Surface Integrals

In this section, we will learn about:

Integration of different types of surfaces.
SURFACE INTEGRALS

The relationship between surface integrals

and surface area is much the same as
the relationship between line integrals and
arc length.
SURFACE INTEGRALS

Suppose f is a function of three variables

whose domain includes a surface S.

 We will define the surface integral of f over S

such that, in the case where f(x, y, z) = 1,
the value of the surface integral is equal to
the surface area of S.
SURFACE INTEGRALS

We start with parametric surfaces.

Then, we deal with the special case

where S is the graph of a function of two
variables.
PARAMETRIC SURFACES

Suppose a surface S has a vector equation

r(u, v) = x(u, v) i + y(u, v) j + z(u, v) k

(u, v) D
PARAMETRIC SURFACES

We first assume that the parameter domain D

is a rectangle and we divide it into
subrectangles Rij with dimensions ∆u and ∆v.
PARAMETRIC SURFACES

Then, the surface S

is divided into
corresponding
patches Sij.
PARAMETRIC SURFACES

We evaluate f at a point Pij*

in each patch, multiply by
the area ∆Sij of the patch,
and form the Riemann sum

m n

 f ( P ) S
i 1 j 1
*
ij ij
SURFACE INTEGRAL Equation 1

Then, we take the limit as the number

of patches increases and define the surface
integral of f over the surface S as:

m n

 f ( x, y, z ) dS  lim
m , n 
 f ( P ) S
i 1 j 1
*
ij ij
S
SURFACE INTEGRALS

Notice the analogy with:

 The definition of a line integral

(Definition 2 in Section 16.2)

 The definition of a double integral

(Definition 5 in Section 15.1)
SURFACE INTEGRALS

To evaluate the surface integral in

Equation 1, we approximate the patch area
∆Sij by the area of an approximating
parallelogram in the tangent plane.
SURFACE INTEGRALS

In our discussion of surface area in

Section 16.6, we made the approximation

∆Sij ≈ |ru x rv| ∆u ∆v

where:
x y z x y z
ru  i j k rv  i  j  k
u u u v v v
are the tangent vectors at a corner of Sij.
SURFACE INTEGRALS Formula 2

If the components are continuous and ru and

rv are nonzero and nonparallel in the interior
of D, it can be shown from Definition 1—even
when D is not a rectangle—that:

 f ( x, y, z) dS   f (r(u, v)) | r  r
S D
u v | dA
SURFACE INTEGRALS

This should be compared with the formula

for a line integral:
b
C
f ( x, y, z) ds   f (r(t )) | r '(t ) | dt
a

Observe also that:


S
1 dS  D
| ru  rv | dA  A( S )
SURFACE INTEGRALS

Formula 2 allows us to compute a surface

integral by converting it into a double integral
over the parameter domain D.

 When using this formula, remember that

f(r(u, v) is evaluated by writing

x = x(u, v), y = y(u, v), z = z(u, v)

in the formula for f(x, y, z)

SURFACE INTEGRALS Example 1


2
Compute the surface integral x dS ,
where S is the unit sphere S

x2 + y2 + z2 = 1.
SURFACE INTEGRALS Example 1

As in Example 4 in Section 16.6,

we use the parametric representation

x = sin Φ cos θ, y = sin Φ sin θ, z = cos Φ

0 ≤ Φ ≤ π, 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π
 That is,
r(Φ, θ) = sin Φ cos θ i + sin Φ sin θ j + cos Φ k
SURFACE INTEGRALS Example 1

As in Example 10 in Section 16.6,

we can compute that:

|rΦ x rθ| = sin Φ

SURFACE INTEGRALS Example 1

Therefore, by Formula 2,

 x dS
2

  (sin  cos  ) | r  r | dA
2

D
2 
  (sin  cos  sin  d d
2 2
0 0
SURFACE INTEGRALS Example 1
2 
  cos  d  sin  d
2 3
0 0
2 
 1
2 (1  cos 2 ) d  (sin   sin  cos  ) d
2
0 0

  sin 2 0   cos   cos  
2
 1
2
1
2
1
3
3
0

4

3
APPLICATIONS

Surface integrals have applications

similar to those for the integrals we have
previously considered.
APPLICATIONS

For example, suppose a thin sheet

(say, of aluminum foil) has:

 The shape of a surface S.

 The density (mass per unit area)

at the point (x, y, z) as ρ(x, y, z).
MASS

Then, the total mass of the sheet

is:

m    ( x, y, z ) dS
S
CENTER OF MASS

The center of mass is:

 x, y, z 
where 1
x   x  ( x, y, z ) dS
m S
1
y   y  ( x, y, z ) dS
m S
1
z   z  ( x, y, z ) dS
m S
MOMENTS OF INERTIA

Moments of inertia can also be

defined as before.

 See Exercise 39.

GRAPHS

Any surface S with equation z = g(x, y)

can be regarded as a parametric surface
with parametric equations
x=x y=y z = g(x, y)

 So, we have:

 g   g 
rx  i    k ry  j    k
 x   y 
GRAPHS Equation 3

Thus,
g g
rx  ry   i  jk
x x
and
2
 z   z 
2

| rx  ry |       1
 x   y 
GRAPHS Formula 4

Therefore, in this case, Formula 2

becomes:


S
f ( x, y, z ) dS

2
 z   z 
2

  f ( x, y, g ( x, y ))       1 dA
D  x   y 
GRAPHS

Similar formulas apply when it is

more convenient to project S onto
the yz-plane or xy-plane.
GRAPHS

For instance, if S is a surface with

equation y = h(x, z) and D is its projection
on the xz-plane, then


S
f ( x, y, z ) dS

 y   y 
2 2

  f ( x, h( x, z ), z )       1 dA
D  x   z 
GRAPHS Example 2

Evaluate  y dS where S is the surface

S
z = x + y2, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, 0 ≤ y ≤ 2

z
 1
x
and
z
 2y
y
GRAPHS Example 2

So, Formula 4 gives:

2
 z   z 
2

S y dS  D y 1   x    y  dA
1 2
  y 1  1  4 y 2 dy dx
0 0
1 2
  dx 2  y 1  2 y dy 2
0 0

13 2
 2 
2
1 2
(1  2 y )2 3/ 2
 
4 3 0 3
GRAPHS

If S is a piecewise-smooth surface—a finite

union of smooth surfaces S1, S2, . . . , Sn that
intersect only along their boundaries—then
the surface integral of f over S is defined by:

 f ( x, y, z) dS
S

  f ( x, y, z ) dS     f ( x, y, z ) dS
S1 Sn
GRAPHS Example 3

Evaluate  , where S is
S
z dS
the surface whose:

 Sides S1 are given by the cylinder x2 + y2 = 1.

 Bottom S2 is the disk x2 + y2 ≤ 1 in the plane z = 0.

 Top S3 is the part of the plane z = 1 + x that

lies above S2.
GRAPHS Example 3

The surface S is shown.

 We have changed
the usual position
of the axes to get
a better look at S.
GRAPHS Example 3

For S1, we use θ and z as parameters

(Example 5 in Section 16.6) and write its
parametric equations as:
x = cos θ
y = sin θ
z=z
where:
 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π
 0 ≤ z ≤ 1 + x = 1 + cos θ
GRAPHS Example 3

Therefore,
i j k
r  rz   sin  cos  0  cos  i  sin  j
0 0 1

and
| r  rz | cos   sin   1
2 2
GRAPHS Example 3

Thus, the surface integral over S1 is:

 z dS   z | r  r
S1 D
z | dA

2 1 cos
  z dz d
0 0
2
 1
2 (1  cos  ) d 2
0
2
 1
2 0 1  2 cos   2 (1  cos 2 )  d
1

3 2
    2sin   sin 2  
1
2
3
2
1
4 0
2
GRAPHS Example 3

Since S2 lies in the plane z = 0,

we have:


S2
z dS

  0 dS
S2

0
GRAPHS Example 3

S3 lies above the unit disk D and is

part of the plane z = 1 + x.

 So, taking
g(x, y) = 1 + x
in Formula 4
and converting to
polar coordinates,
we have the following
result.
GRAPHS Example 3
2
 z   z 
2

S z dS  D (1  x) 1   x    y  dA
3

2 1
  (1  r cos  ) 1  1  0 r dr d
0 0
2 1
 2   (r  r cos  ) dr d
2
0 0

2    cos   d
2
 1
2
1
3
0
2
 sin  
 2    2
2 3 0
GRAPHS Example 3

Therefore,

 z dS   z dS   z dS   z dS
S S1 S2 S3

3
 0 2
2
  3
2 
 2 
ORIENTED SURFACES

To define surface integrals of vector fields,

we need to rule out nonorientable surfaces
such as the Möbius strip shown.

 It is named
after the
German
geometer
August
Möbius
(1790–
1868).
MOBIUS STRIP

You can construct one for yourself by:

1. Taking a long rectangular strip of paper.

2. Giving it a half-twist.
3. Taping the short edges together.
MOBIUS STRIP

If an ant were to crawl along the Möbius strip

starting at a point P, it would end up on
the “other side” of the strip—that is, with its
upper side pointing in the opposite direction.
MOBIUS STRIP

Then, if it continued to crawl in the same

direction, it would end up back at the same
point P without ever having crossed an edge.

 If you have
constructed
a Möbius
strip, try
drawing
a pencil line
down the
middle.
MOBIUS STRIP

Therefore, a Möbius strip really has only

one side.

 You can graph the Möbius strip using the parametric

equations in Exercise 32 in Section 16.6.
ORIENTED SURFACES

From now on, we consider

only orientable (two-sided)
surfaces.
ORIENTED SURFACES

We start with a surface S that has a tangent

plane at every point (x, y, z) on S (except
at any boundary point).

 There are two unit

normal vectors
n1 and n2 = –n1
at (x, y, z).
ORIENTED SURFACE & ORIENTATION

If it is possible to choose a unit normal

vector n at every such point (x, y, z) so that n
varies continuously over S, then

 S is called an oriented surface.

 The given choice of n provides S

with an orientation.
POSSIBLE ORIENTATIONS

There are
two possible
orientations for
any orientable
surface.
UPWARD ORIENTATION Equation 5

For a surface z = g(x, y) given as the graph

of g, we use Equation 3 to associate with
the surface a natural orientation given by
g g
the unit normal vector  i jk
x y
n
2
 g   g 
2

1     
 x   y 
 As the k-component is positive,
this gives the upward orientation
of the surface.
ORIENTATION Equation 6

If S is a smooth orientable surface given

in parametric form by a vector function r(u, v),
then it is automatically supplied with
the orientation of the unit normal vector

ru  rv
n
| ru  rv |

 The opposite orientation is given by –n.

ORIENTATION

For instance, in Example 4 in Section 16.6,

we found the parametric representation

r(Φ, θ)
= a sin Φ cos θ i + a sin Φ sin θ j
+ a cos Φ k
for the sphere x2 + y2 + z2 = a2
ORIENTATION

Then, in Example 10 in Section 16.6,

we found that:
rΦ x rθ = a2 sin2 Φ cos θ i
+ a2 sin2 Φ sin θ j
+ a2 sin Φ cos Φ k
and
|rΦ x rθ| = a2 sin Φ
ORIENTATION

So, the orientation induced by r(Φ, θ) is

defined by the unit normal vector

r  r
n
| r  r |
 sin  cos  i  sin  sin  j  cos  k
1
 r ( ,  )
a
POSITIVE ORIENTATION

Observe that n points in the same

direction as the position vector—that is,
outward from the sphere.
NEGATIVE ORIENTATION

The opposite (inward) orientation would

have been obtained if we had reversed
the order of the parameters
because
rθ x rΦ = –rΦ x rθ
CLOSED SURFACES

For a closed surface—a surface that is

the boundary of a solid region E—the
convention is that:

 The positive orientation is the one for which

the normal vectors point outward from E.

 Inward-pointing normals give the negative

orientation.
SURFACE INTEGRALS OF VECTOR FIELDS

Suppose that S is an oriented surface with

unit normal vector n.

Then, imagine a fluid with density ρ(x, y, z)

and velocity field v(x, y, z) flowing through S.

 Think of S as an imaginary surface that doesn’t

impede the fluid flow—like a fishing net across
a stream.
SURFACE INTEGRALS OF VECTOR FIELDS

Then, the rate of flow

(mass per unit time) per unit
area is ρv.
SURFACE INTEGRALS OF VECTOR FIELDS

If we divide S into small patches Sij ,

then Sij is nearly planar.
SURFACE INTEGRALS OF VECTOR FIELDS

So, we can approximate the mass of fluid

crossing Sij in the direction of the normal n
per unit time by the quantity
(ρv · n)A(Sij)
where ρ, v, and n are
evaluated at some point on Sij.
 Recall that the component of the vector ρv
in the direction of the unit vector n is ρv · n.
VECTOR FIELDS Equation 7

Summing these quantities and taking the limit,

we get, according to Definition 1, the surface
integral of the function ρv · n over S:

  v  n dS
S

   ( x, y, z ) v( x, y, z )  n( x, y, z ) dS
S

 This is interpreted physically as the rate of flow

through S.
VECTOR FIELDS

If we write F = ρv, then F is also a vector

field on ° 3.

Then, the integral in Equation 7

becomes:

S
F  n dS
FLUX INTEGRAL

A surface integral of this form occurs

frequently in physics—even when F is not ρv.

It is called the surface integral (or flux integral)

of F over S.
FLUX INTEGRAL Definition 8

If F is a continuous vector field defined

on an oriented surface S with unit normal
vector n, then the surface integral of F over S
is:

S
F  dS   F
S
 n dS

 This integral is also called

the flux of F across S.
FLUX INTEGRAL

In words, Definition 8 says that:

 The surface integral of a vector field over S

is equal to the surface integral of its normal
component over S (as previously defined).
FLUX INTEGRAL

If S is given by a vector function r(u, v),

then n is given by Equation 6.
 Then, from Definition 8 and Equation 2,
we have:
ru  rv
S F  dS  S F  ru  rv dS
 ru  rv 
  F(r (u, v))   ru  rv dA
D 
ru  rv 
where D is the parameter domain.
FLUX INTEGRAL Formula 9

Thus, we have:


S
F  dS  
D
F  (ru  rv ) dA
FLUX INTEGRALS Example 4

Find the flux of the vector field

F(x, y, z) = z i + y j + x k
across the unit sphere
x2 + y2 + z2 = 1
FLUX INTEGRALS Example 4

Using the parametric representation

r(Φ, θ)
= sin Φ cos θ i + sin Φ sin θ j + cos Φ k
0≤Φ≤π 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π
we have:
F(r(Φ, θ))
= cos Φ i + sin Φ sin θ j + sin Φ cos θ k
FLUX INTEGRALS Example 4

From Example 10 in Section 16.6,

r Φ x rθ
= sin2 Φ cos θ i + sin2 Φ sin θ j
+ sin Φ cos Φ k
FLUX INTEGRALS Example 4

Therefore,

F(r(Φ, θ)) · (rΦ x rθ)

= cos Φ sin2 Φ cos θ
+ sin3 Φ sin2 θ
+ sin2 Φ cos Φ cos θ
FLUX INTEGRALS Example 4

Then, by Formula 9, the flux is:

 F  dS
S

  F  (r  r ) dA
D
2 
  (2sin  cos  cos   sin  sin  ) d d
2 3 2
0 0
FLUX INTEGRALS Example 4
 2
 2  sin  cos  d  cos  d
2
0 0
 2
  sin  d  sin  d
3 2
0 0
 2
 0   sin  d  sin  d
3 2
0 0

4

3
 This is by the same calculation as in Example 1.
FLUX INTEGRALS

The figure shows the vector field F in

Example 4 at points on the unit sphere.
VECTOR FIELDS

If, for instance, the vector field in Example 4

is a velocity field describing the flow of a fluid
with density 1, then the answer, 4π/3,
represents:

 The rate of flow through the unit sphere

in units of mass per unit time.
VECTOR FIELDS

In the case of a surface S given by a graph

z = g(x, y), we can think of x and y as
parameters and use Equation 3 to write:

 g g 
F  (rx  ry )  ( P i  Q j  R k )    i  jk 
 x y 
VECTOR FIELDS Formula 10

Thus, Formula 9 becomes:

 g g 
S F  dS  D   P x  Q y  R  dA

 This formula assumes the upward orientation of S.

 For a downward orientation, we multiply by –1.
VECTOR FIELDS

Similar formulas can be worked out if S

is given by y = h(x, z) or x = k(y, z).

 See Exercises 35 and 36.

VECTOR FIELDS Example 5

Evaluate

S
F  d S
where:

 F(x, y, z) = y i + x j + z k
 S is the boundary of the solid region E
enclosed by the paraboloid z = 1 – x2 – y2
and the plane z = 0.
VECTOR FIELDS Example 5

S consists of:
 A parabolic top surface S1.
 A circular bottom surface S2.
VECTOR FIELDS Example 5

Since S is a closed surface, we use the

convention of positive (outward) orientation.

 This means that S1 is oriented upward.

 So, we can use Equation 10 with D being

the projection of S1 on the xy-plane, namely,
the disk x2 + y2 ≤ 1.
VECTOR FIELDS Example 5

On S1,
P(x, y, z) = y
Q(x, y, z) = x
R(x, y, z) = z = 1 – x2 – y2
Also,
g g
  2x  2 y
x y
VECTOR FIELDS Example 5

So, we have:

 F  dS
S1

 g g 
    P  Q  R  dA
D 
x y 
  [ y (2 x)  x(2 y )  1  x 2  y 2 ] dA
D

  (1  4 xy  x 2  y 2 ) dA
D
VECTOR FIELDS Example 5
2 1
  (1  4r cos  sin   r ) r dr d
2 2
0 0
 2 1
   (r  r  4r cos  sin  ) dr d
3 3
0 0
 2
  ( cos  sin  ) d
1
4
0

 14 (2 )  0


2
VECTOR FIELDS Example 5

The disk S2 is oriented downward.

So, its unit normal vector is n = –k
and we have:

 F  dS   F  (k ) dS   ( z) dA
S2 S2 D

  0 dA  0
D

since z = 0 on S2.
VECTOR FIELDS Example 5

Finally, we compute, by definition,

 F  dS
as the sum of the surface integrals S
of F over the pieces S1 and S2:

 F  dS   F  dS   F  dS
S S1 S2

 
 0
2 2
APPLICATIONS

Although we motivated the surface integral

of a vector field using the example of fluid
flow, this concept also arises in other physical
situations.
ELECTRIC FLUX

For instance, if E is an electric field

(Example 5 in Section 16.1), the surface
integral

S
E  dS

is called the electric flux of E through

the surface S.
GAUSS’S LAW Equation 11

One of the important laws of electrostatics is

Gauss’s Law, which says that the net charge
enclosed by a closed surface S is:

Q   0  E  dS
S

where ε0 is a constant (called the permittivity

of free space) that depends on the units used.
 In the SI system, ε0 ≈ 8.8542 x 10–12 C2/N · m2
GAUSS’S LAW

Thus, if the vector field F in Example 4

represents an electric field, we can conclude
that the charge enclosed by S is:

Q = 4πε0/3
HEAT FLOW

Another application occurs in

the study of heat flow.

 Suppose the temperature at a point (x, y, z)

in a body is u(x, y, z).
HEAT FLOW

Then, the heat flow is defined as

the vector field
F = –K ∇u

where K is an experimentally
determined constant called
the conductivity of the substance.
HEAT FLOW

Then, the rate of heat flow across

the surface S in the body is given by
the surface integral

 F  dS   K  u  dS
S S
HEAT FLOW Example 6

The temperature u in a metal ball is

proportional to the square of the distance
from the center of the ball.

 Find the rate of heat flow across a sphere S

of radius a with center at the center of the ball.
HEAT FLOW Example 6

Taking the center of the ball to be at

the origin, we have:

u(x, y, z) = C(x2 + y2 + z2)

where C is the proportionality constant.

HEAT FLOW Example 6

Then, the heat flow is:

F(x, y, z) = –K ∇u
= –KC(2x i + 2y j + 2z k)

where K is the conductivity of the metal.

HEAT FLOW Example 6

Instead of using the usual parametrization

of the sphere as in Example 4, we observe
that the outward unit normal to the sphere
x2 + y2 + z2 = a2 at the point (x, y, z) is:
n = 1/a (x i + y j + z k)
Thus,
2 KC 2
F n   (x  y  z )
2 2

a
HEAT FLOW Example 6

However, on S, we have:

x2 + y2 + z2 = a2

Thus,
F · n = –2aKC
HEAT FLOW Example 6

Thus, the rate of heat flow across S

is:

 F  dS   F  n dS  2aKC  dS
S S S

 2aKCA( S )
 2aKC (4 a ) 2

 8KC a 3
THANK YOU