14.

7 THE DIVERGENCE THEOREM

Preliminaries
For vector fields in the plane, Green's theorem can be
written

We can extend this two-dimensional result to three

dimensions:

Divergence Theorem or Gauss’ Theorem

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Slide 1
 14.7 THE DIVERGENCE THEOREM

THEOREM 7.1 (Divergence Theorem)

Suppose that Q ⊂ is bounded by the closed oriented
surface ∂Q and that n(x, y, z) denotes the exterior unit
normal vector to ∂Q.

Then, if the components of F(x, y, z) have continuous first

partial derivatives in Q, we have

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Slide 2
 14.7 THE DIVERGENCE THEOREM

EXAMPLE 7.1 Applying the Divergence Theorem

Let Q be the solid bounded by the paraboloid
z = 4 − x2 − y2 and the xy-plane.

Find the flux of the vector field

F(x, y, z) = x3, y3, z3 over the
surface ∂Q.

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Slide 3
 14.7 THE DIVERGENCE THEOREM

EXAMPLE 7.1 Applying the Divergence Theorem

Solution

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Slide 4
 14.7 THE DIVERGENCE THEOREM

EXAMPLE 7.1 Applying the Divergence Theorem

Solution

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Slide 5
 14.7 THE DIVERGENCE THEOREM

EXAMPLE 7.2 Proving a General Result with the

Divergence Theorem
Prove that the flux of the vector field

is zero over any closed oriented surface ∂Q enclosing a

solid region Q.

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Slide 6
 14.7 THE DIVERGENCE THEOREM

EXAMPLE 7.2 Proving a General Result with the

Divergence Theorem
Solution

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Slide 7