Stokes Theorem

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to

Apply Stokes theorem and determine the direction of unit

normal vectors to a surface.

Introduction

If F is a vector field existing over an open surface S and

around its boundary, closed curve c, then
s

curl F dS =

F dr

This mean that we can express a surface integral in terms

of a line integral round the boundary curve.

Example 1
A hemisphere S is defined by + y 2 + z 2 = 4 z 0 . A vector field
= + exists over the surface and around its boundary c.
verify the Stokes theorem, s curl F dS = F dr

S: 2 + 2 + 2 4 = 0
= 2 +
c is the circle 2 + 2 = 4

Answer
We need to show that s curl F dS = c F dr

a)

F dr

(2 + ) ( + + )

= (2 + )
Converting to polar coordinates

= 2 cos ; = 2 sin ; = 0
= 2 sin ; = 2 cos ; limit = 0 2
2

F d =
c

2(2 sin )( 2 sin ) 2 cos (2 cos ) +

(2 cos )

0
2
(4 sin [
0

2 sin ] 2 cos 2 cos )

= 4

= 4
= 2
= 2

2
2
2
2
sin

+
cos

0
2
2
(1
+
sin
)
0
2
(3 2)
0
(sin 2) 2
3 2
0

= 12
Now we determine for

b)

curl F dS

curl F dS = s curl F ds

2
= zj 3k

curl F =


=
=
S

2 + 2 + 2

curl F ds =
s

+ 2

+ 2

+ +
=
2

+ +
(zj 3k)

s
1
=2 s

3
Converting to spherical polar coordinates
= 2 sin cos ; = 2 sin sin ; = 2 cos ;
= 4 sin

1
=
2

2 2

2 sin sin 2 cos 3 2 cos 4 sin

0

2 2

2 sin2 sin cos + 3 sin cos

= 4
0


2 2

2 sin2 sin cos + 3 sin cos

= 4
0

= 12
So we can verify that

curl F dS =

F dr

Direction Of Unit Normal Vectors to A Surface S

When we dealing with divergence theorem, the normal vectors
were drawn in a direction outward from the enclosed region.
With open surface, there is in fact no inward or outward
direction. With any general surface, a normal vector can be
drawn in either of 2 opposite direction.

A unit normal is drawn perpendicular to the surface S at any

point in the direction indicated by applying a right handed
screw sense to the direction of integration round the boundary
c.
Let see example

Example 2
A surface consists of five section formed by the planes = 0;
= 1; = 0; = 3; = 2 in first octant. If the vector field
F = + 2 + exist over the surface and its boundary, verify
the Stokes theorem

So we have to verify that

curl F dS =

F dr

a) we start with c F dr = + 2 +
i) along c1 : = 0; = 0; = 0; = 0

c1

F dr =

0+0+0=0

ii) along c2 : = 1; = 0; = 0; = 0

c2

F dr =

0+0+0=0

a dr
iii) along c3 : = 3; = 0; = 0; F
=0

c3

F dr =

0
3
1

0
+ 0 + 0 = 3 = 3
1
c

iv) along c4 : = 1; = 0; = 0; = 0

So

c4

F dr =

0+0+0=0

F dr = 0 + 0 3 + 0 = 3

b) we continue with

curl F =

curl F dS =
s

curl F dS

= 2

curl F ds
s

i) 1 : =
s1

curl F ds =

s1

2, 1 0,0,1
1

1 = 3

ii) 2 : =
s2

curl F ds =

s2

2, 1 0,1,0
2

but = 3 for this section

2

3 = 6

iii) 3 : =
s3

curl F ds =

s3

2, 1 0, 1,0
3

but = 0 for this section

3

0 = 0

iv) 4 : =
s4

curl F ds =

s4

2, 1 1,0,0

but x = 1 for this section

4

1 2 =

3 2
1
0 0

2 = 6

iii) 5 : =
5

curl F ds =
=

5
5

2, 1 1,0,0
+ 2

but x = 0 for this section

5

2 =

3 2
2
0 0

= 12

curl F ds = 3 6 + 0 6 + 12 = 3

Exercise
A surface S consist of that part of the cylinder x 2 + y 2 = 9
between z = 0 and z = 4 for y > 0 and 2 semicircles of radius 3
in the planes z = 0 and z = 4. If F = zi + xy j + xz k, evaluate
S

curl F dS over the surface.

Answer = 24