Student’s Name: Applied class leader’s name:

Workshop Week 6

Before the workshop

Week 6 Own-time tasks Tick

Watch all the pre-recorded videos
Run all the MATLAB codes
Take the lecture quiz

In the workshop, after the workshop, and before the deadline

Tasks on Moodle Assessment Tick

Workshop Activity 1: maximum 4 marks
Complete the workshop quiz
Workshop Activity 2: maximum 3 marks
Submit scanned fully worked worksheets
Workshop Activity 3: maximum 3 marks
Submit a published version of the MATLAB code

Partial marks awarded for incomplete worksheet, missing MATLAB work, poor maths presentation.

In this workshop you will practise:

• The use of the negative gradient

• The divergence theorem: flux through a box and a complicated volume

• The use of Stokes’ theorem and compare with results from MATLAB

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1 Study of heat flow
(a) Suppose the temperature at a point (x, y, z) in a body is u(x, y, z). Then the heat flow is defined by
a vector field F = −K∇u, where K is an experimentally determined constant called the conductivity
of the substance.
Why is the heat flow defined by a negative gradient of u and not a positive grad?

For the vector field F = x2 i + 2xj + z 2 k can we find a potential function u(x, y, z)? Why?

(b) The temperature u in a metal ball is proportional to the square of the distance from the centre of the
ball. Find the rate of heat flow across a sphere S of radius a with centre at the centre of the ball by
filling in the blanks in the derivation below.

The temperature may be written u(x, y, z) = k( ).

where k is the proportionality constant. Then the heat flow F = −K∇u is

F(x, y, z) = K

Instead of using the usual parametrisation of the sphere of radius a, we observe that the position
vector r = xi + yj + zk is perpendicular to the sphere, and so the outward unit normal to the
sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = a2 at the point (x, y, z) is
1
n= ( )
a
and so F · n = .

This simplifies on the surface of the sphere to a constant F · n = − kK

Therefore the rate of heat flow across S is

RR
S F · n dS =

2
2 The divergence theorem
At this stage you may wish to review the various types of regions over which we were able to evaluate triple
integrals. If we have a closed surface, then the divergence theorem (also known as Gauss’s theorem) gives
a relationship between a surface integral and a volume integral. Thus the divergence theorem states that,
under the given conditions, the flux of F across the boundary surface of S is equal to the triple integral of
the divergence of F over S.
ZZ   ZZZ  
F · n̂ dS = ∇ · F dV
S V
where n̂ is an outward pointing normal to the surface S.

(a) Consider the vector field defined as F = (2x − z) i + x2 yj + xz 2 k representing fluid flowing through a
box defined by 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1 and 0 ≤ z ≤ 1. Set up the integral that calculates the net flux
across the surface of the box.
ZZ   ZZZ  
F · n̂ dS = ∇ · F dV
S V
Z C Z H Z L 
= 2 + x2 + 2xz dy dz dx
B G K

Determine the limits of integration B, C, G, H, K and L. Calculate the net flux value.

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 2
(b) Evaluate S F · n, dS where F(x, y, z) = xyi + (y 2 + exz )j + sin(xy)k and S is the surface of the
RR

region V bounded by the parabolic cylinder z = 1 − x2 and the planes z = 0, y = 0, y + z = 2 (see

the figure).

It would be difficult to evaluate the given surface integral directly. We would have to evaluate four
surface integrals corresponding to the four pieces of S. Furthermore, the divergence of F is much less
complicated than F itself:
∇·F =
The volume is defined by: K ≤ x ≤ L, A ≤ z ≤ B, C ≤ y ≤ G
Then we use the divergence theorem to transform the given surface integral into a triple integral.
ZZ   ZZZ   Z L Z B Z G    
F · n̂ dS = ∇ · F dV = I dy dz dx
S V K A C

Determine K, L, A, B, C, G and I, and evaluate the Integral

4
3 Stokes’ Theorem
By working through each part of this question, you will verify Stokes’ Theorem for F = x2 i + 2xj + z 2 k on
the ellipse defined by S = {(x, y, z) : 4x2 + y 2 ≤ 4, z = 0}.
(a) Sketch the surface S and identify its boundary curve C on your diagram.

(b) Find a normal vector to S and a positive orientation for the curve C, and indicate them both by
placing arrows on your diagram in part (a).
H
(c) Evaluate the line integral C F · dr.

(d) Find the curl of the vector field F

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 RR
(e) Evaluate the surface integral S (∇ × F) · n̂ dS and hence verify the Stokes’ Theorem.

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(f) Calculate the line integral and flux integral in MATLAB and verify your calculations.
Your code should also produce a single plot showing:

• the curve C
• some tangent vectors of your parametrisation of C
• the surface S
• some normal vectors of your parametrisation of S
• the vector field F evaluated at the same points as the normal vectors

Use a different colour for each element and add a legend.

Insert or sketch your output below.

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4 Vector Calculus Concept Checks
(a) Define the line integral of a vector field F along a smooth curve C given by a vector function r(t).

(b) If F is a force field, what does this line integral represent?

(c) Define the integral of a scalar function f over a surface S parametrised by a vector function r(u, v).

(d) What if S is given by an equation z = g(x, y) for (x, y) ∈ D?

(e) If a thin sheet has the shape of a surface S, and the density at (x, y, z) is ρ(x, y, z), write expressions
for the mass and center of mass of the sheet.

R
(f) In what ways are the Fundamental Theorem for Line Integrals ( C ∇f · dr = f (B) − f (A) where C is
from A to B), Green’s Theorem, Stokes’ Theorem, and the Divergence Theorem similar?