National Taiwan University - Calculus 4 for Class 01-09

Worksheet : More on Conservative Fields

Name:
許⼦謙 ID: B 12901018 Department: EE

Supplementary reference : Stewart §16.3, 16.4

First, we review the definition and the key result concerning a conservative vector field.
Review of Conservative Fields
(1) Definition.
A vector field F on D ✓ R2 (or R3 ) is said to be conservative on a region D (or R3 ) if there exists a scalar
function f : D ! R such that rf = F. In other words, a vector field is conservative on a given region if
it can be recognized as the gradient of some scalar function that is well-defined on D. We call f a scalar
potential function of F.
(2) Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals.
An important feature of conservative fields is that ‘energy’ is conserved across any closed curve inside the
region. To be more precise,
Z
I
F · dr depends on only the
F · dr = 0 C
F is conservative on D. , C
, starting and ending points of C
for every closed curve C inside D.
(path-independent).
1
(3) Theorem. At the outset, let F(x, y) = P (x, y)i + Q(x, y)j be a C -vector field. Recall that Clairaut’s
Theorem can be used to deduce that
F is conservative on D. ) Qx Py = 0.
However, the converse is incorrect. For the converse to be correct, we require the region D to be

[
simply-connected. Indeed, if D is simply-connected, then we have
F is conservative on D. , Qx Py = 0.
Reminder. A scalar function f is called C 1 if all its first order partial deriatives are continuous.
y x
Exercise 1. Consider the vector field F(x, y) =
x2 p
+ y2
i + 2 Q 2 j.
x +y
(a) Is the region D1 = {(x, y) : x > 0} simply-connected?
(b) Determine whether F is conservative on D1 . Find a scalar potential function of F if it is conservative.

(a) Yes ⼀
修 /

⼆均⼆
⼆

omplyonnected
ypx
( b) 2t check Qx y叫
Py
-

2
0

y ⽔爽
=
-

Hence meknon
J tt B
1 conservatne on D,

=
=
Then we
ty totfind fx -

eI ,在

By smple bute scalarpolentalfunction

f

some force we obtainthe B

F

f =
tan ( }) + C
井 ,

1
 y x
Exercise 2. We continue to consider the vector field F(x, y) = i+ 2 j.
x2 + y 2 x + y2
I
(a) Compute, directly, the line integral F·dr where C is the unit circle x2 +y 2 = 1, oriented counterclockwise.
C
0
(b) Determine whether F is conservative on D2 = R2 \ {(0, 0)}.
Moral of Exercise 1 and 2 : The conservativeness of a vector field is very sensitive to the region D. The same vector
field may lose its conservativeness if we view it on a di↵erent domain.

( a) let tit) { ast , sint ≤ t ≤ 2π γ(t1 ( smt cost }

}
=
= 0 -

,
,
,

f
f。
t .dr
= " ast ( "Idt Nomcomnceruite
-

snt ,
onty t =
fndore
% "
- snt, 2
''
(
7 -

=
% F

(bb
Onevectorfieldtobe onservativeon havethezernvadiefor
the
ghenvegion we
,

nequte
it to
^

all cany) closedcurve omside ,

fFdr
Smce me
aleady findone path( t ( t)= (
cost ,
snt ) ,
0 ≤ t ≤ 2π ) F
tobe adosedcurve
ntegral -
b thesthefinel iadre 2 nto
s Not conservatine on

D 2
= R21 {}
0 0(
.

Exercise 3. Review from the lecture the following proof of the statement : if D is simply-connected, then we have
Qx Py = 0. ) F is conservative on D.
Proof. Suppose Qx Py = 0. Let C1 and C2 be two paths with the same starting and ending points and for
simplicity we assume that C1 and C2 has no other intersections. Then C = C1 [ ( C2 ) forms a simple closed curve
and let R be the curve enclosed by C. By Green’s Theorem,O o he
I , ZZ neede
Z D—

Z somply-connected
F · dr = Qx Py dA = 0 ) F · dr = F · dr.
C R C1 C2

This implies that line integrals of F are path-independent. Hence, F is conservative on D. Q.E.D.

Point out where in the proof we have used crucially the condition that D is simply-connected.

To apply GreensThm ,me need C be smply connected ,

unfrtunally,C
II,

3
not smplyconmeced fs
F , thenetther Qx w Py
failsto
be mdl - def,nednsome
region
(
maybeR ) , andhence the double
ntegral on

such
regon
cannot be
smply calaukted
Generalired
By Greea s '
Thm

。
,
,

fum 下⾯幾題
Fireingnspiratm f Fdt-
G -Py dA
,

%
%
"

Weknow for notsomply connected region

⼀⾄φ Fdt
0
CG
Holes
wtth 、 oe θ C ths
e
Ci e
3 ney Oof
discortiMaily
,
Hence case
dBcontinuny
2 on ,

器 defined θ ecea
tf Qx Py= - 0 ,Wecannuot ensune

φ. F ,dr = 0
 Summary. Let F(x, y) = P (x, y)i + Q(x, y)j be a C 1 -vector field. To address the question
‘Is F conservative on D ?’,
• if D is simply-connected, the conservativeness of F is completely determined by Qx Py . In particular, in
this case,
F is conservative on D. , Qx Py = 0.
• if D is not simply-connected, then in this case, we only have the implication :
F is conservative on D. ) Qx Py = 0.
To determine whether F is conservative or not on D, sorry, we would need to stick with our old trick : to
⼀

compute line integrals. In particular,

I
F · dr = 0
F is conservative on D. , C
for every closed curve C inside D.
y x
Exercise 4. Let F(x, y) = 2 i j. Let E be the ellipse 4x2 + 9y 2 = 1, oriented counterclockwise.
I
4x + 9y 2 4x2 + 9y 2
是号
(a) Evaluate directly F · dr.
E
(b) Determine whether ~
F is conservative on each of the following regions.
(a) D1 = R2 \ {(0, 0)} 古
(b) D2 = {(x, y) 2 R2 : x > 0}.
Justify your claims. In the case if F is conservative, find its scalar potential function.

(a) r(t) =
{ 位 ost , 5
smt )
, 0 ≤ t ≤2
π
,t(t ]
= -
(
Ʃ smt , cst }
2π

f { ssmt
%"

:F ,
dt =
,
-

Ʃ st } =

{ -
Ʃ sht , 5 cost )dt
= "

- idt - =

( b)
(5) Let' sgraph Efmt ,
:

msce E
that exactly s
im D , i

honerer
F
, dr
- Fo heaceit3 AToncervatreom D,

#
,

(ti) We obsene thatDr i smplyonnected,

3 ne
check

tayy- O
tqyayy
Y .8 Y=
我 Baonsevortre
xiSy
述

Qx -

Py =

-
4

tnd ayray
Then =
J
F
=( k, 在
)=(
*]

烈
>eetion
→
f ttal] = -
+
c
—

scalar
#

polentialdfmchom

3
(c) Let G(x, y) = P (x, y)i + Q(x, y)j be a C 1 -vector field on R2 \ {(0, 0)}. It is known that G satisfies :
I
(1) Qx = Py , (2) G · dr = 4⇡.
I E

(i) Find the value of k such that (G + kF) · dr = 0.

⼀
⼀
π E
-

{
By lnearproperty .
在IGe
KEJI
GdtKFd = 0

⼀
千π

4π+ K [ -] .
= 0

4 -

= 0 ,
k
= 12 #

(ii) For the value that we found in (c)(i), we are going to prove that H = G + kF is conservative on
R2 \ {(0, 0)} by the
I following steps.
(Step I) Prove that H · dr = 0 for ⼀
every simple closed curve C that does not enclose the origin.
C
”

/
R
fHdt % G di teKFidi

0
= .

Qx Py ( Green sThm )
↓ Qx-Py 0
- = 0
= '

JkodA ffnOdA
=
x +

=
O
# ,

I
(Step II) Prove that H · dr = 0 for every simple closed curve C that encloses the origin.
C

“
” firiidr feGidi efaetidi
=

GeneralizedGreen sThm
I

17
'
0
0

E
Λ

E红
=
( fG - di
tfk
⼀ Qx - dA )
Py
(fo K FiditkQx
⼀ ,
dA ) + .

a
乡 0 。 Gs

\ that
=
4π + 12 × ( -

π) =
OF ⼚
ffG ds= frG drto , where
时I
Nobe
radies ( F> 0 )

l
tit} :
{ rost ,
rsmt } . C2 B a cur veof r

Andhence shoaldHave value

(t)= {
rsmt, rcost产 a
satme as Gdt f

, h o matter what o
C 3 ECendues
the
aign ,fsE dt f kiFidk 4π
fitift= fefi dt= T snila
=
1.
-
' = 4 tae p m
.

(Step III) Prove that H · dr = 0 for every closed curve C (not necessarily simply) in R2 \ {(0, 0)}.
C

With( I )andIA ), we can

ondudethatfftHdi=
already o
frerey C 3
smply
connected .

Non cosesider simply comneoled cune ;

mon - -

any

… We alowaysdiriade Cmto severalsub

spmply connectedcarveCsctosed
fsince

”D
8
> “ cam

&
E 7

s
"
hane
7
Thor by
lfeitybne ntgial , f
me
In thi3 case
,

—
o
ce
c :

^
∞5>
% Hdi fitt tfotidiefastHcdttfatidotfestH. itfatiidi= ,
= -
df y

I
As H · dr = 0 for every closed curve C in R2 \ {(0, 0)}, we conclude that H is conservative on
C
R2 \ {(0, 0)}.
4