Surface Integrals

Surface Integrals of Scalar Functions

Let S be a parametric surface described by , with (, ) in some domain D.
Let (, , ) be a function defined on S.
The surface integral of (, , ) on S is defined as:

S f ( x, y, z)dS D f (r(u, v)) ru rv dudv

= is called the elemental area .
Applications:
1. If (, , ) is the mass density (e.g. kg/m2) of a sheet shaped like S, then
S f ( x, y, z)dS is the total mass of the sheet.
2. If (, , ) =1, then

S 1dS D ru rv dudv

= Area of S

Surface Integrals of Scalar Functions Example 1

Evaluate

1 x 2 y 2 dS where S is the helicoid

, = cos , sin , with 0 5, 0 3

= cos , sin , 0
= sin , cos , 1
= sin , cos ,
1 + 2

1 x 2 y 2 dS

5 3

0 0

5 3

0 0

1 u 2 cos2 v u 2 sin 2 v 1 u 2 dvdu

2

1 u 2 dvdu

1 u 2 cos2 v sin 2 v

5 3

0 0

(1 u 2 )dvdu

5 3

0 0

1 u 2 1 u 2 dvdu

3 (1 u 2 )du 140
5

Surface Integrals of Scalar Functions Example 2

Evaluate

S xy dS

where S is the lateral surface of the cylinder

2 + 2 = 4 between the planes = 0 and = 7 .

2 + 2 = 4

Parameterize the cylinder:

, = 2 cos , , 2 sin

=7

with 0 2, 0 7 2 sin

= 2 sin , 0,2 cos

= 0,1,0

= 2 cos , 0, 2 sin

r ry 4cos2 4sin 2 2

xydS

2 72sin

2cos y 2 dyd 4

r ry

7 2sin cos d 7 2u du 0
2

= sin , = cos

2 72sin

cos y dyd

Surface Integrals of Scalar Functions

If = (, ) is the surface parameterized by , , (, ) for , in some
domain D, then

f ( x, y, z )dS f ( x, y, g ( x, y )) 1 g x g y dA
2

Similarly if = (, ) or = (, )
Example 3. Evaluate
0 1, 0 1.

= , = + 2 2 ,

S zdS D z

zdS where S is the surface = + 2 2 for

x
1
y

= 1,

x

z

= 4

dA

0 0 z 1 1 (4 z)2 dydz
1 1

1
18
0 z 2 16 z dz 1 2 udu 13
32
12
2

= 2 + 16 2 , = 32

Surface Integrals of Vector fields

Suppose the surface S has two sides and has a tangent
plane at every interior point. Then S is an orientable
surface and has two unit normals at each point.
We say that S is an oriented surface if we specify
which normal we want to use.

If S is a smooth orientable surface described by , , then one unit normal

vector is n ru rv and the other is .
ru rv

If S is a closed surface, the convention is that the positive orientation is the

one where the normal vectors point outward.
Not all surfaces are orientable. A famous example of a
non orientable surface is the Mbius strip: take a strip
of paper, twist it once, and tape the ends together. If you
run a pen along the inside, suddenly it goes outside
and then back inside. Suppose the pen represents the
normal vector. We cannot specify which way it points.

Surface Integrals of Vector Fields

Let be a continuous vector field in 3
The surface integral of over the oriented surface S with normal n is:

S F dS S F n dS
This is also called the Flux of F across S.
Alternate Formulation:

ru rv
ru rv

S F n dS D F ru rv dS D F(r(u, v)) ru rv ru rv dA

dS

S F dS D F(r(u, v)) ru rv dA
Note that we might have to change the sign on to match the
orientation of the surface.

Surface Integrals of Vector Fields Example 4

Let = 0,3,0 . Find the flux through the square: 0 2, 0 2, = 2
oriented to the right.

Flux:

S F dS S F ndS

Since the surface is oriented to the right, the unit

normal vector is = 0,1,0

S F ndS D

0,3,0 0,1,0 dA

3 dA 3 Area( D) 3 4 12
D

The surface and the

vector field

Interpretation: If we think of F as the velocity field of a fluid in motion (e.g. in

m/s), then the flux is the volume of fluid through the surface per unit time. In
this example, since the velocity is normal to the surface, with constant magnitude
of 3m/s, and the area is 4m2, then the rate of flow is 12m3/s

Surface Integrals of Vector Fields Example 5

Let = , , . Evaluate S F dS where S is the boundary of the solid
region enclosed by the paraboloid = 4 2 2 and the plane = 0.
S consists of the parabolic top surface S1 and the circular
bottom surface S2. Since the region is closed we use the
positive (outward) orientation.
S1: , = , , 4 2 2 with 2 + 2 4
= 1,0, 2

= 0,1, 2

= 2, 2, 1

correct normal

Positive k-component

The surface with F and

a few normal vectors

S F n dS D F(r( x, y )) (rx ry )dA

2
2
y, x, 4 x 2 y 2 2 x,2 y,1 dA D 2 xy 2 xy 4 x y dA
D
2 2
(negative flux: F is generally in the opposite
2
(Polar)

r
r
drd

0 0
direction to the normal vectors)
1

S2: The unit normal vector is = = 0,0, 1 .

Since = 0 on S2 , we have = = 0 and the flux through S2 is zero.

Flux through S:

S F ndS S F ndS S F n dS 8 0 8
1

Surface Integrals of Vector Fields Example 6

A fluid has a velocity field = , , 4 m/s. Find the rate of flow in m3/s
outward through the sphere 2 + 2 + 2 = 9.

Parameterize the surface using spherical coordinates:

r ( , ) 3cos sin ,3sin sin ,3cos
D : 0 2 , 0
r r 9 cos sin 2 , sin sin 2 , sin cos
This normal does not have the correct orientation (why?)
The normal with the correct orientation is r r
The surface with

S v dS D v(r( , )) (r r )dA
9 3sin sin ,3cos sin ,4 3cos
D

a few normal vectors

cos sin 2 ,sin sin 2 ,sin cos d d

r r

27 sin cos sin3 sin cos sin3 4cos2 sin d d

D

108

cos sin d d 216 0 cos2 sin d 144 m3/s

2

Surface Integrals of Vector Fields Example 7

Let = , , . Find the flux through the slanted surface of the cone
2 = 2 + 2 with 0 3. Normal vectors point upward.

Parameterize the surface: r (u, v ) u cos v, u sin v, u

D : 0 v 2 , 0 u 3
Then

ru cos v,sin v,1

rv u sin v, u cos v,0

ru rv u cos v, u sin v, u

This normal has the correct orientation since the

k-component is positive in the given domain.

S F dS D F(r(u, v)) (ru rv )dA

u cos v, u sin v, u u cos v, u sin v, u
D

The surface and the

radial vector field

dA

u 2 cos2 v u 2 sin 2 v u 2 dA u 2 u 2 dA 0 dA 0
D
D

Note how the radial field does not cross the surface of the cone. The rate of
flow through the surface is zero.