MATH2023 Multivariable Calculus Problem Set 6

L3 (Fall 2019)

Extra Problem Set 6

Note: The extra problem sets serve as additional exercise problems for your own practice. Some
problems may be a bit more difficult than those you encounter in WeBWorK.

1. In a town modeled by the plane ℝ2 , the air pressure at the position (𝑥, 𝑦) is given by
𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦) = 1000 − 6𝑥 2 − 2𝑦 2 .
(a) Find a unit vector which indicates the wind direction at (−1, 3).
Hint: Air flows from a place with high air pressure to a place with low air pressure.
(b) A smoke particle is emitted at (−1, 3) and it moves along the air flow subsequently. Find
the equation of the path traced by the smoke particle.
2. Let 𝑓 be a function of three real variables and let 𝐅 be a vector field in three dimensions, such
that 𝑓 and all the components of 𝐅 have continuous partial derivatives. Prove the following
identities about the divergence and the curl of the vector field 𝑓𝐅:
(a) ∇ ⋅ (𝑓𝐅) = (∇𝑓) ⋅ 𝐅 + (𝑓)(∇ ⋅ 𝐅)
(b) ∇ × (𝑓𝐅) = (∇𝑓) × 𝐅 + (𝑓)(∇ × 𝐅)
3. In this problem, we denote
𝐫 ≔ 𝑥𝐢 + 𝑦𝐣 + 𝑧𝐤 and 𝑟 ≔ ‖𝐫‖.
(a) If 𝐜 is a constant vector in ℝ3 , find the divergence and the curl of the vector field 𝐜 × 𝐫.
(b) If 𝑓 is a differentiable function of one real variable, show that
∇ ⋅ (𝑓(𝑟)𝐫) = 𝑟𝑓 ′ (𝑟) + 3𝑓(𝑟).
Hence find 𝑓 if the vector field 𝑓(𝑟)𝐫 has zero divergence on ℝ3 ∖ {(0, 0, 0)}.
4. Consider a particle moving in ℝ3 under the action of a force field 𝐅, which is a conservative
vector field in ℝ3 . Given a potential function 𝑓: ℝ3 → ℝ of this conservative vector field 𝐅,
the potential energy of the particle when it is located at (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is defined by −𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧).
At each time 𝑡, the position vector 𝐫(𝑡) of the particle satisfies Newton’s second law of
motion
𝐅(𝐫(𝑡)) = 𝑚𝐫 ′′ (𝑡),
1
and the kinetic energy of the particle at time 𝑡 is defined by 𝑚‖𝐫 ′ (𝑡)‖2 . Show that the
2

total (kinetic and potential) energy of the particle,

1
𝐸(𝑡) ≔ 𝑚‖𝐫 ′ (𝑡)‖2 − 𝑓(𝐫(𝑡))
2
is conserved, i.e. it is a constant function of 𝑡.
5. Find a vector field 𝐅: ℝ3 → ℝ3 such that
∇ × 𝐅 = 〈𝑥 cos 𝑦 , − sin 𝑦 , 𝑧 − 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 〉.

Page 1 of 4
MATH2023 Multivariable Calculus Problem Set 6
L3 (Fall 2019)

6. Let 𝐅: ℝ2 → ℝ2 be a vector field, 𝐶 be a curve in ℝ2 and 𝑃 𝑦

2
be a point in ℝ , which are all shown in the diagram on the
right. Determine whether each of the following quantities is
positive, negative or zero. 𝑃 𝑥
(a) The line integral 𝐶

∫𝐅 ⋅ 𝑑𝐫.
𝐶
(b) The divergence of 𝐅 at the point 𝑃.
7. Evaluate each of the following line integrals:
(a) ∫𝐶(𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑑𝑠, where 𝐶 is the triangle in ℝ2 with vertices (0, 0), (1, 0) and (0, 1).
(b) ∫𝐶 𝑧 𝑑𝑠, where 𝐶 is the curve parametrized by 𝐫(𝑡) = 〈𝑡 cos 𝑡 , 𝑡 sin 𝑡 , 𝑡〉 for 𝑡 ∈ [0, 2𝜋].
(c) ∮𝐶 𝐅 ⋅ 𝑑𝐫, where
𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦) = 〈𝑥 2 𝑦, 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 〉
and 𝐶 is the closed curve in ℝ2 formed by portions of the line 𝑦 = 4 and the parabola
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 , oriented counterclockwise.
(d) ∫𝐶 𝐅 ⋅ 𝑑𝐫, where
𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑦𝑧𝐢 + 𝑥 2 𝐣 + 𝑥𝑧𝐤
𝑦 = 𝑥2
and 𝐶 is the portion of the curve in ℝ3 with equations { from the point (0, 0, 0)
𝑧 = 𝑥3
to the point (1, 1, 1).
2
(e) ∫𝐶 𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦, where 𝐶 is the curve with equation 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 from (0, 0) to (1, 1).

(f) ∫𝐶 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑧 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑥 𝑑𝑧, where 𝐶 is the curve of intersection of the plane 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 2 and

the sphere 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 2(𝑥 + 𝑦), oriented clockwise when viewed from the origin.
8. Let 𝐷 ≔ {(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) ∈ ℝ3 : 𝑧 > 0} be the open upper half-space and let 𝐅: 𝐷 → ℝ3 be the
vector field defined by
𝑧 (0, 3, 𝑒 2 )
2
𝑦+2
𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 〈2𝑥𝑦, 𝑥 + ln 𝑧 , 〉. 𝐶
𝑧
Show that 𝐅 is conservative in 𝐷 by finding a potential function 𝑦
(−1, −2, 2) (3, 0, 𝑒 2 )
of 𝐅 on 𝐷. Hence evaluate the line integral (0, 0, 2)

∫𝐅 ⋅ 𝑑𝐫 , 𝑥
𝐶
where 𝐶 is the curve in 𝐷 as shown in the figure on the right.
9. Let 𝐶 be the unit circle in ℝ2 centered at the origin, oriented counterclockwise. Evaluate
the line integral
−𝑦 𝑥
∮ 2 2
𝑑𝑥 + 2 𝑑𝑦.
𝐶 𝑥 + 4𝑦 𝑥 + 4𝑦 2

Page 2 of 4
MATH2023 Multivariable Calculus Problem Set 6
L3 (Fall 2019)

10. Let 𝐶 be the curve in ℝ2 as shown in the figure below.

𝑦
(4, 8)
(−2, 5)
(8, 5)
𝐶
𝑥
(−4, −1)
Evaluate the line integral

∫(2𝑥 cos 𝑥 2 + 3𝑦)𝑑𝑥 + (7𝑥 + 𝑦 3 𝑒 𝑦 )𝑑𝑦.

𝐶
11. Let 𝑎 > 0. An asteroid is a curve in ℝ2 defined by the equation
2 2 2
𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 = 𝑎3 .
It can be parametrized by the vector-valued function 𝐫: [0, 2𝜋] → ℝ2 defined by
𝐫(𝑡) = 〈𝑎 cos3 𝑡 , 𝑎 sin3 𝑡〉.
Find the area of the region in ℝ2 enclosed by the asteroid.
12. Let 𝑃 be an 𝑛-sided polygon in ℝ2 with vertices (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ), (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ), … , (𝑥𝑛−1 , 𝑦𝑛−1 ) listed
counterclockwise, and let’s also denote (𝑥𝑛 , 𝑦𝑛 ) ≔ (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) for convenience. Using the area
formula from Green’s Theorem (Corollary 6.57), show that the area of the region bounded by
the polygon 𝑃 is given by
𝑛
1
∑(𝑥𝑘−1 𝑦𝑘 − 𝑥𝑘 𝑦𝑘−1 ).
2
𝑘=1

13. For each of the following subsets 𝑋 of ℝ2 , determine whether ℝ2 ∖ 𝑋 is simply-connected.

(a) 𝑋 = {(0, 0)}
(b) 𝑋 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥 = 0}, i.e. the entire 𝑦-axis
(c) 𝑋 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑦 > 0}, i.e. the positive 𝑦-axis
(d) 𝑋 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ≤ 1}, i.e. the closed unit disk centered at the origin
(e) 𝑋 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1}, i.e. the unit circle centered at the origin
14. Let 𝐶 be a positively oriented smooth simple closed curve in ℝ2 whose interior is the
bounded region 𝑅 and whose unit outward normal vector is 𝐧 ̂.
(a) If 𝑓 and 𝑔 are functions of two real variables having continuous second partial derivatives,
show that

̂ 𝑑𝑠 = ∬ [𝑓(∇ ⋅ ∇𝑔) − 𝑔(∇ ⋅ ∇𝑓)]𝑑𝐴.

∮(𝑓∇𝑔 − 𝑔∇𝑓) ⋅ 𝐧
𝐶 𝑅
(b) If 𝑓 is a function of two real variables such that 𝑓𝑥𝑥 + 𝑓𝑦𝑦 ≡ 0, show that

̂ 𝑑𝑠 = 0
∮∇𝑓 ⋅ 𝐧
𝐶
using (a).

Page 3 of 4
MATH2023 Multivariable Calculus Problem Set 6
L3 (Fall 2019)

15. For each of the following statements, determine whether it is true or false.
(a) If 𝐅 and 𝐆 are vector fields in three dimensions, then
∇ × (𝐅 + 𝐆) = (∇ × 𝐅) + (∇ × 𝐆).
(b) If 𝐅 and 𝐆 are vector fields in three dimensions, then
∇ × (𝐅 ⋅ 𝐆) = (∇ × 𝐅) ⋅ (∇ × 𝐆).
(c) If 𝐅 and 𝐆 are vector fields in three dimensions, then
∇ × (𝐅 × 𝐆) = (∇ × 𝐅) × (∇ × 𝐆).
(d) If 𝐶 is a smooth curve in ℝ𝑛 and 𝐅 is a continuous vector field on ℝ𝑛 , then

∫ 𝐅 ⋅ 𝑑𝐫 = − ∫𝐅 ⋅ 𝑑𝐫.
−𝐶 𝐶
𝑛
(e) If 𝐶 is a smooth curve in ℝ and 𝑓 is a continuous function of 𝑛 real variables, then

∫ 𝑓 𝑑𝑠 = − ∫𝑓 𝑑𝑠.
−𝐶 𝐶
2
(f) If 𝐶 is a smooth curve in ℝ and 𝑓, 𝑔 are continuous functions of two real variables, then

∫ 𝑓 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑔 𝑑𝑦 = − (∫𝑓 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑔 𝑑𝑦).
−𝐶 𝐶
(g) The work done by any force field in moving a particle around a smooth closed curve is zero.
(h) If 𝐶 is a positively oriented smooth simple closed curve in ℝ2 , then the area of the interior
of 𝐶 is given by

𝐴 = ∮𝑥 𝑑𝑦.
𝐶
(i) If 𝑓, 𝑔: ℝ → ℝ are differentiable functions of a real variable and 𝐶 is a smooth simple
closed curve in ℝ2 , then

∮𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 0.
𝐶
(j) If 𝑓, 𝑔: ℝ → ℝ are differentiable functions of a real variable, then
𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦) = 〈𝑓(𝑥), 𝑔(𝑦)〉
is a conservative vector field in ℝ2 .
(k) If 𝑅 is a region in ℝ2 and 𝑓, 𝑔: 𝑅 → ℝ are functions of two real variables such that
𝑔𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑓𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦)
for every (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ 𝑅, then
𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦) = 〈𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦), 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦)〉
is a conservative vector field in 𝑅.

Page 4 of 4