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Mathematics 1c: Solutions, Homework Set 8

Due: Tuesday, June 1 at 10am.
1. (10 Points) Section 8.1, Exercises 3c and 3d. Verify Green’s theorem for
the disk D with center (0, 0) and radius R and P (x, y) = xy = Q(x, y) and the
same disk for P = 2y, Q = x. .

Solution. For 3c, let c(t) = (R cos t, R sin t) be the parameterization of ∂D.
Then
Z Z 2π
P dx + Q dy = (R2 cos t sin t, R2 cos t sin t) · (−R sin t, R cos t)dt
∂D 0
Z 2π Z 2π
3 2 3
= −R sin t cos t dt + R cos2 t sin t dt
0 0
= 0 + 0 = 0.
Also,
ZZ   ZZ
∂Q ∂P
− dx dy = (y − x)dx dy
D ∂x ∂y D
Z R Z 2π
= (r sin θ − r cos θ)r dθ dr
0 0
Z R
= (0 + 0)r2 dr = 0.
0
Hence, Green’s theorem for 3c is verified.

For 3d, note that Green’s theorem

Z ZZ  
∂Q ∂P
P dx + Qdy = − dx dy
∂D D ∂x ∂y
becomes Z ZZ ZZ
2y dx + x dy = (1 − 2)dx dy = − dx dy
∂D D D
The right side is −πR2 while the left side is, since x = R cos θ and y = R sin θ,
Z 2π
(2R sin θ)(−R sin θ)dθ + (R cos θ)(R cos θ)dθ
0
Z 2π Z 2π
2 2 2
= −2R sin θdθ + R cos2 θdθ.
0 0
2
Using the fact that sin θ and cos2 θ have averages 12 , namely
Z 2π
1 1
sin2 θdθ =
2π 0 2
(this is one way of remembering the formula for the integrals of sin2 θ and
cos2 θ on [0, 2π] and [0, π]), we get −2R2 · π + R2 · π = −πR2 . Thus, Green’s
theorem checks.
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2. (10 Points) Section 8.2, Exercise 3. Verify Stokes’ theorem for z = 1 − x2 − y 2 ,
the upper hemisphere, with z ≥ 0, and the radial vector field F(x, y, z) =
xi + yj + zk.

Solution. Let H be the upper hemisphere.

(i) Since F(x, y, z) = (x, y, z), we have ∇ × F = 0, so

ZZ
(∇ × F) · dS = 0.
H

(ii) Notice that the tangent to ∂H at the point (x, y, 0) is the vector (−y, x, 0)
which is perpendicular to F = (x, y, z). So
Z
F · dS = 0.
∂H

Hence, Stokes’ theorem is verified.

3. (10 Points) Section 8.2, Exercise 16. For a surface S and a fixed vector v,
prove that ZZ Z
2 v · n dS = (v × r) · dS,
S ∂S
where r(x, y, z) = (x, y, z).

Solution. Let v = (a, b, c) and r = (x, y, z). Then

 
i j k

v × r = a b c 
x y z
= (bz − cy, cx − az, ay − bx)

and
 
 i j k 
 ∂ ∂ ∂

∇ × (v × r) =  ∂x

∂y ∂z


bz − cy cx − az ay − bx
= (2a, 2b, 2c)
= 2v.

Therefore, by Stokes’ theorem, we have

Z ZZ ZZ
(v × r) · dS = (∇ × (v × r)) · dS = 2 v · n dS.
∂S S S

4. (15 Points) Section 8.2, Exercise 23. Let F = x2 i + (2xy + x)j + zk. Let C
be the circle x2 + y 2 = 1 in the plane z = 0 oriented counterclockwise and S
the disk x2 + y 2 ≤ 1 oriented with the normal vector k. Determine:
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(a) The integral of F over S.

(b) The circulation of F around C.
(c) Find the integral of ∇ × F over S. Verify Stokes’ theorem directly in this
case.

Solution.

(a) Notice that F = (x2 , 2xy + x, 0) on S. Hence

ZZ ZZ
F · dS = (x2 , 2xy + x, 0) · (0, 0, 1) dS = 0.
S S

(b) Let c(t) = (cos t, sin t, 0) be the parameterization of C. Then

Z Z 2π
F · dS = (cos2 t, 2 cos t sin t + cos t, 0) · (− sin t, cos t, 0)dt
C 0
Z 2π
= (cos2 t sin t + cos2 t)dt = π.
0

(c) Routine computation shows that ∇ × F = (0, 0, 2y + 1). Hence

ZZ Z 1 Z 2π
(∇ × F) · dS = (0, 0, 2r sin θ + 1) · (0, 0, 1)r dθ dr
S 0 0
Z 1 Z 2π
= (2r sin θ + 1)r dθ dr = π.
0 0

Combining the results in (b) and (c), Stokes’ theorem is verified.

5. (15 Points) Section 8.3, Exercise 14. Determine which of the following
vector fields F in the plane is the gradient of a scalar function f . If such an
f exists, find it.

(a) F(x, y) = (cos xy − xy sin xy)i − (x2 sin xy)j

p p
(b) F(x, y) = (x x2 y 2 + 1)i + (y x2 y 2 + 1)j
(c) F(x, y) = (2x cos y + cos y)i − (x2 sin y + x sin y)j.

Solution. In this problem, we apply the cross-derivative test. For example,

for problem (a),

∂F1 ∂F2
− = (x sin xy − x sin xy − x2 y cos xy) − (−2x sin xy − x2 y cos xy) = 0,
∂y ∂x
so F is indeed the gradient of some function on the plane. To find such a
function, we seek f satisfying
∂f
= F2 = x2 sin xy,
∂y
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for example, f (x, y) = x cos xy. (Of course, f is unique only up to an additive
constant). Part (b) and (c) proceed similarly. (b) is not a gradient field. For
part (c), f (x, y) = x2 cos y + x cos y is a function whose gradient is the given
field.
6. (10 Points) Section 8.4, Exercise 2. Let F = x3 i + y 3 j + z 3 k. Evaluate the
surface integral of F over the unit sphere.

Solution. Rather than integrating F = x3 i + y 3 j + z 3 k over the sphere

directly, we apply Gauss’ theorem and integrate
∇ · F = 3(x2 + y 2 + z 2 ) = 3ρ2
over the unit ball:
ZZZ Z π Z 2π Z 1
12π
∇ · Fρ2 sin φ dρ dθ dφ = 3 ρ4 sin φ dρ dθ dφ = .
B 0 0 0 5

7. (10 Points) Section 8.4, Exercise 14. Fix k vectors v1 , . . . , vk in space and
numbers (“charges”) q1 , . . . , qk . Define
k
X qi
φ(x, y, z) = ,
4πkr − vi k
i=1

where r = (x, y, z). Show that for a closed surface S and e = −∇φ,
ZZ
e · dS = Q,
S
where Q = q1 + · · · + qk is the total charge inside S. Assume that none of the
charges are on S.

Solution. Surround each charge at vector vi by a small ball Bi in such a

way that the Bi are mutually disjoint and do not intersect S. Assume that
B1 , . . . , Bn , (where n ≤ k) are those balls contained within S. Then since
div e = 0, and as in Theorem 10,
ZZ Xn ZZ
e · dS = e · dS
S i=1 ∂Bi

where ∂Bi is given the outward orientation. But again, as in Theorem 10,
ZZ
e · dS = qi .
∂Bi

Thus,
ZZ n
X
e · dS = qi = Q,
S i=1
the total charge inside S.