
(1 − x )3 dx
0
6

3  (1 − x ) 
4 1

=   =−
3
0 − 1 = 3
6  4(− 1)  0 24 24
The Divergence Theorem:

Let E be a simple solid region and let S be the boundary surface of E, given with
ഥ be a vector field whose component functions
positive (outward) orientation. Let 𝑭
have continuous partial derivatives on an open region that contains E. Then

 F  dS = div FdV
S E
Example 19: Evaluate F  dS , where F = 3xi + xyj + 2 xzk
S

and S is the surface of the cube E bounded by the planes x = 0, x = 1, y = 0, y = 1,

z = 0 and z = 1.

Sol: It is much easier to use divergence theorem to evaluate the given surface integral.
z
First we compute div 𝐹ത
(0,0,1)
   
divF =   F =  i + j + k   (3xi + xyj + 2 xzk )
 x y z 
   (1,1,1)
= (3x ) + (xy ) + (2 xz ) y
x y z (0,0,0) (0,1,0)
= 3 + x + 2 x = 3 + 3x = 3(1 + x )
(1,0,0)
x
Also, the solid region E can be described as
E = (x, y, z ) / 0  x  1,0  y  1,0  z  1

By divergence theorem,

 F  dS =  div FdV

S E

= 3(1 + x )dV
E
1 1 1
= 3   (1 + x )dxdydz
0 0 0
1

1 1
x2 
1
= 3   x +  dydz =  ( y )0 dz = (z )0 =
9 1 9 1 9
0 0
2 0 20 2 2
Example 20: Use the divergence theorem to calculate the flux of 𝐹ത
across the surface S of the box bounded by the planes x = 0, x = 1, y = 0, y = 1,
z = 0 and z = 2, where F (x, y, z ) = e x sin yi + e x cos yj + yz 2 k .

Sol: The flux of 𝐹ത across a surface S is given by  F  dS

S

Let E be a solid region bounded by the surface S.

E can be described as
E = (x, y, z ) / 0  x  1,0  y  1,0  z  2

Let F (x, y, z ) = e x sin yi + e x cos yj + yz 2 k .

 x  x 
 divF =   F =
x
(
e sin y + )
y
(
e cos y +
z
)
yz 2 ( )
= e x sin y − e x sin y + 2 yz = 2 yz
By divergence theorem

 F  dS =  div FdV

S E

=  2 yz dV
E
1 1 2
=    2 yz dzdydx
0 0 0

( )
1 1
=   yz 2 0 dydx
2

0 0
1 1
=   4 ydydx
0 0

( )
1
=  2 y 2 0 dx
1

0
1
=  2dx = 2( x )0 = 2
1

The flux of 𝐹ത across a surface S is given by  F  dS = 2

S
Example 21: Find the flux of the vector field
F (x, y, z ) = zi + yj + xk

over the unit sphere x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1

Sol: We use the divergence theorem to find the flux


divF =   F = (z ) +  ( y ) +  (x ) = 0 + 1 + 0 = 1
x y z
Here the unit sphere S is the boundary of the unit ball E given by
x2 + y2 + z2 = 1
 F  dS =  divF dV = 1 dV =  dV
Thus, the divergence theorem gives the flux as S E E E

= The volume of the unit ball, E

=  (1) ( r = 1)
4 3

3
4
= 
3