FT FOR LINE INTEGRALS

Lets prove Theorem 2 for this

case.

FT FOR LINE INTEGRALS

Proof

Using Definition 13 in Section 16.2, we have:

f dr f r t r ' t dt
b

f dx f dy f dz

dt

a x dt
y dt z dt

b d

f r t dt f r b f r a
a dt
b

The last step follows from the FTC (Equation 1).

FT FOR LINE INTEGRALS

Though we have proved Theorem 2

for smooth curves, it is also true for

piecewise-smooth curves.
This can be seen by subdividing C into
a finite number of smooth curves and
adding the resulting integrals.

Example 1

FT FOR LINE INTEGRALS

Find the work done by the gravitational field

F ( x)

mMG
x

in moving a particle with mass m from

the point (3, 4, 12) to the point (2, 2, 0)
along a piecewise-smooth curve C.
See Example 4 in Section 16.1

Example 1

FT FOR LINE INTEGRALS

From Section 16.1, we know that F is

a conservative vector field and, in fact,

F f , where:

f x, y , z

mMG
x y z
2

Example 1

FT FOR LINE INTEGRALS

So, by Theorem 2, the work done is:

W F dr f dr
C

f 2, 2, 0 f 3, 4,12

mMG
2 2

mMG

3 4 12
1
1
mMG

2 2 13
2