Line integrals

for
vector fields

Dr. Hina Dutt

[email protected]
SEECS-NUST
 Thomas’
• Chapter: 16
Calculus (14th
• Sections: 16.2
Edition)

Calculus Early
Transcendentals • Chapter: 16
(8th Edition) By • Section: 16.2
James Stewart
Introduction
• Gravitational and electric forces have both a direction and a
magnitude. They are represented by a vector at each point in
their domain, producing a vector field.
Introduction
• In this section we show how to compute the work done in
moving an object through such a field by using a line integral
involving the vector field.
• We also discuss velocity fields, such as the vector field
representing the velocity of a flowing fluid in its domain.
• A line integral can be used to find the rate at which the fluid
flows along or across a curve within the domain.
Line Integrals for Vector Fields Definition

Let 𝐅 be a continuous vector field defined on a smooth curve

𝐶 given by a vector function 𝐫(𝑡), 𝑎 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑏. Then, the line
integral of 𝐅 along 𝐶 is:

𝑏
𝑑𝐫
න 𝐅. 𝐓 𝑑𝑠 = න 𝐅. 𝑑𝑠 = න 𝐅 . 𝑑𝐫.
𝑑𝑠
𝐶 𝑎 𝐶
How to Evaluate Line Integral of Vector Fields
To integrate a vector field 𝐅 = 𝑀𝑖 + 𝑁𝑗 + 𝑃𝑘 along a curve 𝐶:

1. Express the vector field 𝐅 along the parametrized curve 𝐶 as 𝐅(𝐫(𝑡)) by

substituting the components
𝑥=𝑥 𝑡 , 𝑦=𝑦 𝑡 , 𝑧=𝑧 𝑡
of 𝐫 into the scalar components 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧), 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧), 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) of 𝐅.
2. Find the derivative vector 𝐫 ′ 𝑡 .
3. Evaluate the line integral with respect to the parameter 𝑡, 𝑎 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑏, to
obtain
𝑏
𝑑𝐫
න 𝐅. 𝑑𝐫 = න 𝐅(𝐫(𝑡)). 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡
𝐶 𝑎
Example

Evaluate ‫𝐅 𝐶׬‬. 𝑑𝐫 where

𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑧𝐢 + 𝑥𝑦𝐣 − 𝑦 2 𝐤
along the curve 𝐶 given by
𝐫 𝑡 = 𝑡 2 𝐢 + 𝑡𝐣 + 𝑡 𝐤, 0≤𝑡 ≤1
and shown in Figure.
Example
Work Done by a Force over a Curve in Space
Suppose that 𝐅 = 𝑀𝐢 + 𝑁𝐣 + 𝑃𝐤 is a continuous force
field on ℝ3 . We wish to compute the work done by this
force in moving a particle along a smooth curve 𝐶.
Thus, we define the work 𝑊 done by the force field 𝐅 as:

𝑊 = න 𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 . 𝐓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝑑𝑠 = න 𝐅. 𝐓 𝑑𝑠
𝐶 𝐶
where T is the unit tangent vector to the curve.

This says that work is the line integral with respect to arc
length of the tangential component of the force.
Work Done by a Force over a Curve in Space
If the curve 𝐶 is given by the vector equation:
𝐫 𝑡 = 𝑥 𝑡 𝐢 + 𝑦 𝑡 𝐣 + 𝑧 𝑡 𝐤,
𝐫 ′ (𝑡)
then 𝐓 = .
𝐫 ′ (𝑡)
𝐓
Thus, we have 𝑑𝑠
𝑏
𝐫 ′ (𝑡)
𝑊 = න 𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 . 𝐓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝑑𝑠 = න 𝐅(𝐫(𝑡)). ′ 𝐫 ′ (𝑡) 𝑑𝑡
𝐫 (𝑡)
𝐶 𝑎
𝑏

𝑊 = න 𝐅(𝐫(𝑡)). 𝐫 ′ (𝑡) 𝑑𝑡.

𝑎
Example
Find the work done by the force field
𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝐢 − 𝑥𝑦 𝐣
in moving a particle along the quarter-circle
𝐫 𝑡 = cos 𝑡 𝐢 + sin 𝑡 𝐣, 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝜋/2
 Example
Solution: Since 𝑥 = cos 𝑡 and 𝑦 = sin 𝑡 , we have:
𝐅 𝐫 𝑡 = cos2 𝑡 𝐢 − cos 𝑡 sin 𝑡 𝐣,
and
𝐫 ′ 𝑡 = − sin 𝑡 𝐢 + cos 𝑡 𝐣.
Therefore, the work done is:
𝜋/2 𝜋/2 𝜋/2
cos 3𝑡 2
𝑊 = න 𝐅 . 𝑑𝐫 = න 𝐅(𝐫(𝑡)). 𝐫 ′ (𝑡) 𝑑𝑡 = න −2 cos2 𝑡 sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡 = 2 =− .
3 0
3
𝐶 0 0

The figure shows the force field and the curve. The work
done is negative because the field impedes movement
along the curve.
Example
Evaluate ‫ 𝐅 𝐶׬‬. 𝑑𝐫 where:
𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥𝑦𝐢 + 𝑦𝑧𝐣 + 𝑧𝑥𝐤
and 𝐶 is the twisted cubic given by
𝑥 = 𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑡2, 𝑧 = 𝑡3; 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 1.
Example
Solution: For the present case given that 𝐫 𝑡 = 𝑡𝐢 + 𝑡 2 𝐣 + 𝑡 3 𝐤.
Thus, we have:
𝐅 𝐫 𝑡 = 𝑡 3 𝐢 + 𝑡 5 𝐣 + 𝑡 4 𝐢,
and
𝐫 ′ 𝑡 = 𝐢 + 2𝑡 𝐣 + 3𝑡 2 𝐤.
Therefore:
1 1 1
𝑡4 𝑡 7 27
න 𝐅 . 𝑑𝐫 = න 𝐅(𝐫(𝑡)). 𝐫 ′ (𝑡) 𝑑𝑡 =න 𝑡3 + 5𝑡 6 𝑑𝑡 = +5 = .
4 7 0
28
𝐶 0 0
Different Ways to write Work Integrals

Definition
𝑊 = ‫𝐅 𝐶׬‬. 𝐓 𝑑𝑠
= ‫ 𝐅 𝐶׬‬. 𝑑𝐫 Vector differential form
𝑏 𝑑𝐫 Parametric Vector
= ‫))𝑡(𝐫(𝐅 𝑎׬‬. 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Evaluation
𝑏 Parametric Scalar
= ‫𝑎׬‬ 𝑀𝑥′(𝑡) + 𝑁𝑦′(𝑡) + 𝑃𝑧′(𝑡) 𝑑𝑡
Evaluation
𝑏 Scalar differential form
= ‫𝑥𝑑𝑀 𝑎׬‬ + 𝑁𝑑𝑦 + 𝑃𝑑𝑧
Example
Find the work done by the force field
𝐅 = 𝑦 − 𝑥2 𝐢 + 𝑧 − 𝑦2 𝐣 + 𝑥 − 𝑧2 𝐤
in moving an object along the curve
𝐫 𝑡 = 𝑡𝐢 + 𝑡 2 𝐣 + 𝑡 3 𝐤, 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 1,
from (0, 0, 0) to 1, 1, 1 .
Example
Flow Integrals and Circulation for Velocity
Fields
Suppose that 𝐅 represents the velocity field of a fluid flowing
through a region in space (a tidal basin or the turbine chamber
of a hydroelectric generator, for example). Under these
circumstances, the integral of 𝐅. 𝐓 along a curve in the region
gives the fluid’s flow along, or circulation around, the curve.
Flow Integrals and Circulation for Velocity
Fields Definition

If 𝐫(𝑡) parametrizes a smooth curve 𝐶 in the domain of a continuous

velocity field 𝐅, the flow along the curve from A = 𝐫 𝑎 to 𝐵 = 𝐫(𝑏) is

Flow = න 𝐅. 𝐓 𝑑𝑠
𝐶
The integral is called a flow integral.
If the curve starts and ends at the same point, so that 𝐴 = 𝐵, the flow
is called the circulation around the curve.
Direction along 𝑪

The direction we travel along 𝐶 matters.

If we reverse the direction, then 𝐓 is replaced by −𝐓 and
the sign of the integral changes.

We evaluate flow integrals the same way we evaluate work

integrals.
Example

A fluid’s velocity field is

𝐅 = 𝑥𝐢 + 𝑧𝐣 + 𝑦𝐤.
Find the flow along the helix
𝜋
𝐫 𝑡 = cos 𝑡 𝐢 + sin 𝑡 𝐣 + 𝑡𝐤, 0≤𝑡≤ .
2
Example
Example

Find the circulation of the field

𝐅 = 𝑥 − 𝑦 𝐢 + 𝑥𝐣
around the circle
𝐫(𝑡) = (cos 𝑡)𝐢 + (sin 𝑡)𝐣, 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 2𝜋
Example
Flux Across a Plane Curve

To find the rate at which a fluid is entering or leaving a region

enclosed by a smooth curve 𝐶 in the 𝑥𝑦 −plane, we calculate the line
integral over 𝐶 of 𝐅. 𝐧, the scalar component of the fluid’s velocity
field in the direction of the curve’s outward-pointing normal vector.
The value of this integral is the flux of 𝐅 across 𝐶.
Flux Across a Plane Curve Definition

If 𝐶 is a smooth simple closed curve in the domain of a continuous

vector field 𝐅 = 𝑀(𝑥, 𝑦)𝐢 + 𝑁(𝑥, 𝑦)𝐣 in the plane, and if 𝐧 is the
outward-pointing unit normal vector on 𝐶, the flux of 𝐅 across 𝐶 is

Flux of 𝐅 across 𝐶 = න 𝐅. 𝐧 𝑑𝑠
𝐶

Notice the difference between flux and circulation. Flux is the integral of the
normal component of F; circulation is the integral of the tangential component
of F.
To find an outward unit normal vector for a smooth curve 𝐶 in the 𝑥𝑦 −plane that
is traversed counterclockwise as t increases, we take 𝐧 = 𝐓 × 𝐤. For clockwise
motion, we take 𝐧 = 𝐤 × 𝐓.
Flux Across a Plane Curve
We begin with a smooth parametrization:
𝑥=𝑔 𝑡 , 𝑦 = ℎ 𝑡 ; 𝑎 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑏.
In terms of components,
Calculating Flux Across a Smooth Closed Plane
Curve

Flux of 𝐅 = 𝑀𝐢 + 𝑁𝐣 across 𝐶 = ර 𝑀𝑑𝑦 − 𝑁𝑑𝑥

𝐶
The integral can be evaluated from any smooth parametrization
𝑥=𝑔 𝑡 , 𝑦=ℎ 𝑡 ; 𝑎≤𝑡≤𝑏
that traces 𝐶 counterclockwise exactly once.
Example

Find the flux of

𝐅 = (𝑥 − 𝑦)𝐢 + 𝑥𝐣
across the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1 in the 𝑥𝑦 −plane.
Example
Practice Questions

Thomas’ Chapter: 16
Calculus (14th • Exercise: 16.2 Questions: 1-46, 55-62
Edition)