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Chapter 16

Integration in Vector Fields


Dr. Suresh Kumar, Department of Mathematics, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus
Note:

Some concepts from Chapter 16 are briefly described here just to help the students. Therefore,

the following study material is expected to be useful but not exhaustive. For detailed study, the students
are advised to attend the lecture/tutorial classes regularly, and consult the text book (Thomas Calculus,
12th edition) prescribed in the hand out of the course. Report the typos in the document, if any, through
e-mail (suresh.kumar@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in). Suggestions are also welcome.

Appeal: Please do not print this document. Develop a habit of reading soft copy of the notes.

Contents
Line Integral of a scalar field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Line Integral of a vector field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Work Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Flow and Circulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Flux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Path independence and conservative fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divergence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spin around an axis: The k-component of curl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10

Greens Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11

Surface Integrals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12

Parametrization of a surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12

Smooth surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13

Area of a smooth surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13

Area of an implicitly defined smooth surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14

Integral over a smooth surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16

Orientable surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16

Stokes Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17

Divergence Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

Line Integral of a scalar field


Let C be a smooth curve with end points A and B in the domain of a real valued function or a scalar
field f (x, y, z).

Partition the curve C into k subarcs with lengths sk (k = 1, 2, ..., n) such that sk 0 as n .
Let (xk , yk , zk ) be a point on the kth subarc. Then the limit
lim

n
X

f (xk , yk , zk )sk ,

k=1

if exists, defines the line integral of f (x, y, z) along the curve C, and is written as
Z

n
X

f (x, y, z)ds =

f (x, y, z)ds = lim


A

f (xk , yk , zk )sk .

k=1

If the curve C is parametrized by x = x(t), y = y(t), z = z(t), and its end points A and B correspond
to the parameter values t = a and t = b, respectively, then
Z
Z B
Z b
ds
f (x, y, z)ds =
f (x, y, z)ds =
f (x(t), y(t), z(t)) dt,
dt
C
A
a
p
where ds
x0 (t)2 + y 0 (t)2 + z 0 (t)2 .
dt =
Ex. Integrate f (x, y, z) = x 3y 2 + z over the line segment C joining the origin to the point (1, 1, 1).
Sol. A simple parametrization of the given path C reads as

0 t 1.
r (t) = ti + tj + tk,

ds d
r

=
=
1
+
1
+
1
=
3.
dt
dt
It follows that
Z
Z
f (x, y, z)ds =
C

ds
f (t, t, t) dt =
dt

Z
0

(t 3t2 + t) 3dt = 0.

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

Line Integral of a vector field


Let C be a smooth curve with end points A and B in the domain of a vector valued function or vector

field F (x, y, z). Then line integral of F (x, y, z) along the curve C is defined as the line integral of its

tangential component F .T along the curve C, that is,


Z
Z
Z


r
F .T ds =
F.
ds =
F .d
r,
ds
C
C
C

where
r = xi + yj + z k is position vector of any point (x, y, z) on the curve C.

and its end points A and B correspond


If the curve C is parametrized by
r (t) = x(t)i + y(t)j + z(t)k,
to the parameter values t1 and t2 , respectively, then
Z
Z
Z t2

F .T ds =
F .d r =
F.
dt.
dt
t1
C
C
In the following, we mention some physical applications of line integral.

Work Done

If a particle moves along a smooth curve C from A to B under the action of force filed F (x, y, z), then
the work done in moving the particle from A to B along C is given by
Z
Z
Z B

W =
F .T ds =
F .d r =
F .d
r.
C

Ex. Find the work done by the force field F = xi + yj + z k in moving an object along the curve C

0 t 1.
parametrized by
r (t) = cos(t)i + t2 j + sin(t)k,
Sol. The work done is the line integral
Z 1
Z 1

d
r
1
dt =
2t3 dt = .
F.
dt
2
0
0

Flow and Circulation

If F (x, y, z) represents the velocity field in a fluid flow, then the flow along a smooth curve C extending

from A to B in domain of F (x, y, z) is given by


Z
Z
Z B


Flow =
F .T ds =
F .d
r =
F .d
r.
C

In case, C is a closed curve, then the above integral is called circulation of F (x, y, z) around C, and is
denoted by
I
I


F .T ds =
F .d
r.
C

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

Ex. Find the circulation of the field F = (x y)i + xj around the circle C given by
r (t) = cos ti +
sin tj,

0 t 2.

Sol. The circulation of the given field is


Z 2
Z 2

d
r
F.
(1 sin t cos t)dt = 2.
dt =
dt
0
0

Flux

Consider the planar flow of a fluid with continuous velocity field F (x, y) in the xy-plane. If a smooth and

simple closed curve C lies in the domain of F (x, y), and n


is a outward pointing unit normal vector on

C, then the outward flux of F across C is given by line integral of normal component F .
n of F along
C, that is,
I
Outward Flux =

F .
nds.

Figure 1:
If the curve C is traversed counterclockwise in the xy-plane as viewed from the tip of positive z-axis
(see Figure 1), then we have



dx dy
d
r
dx
dy

k =
i + j k = j + i.
n
=T k =
ds
ds
ds
ds
ds

dy
dx
. If F (x, y) = M (x, y)i + N (x, y)j, then F .
N . So
n=M
ds
ds
I
I

Outward Flux =
F .
nds =
M dy N dx.
C

Ex. Find the flux of the field F = (x y)i + xj across the circle C given by
r (t) = cos ti + sin tj,
t 2.
Sol. Here M = x y and N = x. On C, x = cos t and y = sin t. So the flux of the given field is
Z 2
Z 2
(M dy N dx) =
cos2 tdt = .
0

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

Path independence and conservative fields

Consider a vector field F defined in an open region D1 . If the line integral of F along any smooth path
R
RB


C extending from a point A to a point B inside D, that is, C F .d
r = A F .d
r does not depend on
the path C joining A and B rather it depends solely on the end points A and B of the path, then the line

integral of F is said to be path independent in D, and F is said to be conservative field in D.

Suppose there exits a differentiable function such that F = in D. Then is called potential of

the vector field F in D. Suppose a smooth curve C parameterized by


r (t) = x(t)i + y(t)j + z(t)k lies
in D, and its end points A and B correspond to the parameter values t1 and t2 , respectively. Along the
curve C, (x(t), y(t), z(t)) is a differentiable function of t. So we have

d
d
d dx d dy d dz
d
r
r
=
+
+
= .
= F.
.
dt
dx dt
dy dt
dz dt
dt
dt
It follows that
Z
C


F .d
r =


F .d
r =

t2

t1

Z t2

d
d
r
dt =
dt = (x(t), y(t), z(t))]tt21 = (B) (A).
F.
dt
dt
t1

This shows that line integral of F is path independent in D. The above result is known as the fundamental

theorem of line integrals. We notice that the path independence of the line integral of F is ensured

provided F is gradient field of some differentiable function . In this regard, we state the following useful
results.

Conservative fields are gradient fields.

Let F be a continuous vector field in an open connected2 region D. Then F is conservative if and only

if F = for some differentiable function .

Loop property of conservative fields

Let F be a continuous vector field in an open connected region D. Then F is conservative if and only if
I


F .d
r = 0 for every loop or closed curve C in D.
C
1

Open region is a region which contains a neighbourhood of its every point. In other words, all points of an open region

are its interior points.


2
A region D is said to be connected if any two points of D can be joined by a polygonal path inside D. Further, a
connected region D is said to be simply connected if any closed curve inside D encloses points of D only.

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

Component test for conservative fields

Let F = M (x, y, z)i + N (x, y, z)j + P (x, y, z)k be a vector field having continuous first order partial

derivatives in a simply connected open region D. Then F is conservative if and only if


N N
P P
M
M
=
,
=
,
=
.
y
x z
y x
z

By verifying the above conditions on components of F , we find whether F is conserved. If F is

conserved, then there exists some differentiable function such that F = or



M (x, y, z)i + N (x, y, z)j + P (x, y, z)k =
i+
j+
k,
x
y
z
or
M=

, N=
, P =
.
x
y
z

To determine , we solve the above equations as illustrated in the following example.

Ex. Show that the field F = yi + xj + 4k is conservative. Find its potential and hence evaluate the line
integral
Z (2,3,1)
ydx + xdy + 4dz
(1,1,1)

Sol. Here M = y, N = x and P = 4. So we have


M
N N
P P
M
=1=
,
=0=
,
=0=
.
y
x z
y z
x
This shows that the given field is conservative.

Now, let f be potential of F so that F = f . So we have


f
= y,
x

f
= x,
y

f
= 4.
z

We shall use these three equations to determine f . From first equation, we get
f (x, y, z) = xy + g(y, z),
which gives
f
g
=x+
.
y
y
In view of second equation, we have
g
= 0.
y

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

This shows that g is a function of z alone, and therefore


f (x, y, z) = xy + h(z).

dh
f
=0+
= 4,
z
dz

in view of the third equation

or h(z) = 4z + C.
f
z

= 4. Thus, finally we get

f (x, y, z) = xy + 4z + C.
Since the given vector field is conservative, so the required line integral is independent of the path from
(1, 1, 1, ) to (2, 3, 1), and equals
f (2, 3, 1) f (1, 1, 1) = 2 + C (5 + C) = 3.

Divergence

Consider planar flow of a fluid in the xy-plane. Suppose F (x, y) = M (x, y)i + N (x, y)j is the velocity
field of the fluid having continuous first order partial derivatives in a region R of the xy-plane.

Let A(x, y) be a point in R, and ABCD be a small rectangle traversed counterclockwise completely
lying inside R, with edges parallel to the coordinate axes having lengths x and y. To be more precise,
let AB = x is bottom edge; CD = x is the top edge; AD = y is the left edge and BC = y
is the right edge. We also assume that the velocity field components M and N do not change their
signs throughout the small rectangle ABCD. Then the amount of fluid coming out of the bottom edge
AB = x per unit time is given by

F (x, y).(j)x = N (x, y)x.


Likewise, the flow rate of the fluid across the top edge CD = x of the rectangle is

F (x, y + y).jx = N (x, y + y)x.

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

The flow rate of the fluid across the left edge AD = y of the rectangle is

F (x, y).(i)y = M (x, y)y,


while the flow rate of the fluid across the right edge BC = y of the rectangle reads as

F (x + x, y).iy = M (x + x, y)y.
Summing the flow rates across the opposite pairs gives

Top and Bottom: N (x, y + y)x N (x, y)x

Right and Left: M (x + x, y)y M (x, y)y

N
yx
y

M
xy
x

So the net flow rate across the entire rectangle or the flux across the rectangle
So the flux per unit area or flux density for the rectangle

M
x

M
x

N
y

xy.

N
y .

In the limit (x, y) (0, 0), we get the flux density at the point A(x, y), and we call it the divergence

of F at the point A(x, y). Formally, we have the following definition of divergence.

The divergence (flux density) of a vector field F (x, y) = M (x, y)i + N (x, y)j at a point (x, y) is

M
N
div F =
+
.
x
y
If a fluid is compressible, then the divergence of its velocity field measures to what extent it is expanding
or contracting at each point. Intuitively, if a fluid is expanding at a point (x, y), the lines of flow would
diverge there, and since the fluid would be flowing out of a small rectangle about (x, y), the divergence of
the velocity field at (x, y) would be positive. In case of compression, the divergence would be negative.
The points of expansion and compression in a fluid are sometimes called as sources (something coming
out) and sinks (something loosing into), respectively. Of course, there would be no sources and sinks in
an incompressible fluid, and divergence of the velocity field of such a fluid would be zero at every point.

The divergence of a more general vector field F = M (x, y, z)i + N (x, y, z)j + P (x, y, z)k at a point
(x, y, z) is defined as

N
P
M
+
+
.
div F =
x
y
z

An easy to use notation and formula for computing divergence of F = M (x, y, z)i+N (x, y, z)j+P (x, y, z)k
read as



= M + N + P .

div F = . F = i
+j
+k
.(M i + N j + P k)
x
y
z
x
y
z

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

10

Spin around an axis: The k-component of curl

Consider planar flow of a fluid in the xy-plane. Suppose F (x, y) = M (x, y)i + N (x, y)j is the velocity
field of the fluid having continuous first order partial derivatives in a region R of the xy-plane.

Let A(x, y) be a point in R, and ABCD be a small rectangle traversed counterclockwise completely
lying inside R, with edges parallel to the coordinate axes having lengths x and y. To be more precise,
let AB = x is bottom edge; CD = x is the top edge; AD = y is the left edge and BC = y is
the right edge. We also assume that the velocity field components M and N are positive throughout the
small rectangle ABCD. Then the amount of fluid flowing along the bottom edge AB = x per unit time
is given by

F (x, y).ix = M (x, y)x.


Likewise, the flow rate of the fluid along the top edge CD = x of the rectangle is

F (x, y + y).(i)x = M (x, y + y)x.


The flow rate of the fluid along the left edge DA = y of the rectangle is

F (x, y).(j)y = N (x, y)y,


while the flow rate of the fluid along the right edge BC = y of the rectangle reads as

F (x + x, y).jy = N (x + x, y)y.
Summing the flow rates across the opposite pairs gives

Top and Bottom: M (x, y + y)x + M (x, y)x

Right and Left: N (x + x, y)y N (x, y)y

M
yx
y

N
xy
x

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

11

So the net flow rate or the counterclockwise circulation rate around the rectangular boundary


N
M
xy.

x
y
N
M

.
x
y

In the limit (x, y) (0, 0), we get the circulation density of F at the point A(x, y). Physically,

So the circulation density for the rectangle

it is the measure of how a floating paddle wheel with axis perpendicular to the xy-plane spins at a point
(x, y) in the fluid flowing in the xy-plane.

The expression

N
x

M
y ,

in fact, is the k-component of a more general vector known as curl of F .

Formally, we have the following definition of curl of a vector field.

The curl of a vector field F = M (x, y, z)i + N (x, y, z)j + P (x, y, z)k at a point (x, y, z) is







M
N
P
N
P
M
k.

i+

j+

curl F =
y
z
z
x
x
y

An easy to use notation and formula for computing curl of F = M (x, y, z)i + N (x, y, z)j + P (x, y, z)k
read as


i


curl F = F = x


M



k 






P
N
M
P
N
M
=

i+

j+

k.
z
y
z
z
x
x
y

P

Note that the determinant here is not the determinant of numbers. The determinant notation is used
just to facilitate the calculation of curl.

Greens Theorem
We have the following two forms of the Greens theorem.

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

12

Flux-Divergence or Normal Form

Let F (x, y) = M (x, y)i + N (x, y)j be a vector field having continuous first order partial derivatives in
an open region in xy-plane containing a piecewise smooth simple closed curve C enclosing a region R.

Then the outward flux of F across the curve C equals the double integral of the divergence of F over
the region R, that is,

ZZ 
I
I

M
N
M dy N dx =
dxdy.
F .
nds =
+
x
y
R
C
C
Circulation-Curl or Tangential Form

Let F (x, y) = M (x, y)i + N (x, y)j be a vector field having continuous first order partial derivatives in an
open region in xy-plane containing a piecewise smooth simple closed curve C enclosing a region R. Then

the counterclockwise circulation of F around the curve C equals the double integral of curl F .k over R,
that is,
I


F .T ds =

ZZ 

I
M dx + N dy =
C

N
M

x
y


dxdy.

Ex. Verify both forms of the Greens theorem for the vector field F = (x y)i + xj and the region R

enclosed by the circle C given by


r (t) = cos ti + sin tj, 0 t 2.
Sol. Here M = x y and N = x. On C, x = cos t and y = sin t. So
I
Z 2
(M dy N dx) =
cos2 tdt = .
C

Next,
ZZ 
R

M
N
+
x
y

F .
nds =

ZZ
dxdy =

(1 + 0)dxdy = .
R

ZZ 
M dy N dx = =

M
N
+
x
y


dxdy

This verifies normal form of Greens theorem.


Similarly, it can be verified that

I
I
ZZ 


N
M
F .T ds =
M dx + N dy = 2 =

dxdy.
x
y
C
C
R

Surface Integrals
Parametrization of a surface

We know that
r (t) = x(t)i+y(t)j+z(t)k represents a curve in space parametrized by the single parameter
t.

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

13

For example,
r (t) = (x0 + lt)i + (y0 + mt)j + (z0 + nt)k represents the line
y y0
z z0
x x0
=
=
,
l
m
n
with direction cosines l, m, n, and passing through the point (x0 , y0 , z0 ).

Likewise,
r (u, v) = x(u, v)i + y(u, v)j + z(u, v)k represents a surface in space parametrized by the
two parameters u and v.

0 u , 0 v 2 represents the
For example,
r (u, v) = a sin u cos vi + a sin u sin vj + a cos uk,
sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = a2 .

If we set u = /2, then


r (/2, v) = a cos vi + a sin vj, 0 v 2 represents the circle x2 + y 2 = a2 ,
as expected.

Obviously, the partial derivative


rv (/2, v) = a sin vi + a cos vj, 0 v 2 is tangent vector to the
circle x2 + y 2 = a2 .

In general, the vectors


ru and
rv evaluated at some point (u0 , v0 ) of the plane of parameters u

and v lie in the tangent plane to the surface


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

(x(u0 , v0 ), y(u0 , v0 ), z(u0 , v0 )) of the surface provided


ru and
rv are non-zero at (u0 , v0 ). It implies that

r
r is normal vector to the surface
r (u, v).
u

Smooth surface

The parametrized surface


r (u, v) = x(u, v)i + y(u, v)j + z(u, v)k is said to be smooth if
ru and
rv are

continuous with
r
r 6= 0 at every point of the parameters domain under consideration.
u

The condition that


ru
rv 6= 0 in the definition of smoothness implies that the vectors
ru and
rv
are non-zero and are not parallel, so these always determine a plane tangent to the surface. We relax this
condition on the boundary of the domain, but this does not affect the area computations.

Area of a smooth surface

where u and v
Consider a smooth surface S parametrized by
r (u, v) = x(u, v)i + y(u, v)j + z(u, v)k,
belong to some region R in the uv-plane. Divide the region R into meshes by choosing lines parallel to u
and v-axes. Let there be n complete rectangles with dimensions ui and vi (i = 1, 2, ...., n). Let i
be the area of the patch on the surface S corresponding to the ith rectangle. We approximate the area

by the area of the parallelogram described by the vectors u


r and v
r , that lies in the tangent
i

i u

plane to the surface.


So we have

i |ui
ru vi
rv | = |
ru
rv |ui vi .

i v

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

So the approximate area of the surface S =


(ui , vi ) (0, 0), the sum

n
X

n
X

|
ru
rv |ui vi . In the limit n such that

i=1

|
ru
rv |ui vi defines the double integral

Area of S =

ZZ

|
ru
rv |dudv.

d =
S

Ex. Find the surface area of a sphere of radius a.


Sol. We use the following parametrization

0 u , 0 v 2.
r (u, v) = a sin u cos vi + a sin u sin vj + a cos uk,
Then we find

|
ru
rv | = a2 sin u.
Z

Area of the sphere =


0

a2 sin u dudv = 4a2 .

Area of an implicitly defined smooth surface


Consider an implicitly defined smooth surface S by
F (x, y, z) = c,

ZZ
R

i=1

gives the area of the surface S, that is,


ZZ

14

|
ru
rv |dudv, and

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

15

where c is a constant. Suppose R is the shadow or vertical projection on one of the suitable coordinate
planes, that is, xy, yz or zx-plane such that any line perpendicular to the plane region R does not intersect
the surface S in more than one point. This would be possible if the surface does not fold back over itself
over the plane of projection. Suppose the projection region R lies in the xy-plane. Then F (x, y, z) = c
can be expressed in the form z = f (x, y), by implicit function theorem (a theorem of advanced calculus).
Let u = x, v = y so that z = f (u, v). Then the given surface in parametrized form is

r (u, v) = ui + vj + f (u, v)k.


f Fx
f Fy


ru = i +
k,
rv = j +
k.
k =i
k=j
u
Fz
v
Fz
It follows that
1

= F .
ru
rv =
(Fxi + Fy j + Fz k)
Fz
F.k
So the surface area differential is
|F |

d = |
ru
rv |dudv =
dxdy.

|F.k|
Thus, the surface area of the implicit surface F (x, y, z) = c, when its projected region R lies in xy-plane,
reads as
ZZ
R

|F |
dxdy.

|F.k|

Also, F (x, y, z) = c is expressible as z = f (x, y). So F (x, y, z) c = z f (x, y) = 0, and therefore


Fx = fx , Fy = fy and Fz = 1. So the above surface area formula can also be written as
ZZ q
fx2 + fy2 + 1 dxdy.
R

Likewise, if the projected region R is in the yz-plane, we have


ZZ q
ZZ
|F |
Surface Area =
dydz =
fy2 + fz2 + 1 dydz.
i|
R |F.
R
If the projected region R is in the zx-plane, then
ZZ p
ZZ
|F |
Surface Area =
dzdx =
fz2 + fx2 + 1 dzdx.

|F.
j|
R
R
Ex. Find the surface area of paraboloid z = x2 + y 2 , 0 z 2.
Sol. Here f (x, y) = x2 + y 2 , and the projected region R in the xy-plane of the given surface is the circle
x2 + y 2 = 2. So the required surface area equals to
ZZ p
Z
ZZ q
2
2
2
2
fx + fy + 1 dxdy =
4x + 4y + 1 dxdy =
R

Z
0

2p

4r2 + 1 rdrd = 13/3.

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

16

Integral over a smooth surface


Let G(x, y, z) be a function defined in an open region containing a smooth surface S. Divide the surface
S into n patches with areas i (i = 1, 2, ..., n) such that i 0 in the limit n . Choose a point
n
X
(xi , yi , zi ) on the ith patch of S and construct the sum
G(xi , yi , zi )i , which defines the integral of
i=1

G(x, y, z) over the surface S in the limit n , that is,


ZZ
G(x, y, z)d = lim

n
X

G(xi , yi , zi )i ,

i=1

provided the limit exists finitely.

where u and v belong to


If the surface S is parametrized by
r (u, v) = x(u, v)i + y(u, v)j + z(u, v)k,
some region R in the uv-plane, then
ZZ

ZZ

G(x(u, v), y(u, v), z(u, v))|


ru
rv |dudv.

G(x, y, z)d =
S

If the surface S is implicitly given by F (x, y, z) = c, its projected region R lies in the xy-plane and
z = f (x, y), then
ZZ

ZZ
G(x, y, z)d =

|F |
dxdy =
G(x, y, f (x, y))

|F.k|
R

ZZ

q
G(x, y, f (x, y)) fx2 + fy2 + 1 dxdy.

p
4x2 + 4y 2 + 1 over the surface of the paraboloid z = x2 + y 2 , 0 z 2.

Ex. Integrate

Sol. The projected region R in the xy-plane of the given surface is the circle x2 + y 2 = 2. So the integral
p
of 4x2 + 4y 2 + 1 equals to
ZZ p
ZZ p
q
p
4x2 + 4y 2 + 1 fx2 + fy2 + 1 dxdy =
4x2 + 4y 2 + 1 4x2 + 4y 2 + 1 dxdy
R

=
0

(4r2 + 1) rdrd =?.

Orientable surface
A smooth surface S is said to be orientable, if it possesses continuous unique normal vector at each point.
For example, the surface of a sphere is orientable. A Mobius band is not orientable surface. Take a strip

of paper, give half twist and join the two ends of the strip to get a Mobius band. By moving continuously

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

17

along the surface, we can reach to the opposite of starting point. It means there exist two different normal
vectors at each point of the surface. So it is not orientable.
If the surface is orientable, conventionally we consider unit normal vector n
drawn outwards to the
surface, and say that the surface is oriented in the direction of n
.

Let F be a continuous vector field in an open region containing a smooth surface S oriented in the

direction of n
. Then the flux of F across S is defined as
ZZ

Flux =
F .
nd.
S

Stokes Theorem

Let F = M i + N j + P k be a vector field having continuous first order partial derivatives in an open
region containing a piecewise smooth oriented surface S with piecewise smooth boundary C. Then the

circulation of F around C in the direction counterclockwise with respect to the unit normal vector n
on

S equals the integral of F .


n over S, that is,
I
ZZ


F .d
r =
F .
nd.
C

Notice that if F = M i+N j and S is the region enclosed by C in the xy-plane, then the above theorem
reduces to the tangential form of Greens theorem.

If F = , then it is easy to verify that F = 0. Therefore, curl of a conservative vector field

always vanishes. On the other hand, Stokes theorem can be used to show that if F = 0 in a simply
H

connected open region D, then
F .d
r = 0 for any piecewise smooth closed path C inside the region
C

D, which in turn implies that F is conservative in D.

Divergence Theorem

Let F = M i+N j +P k be a vector field having continuous first order partial derivatives in an open region

containing a piecewise smooth oriented closed surface S. Then the flux of F across S in the direction of

the outward drawn unit normal vector n


on S equals the integral of . F over the region D enclosed by
S, that is,
ZZ
S

F .
nd =

. F dV.

ZZZ
D

Notice that if F = M i + N j and D is the region enclosed by S in the xy-plane, then the above
theorem reduces to the normal form of Greens theorem.

Vector Fields Integration

Dr. Suresh Kumar, BITS Pilani

18

I encourage you to attempt the following problems.

1. Verify divergence theorem for F = (x2 yz)i + (y 2 zx)j + (z 2 xy)k over the cuboidal region
given by 0 x 1, 0 y 2, 0 z 3.
Ans. 36.

2. Verify divergence theorem for F = 4xi 2y 2 j + z 2 k over the region bounded by the cylinder
x2 + y 2 = 16, z = 0, z = 3.
Ans. 84.

3. Using divergence theorem, integrate F = (2x + 3z)i (xz + y)j + (y 2 + 2z)k over the surface of the
sphere having center at origin and radius 3.
Ans. 108.
4. Verify Stokes theorem for the vector field

F = (2xy)iyz 2 j y 2 z k over the upper half surface of x2 +y 2 +z 2 = 1, bounded by its projection


on the XY-plane.
Ans. .
H

r , where
5. Using Stokes theorem, evaluate C F .d

F = y 2i + x2 j (x + z)k and C is boundary of the triangle with vertices (0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 0) and
(1, 1, 0).
Ans. 1/3.

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