MA 105 : Calculus

Division 1, Lecture 26

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade

IIT Bombay

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

Recap of the previous lecture
Orientation of the intrinsic boundary
The Stokes Theorem
Sketch of proof of Stokes Theorem
Vanishing of surface integrals of curl fields as a Corollary
Surface-independence. Examples
Surface-independence of flux integrals of continuous curl
fields
Necessary condition for a smooth vector field to be a curl
field
Example to show that this necessary condition is not
sufficient.
Sufficiency in case of domains of the type I x J x K,
where I, J, K are intervals

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

Let us recall the statement of Stokes’ Theorem.

Let S be an oriented (geometric) surface in R3 which is a

closed and bounded subset of R3 , which is piecewise C 2 and
whose piecewise smooth intrinsic boundary ðS consists of a
finite number of nonintersecting simple closed curves along
with the induced orientation. Let F be a smooth vector field
on an open subset containing S. Then
Z ZZ
F · dss = S.
(curl F )· dS
ðS S

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

Computational Uses of the Stokes Theorem
(i) Calculation of the flux integral of a curl field
Example:
, z) ∈ R3 , and let
Let F (x, y , z) := (y , −x, e x z ) for (x, y√
S := {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 : x 2 + y 2 + (z − 3)2 = 4 and z ≥ 0},
be oriented by the RR outward unit normal vectors.
In order to find S (curl F )· dS S , we note that the induced
orientation on ðS = {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 : x 2 + y 2 = 1 and z = 0}
is anticlockwise as seen from the point (0, 0, 4).
By the Stokes theorem,
ZZ Z
(curl F )· dS
S = F · dss
S ðS
Z π
= (sin t, − cos t, e cos t·0 )·(− sin t, cos t, 0)dt
Z−π
π
= −(sin2 t + cos2 t)dt = −2π.
−π
Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26
 z

z
C
S
S
√
b
(0, 0, 3)
b

x y
(1, 0, 0) (0, 1, 0)
x ðS y

Figure: Examples (i) and (ii) of the use of the Stokes theorem

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

(ii) Calculation of the line integral along an oriented boundary
Example:
Let F (x, y , z) := (−y 3 , x 3 , −z 3 ) for (x, y , z) ∈ R3 , and let C
denote the intersection of the cylinder x 2 + y 2 = 1 and the
plane x +y +z = 1, oriented by the anticlockwise motion on the
projection {(x, y ) ∈ R2 : x 2 + y 2 = 1} of C on the xy -plane.
R
In order to find C F · dss , consider the surface

S := {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 : x 2 + y 2 ≤ 1 and x + y + z = 1}.

Let us think of S as the graph of the function f : D0 → R,

where D0 := {(x, y ) ∈ R2 : x 2 + y 2 ≤ 1} and for (x, y ) ∈ D0 ,
f (x, y ) := 1 − x − y . Let S be oriented by the upward unit
normal vectors. Then ðS = C , and the induced orientation is
the same as the given orientation of C . Hence
S = (−fx , −fy , 1)d(x, y ) = (1, 1, 1)d(x, y ).
dS
Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26
Also,
 
 i j k 
 
 
 
 ∂ ∂ ∂ 
curl F =   = (0, 0, 3x 2 + 3y 2 ),
 ∂x ∂y ∂z 
 
 
 −y 3 x 3 −z 3 

S = 3(x 2 + y 2 )d(x, y ).
and so (curl F )· dS
By the Stokes theorem,
Z ZZ ZZ
F · dss = S =3
(curl F )· dS (x 2 + y 2 )d(x, y )
C S D0
Z 1 Z π
3π
= 3 r 2 r dr dθ = .
0 −π 2

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

Consequences of the Stokes Theorem
Proposition
Let F be a smooth vector field on an open subset D of R3
such that curl F = 0 on D.
(i) Suppose S is a bounded oriented piecewise C 2 surface in
D, and let ðS denote its intrinsic boundary with
R the induced
orientation, as in the Stokes theorem. Then ðS F · dss = 0.
In particular, if ðS = C1 ∪ (−C
R 2 ), so thatR C1 and −C2 have
the induced orientation, then C1 F · dss = C2 F · dss .
(ii) If D is simply connected, then F is a gradient field on D.

Proof:
(i) By the Stokes theorem,
Z ZZ ZZ
F · dss = S=
(curl F )· dS 0 · dS
S = 0.
ðS S S

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

Next, suppose ðS = C1 ∪ (−C2 ), so that C1 and −C2 have the
induced orientation. Then
Z Z Z Z
F · dss − F · dss = F · dss = F · dss = 0.
C1 C2 C1 −C2 ðS

(ii) Suppose D is simply connected. Let C denote a simple

closed smooth curve in D. ThenRthere is a smooth
R surface S
in D such that ðS = C , and so C F · dss = ðS F · dss = 0.
This also holds if a smooth closed curve C in D intersects
itself, since we can break up C into several simple closed
smooth curves. As a result, line integrals of F are path
independent in D, and so F is a gradient field on D.
Remark:
The last statement in part (i) above is known as the invariance
of line integrals, or as the deformation principle for line
integrals along paths in R3 . (See the figure on the next slide.)
Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26
 C1

C2
Z Z
Figure: If curl F = 0 on S, then F · dss = F · dss .
C1 C2

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

Examples: (i) Let F := (P, Q, R), where P := −y /(x 2 + y 2 ),
Q := x/(x 2 + y 2 ) and R := 1 for (x, y , z) ∈ R3 with (x, y ) 6= 0.
We have seen in Lecture 33 that Qx = Py , and so
F ) = (0, 0, Qx − Py ) = 0 . Consider the upper hemisphere
curl (F
H := {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 : x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1 and z ≥ 0}. Let C1
denote the equator given by x 2 + y 2 = 1 and z = 0. Also, let
a plane in R3 intersect H in a circle C2 such that C1 ∩ C2 = ∅
and (0, 0, 1) 6∈ C2 .
Let S denote the part of the hemisphere H bounded by C1 and
C2 , and let S be oriented by the outward unit normal vectors.
Suppose C1 and −C2 have the induced orientation, so that
both C1 and C2 are traced anticlockwise as seen from the
point (0, 0, 2). Then
Z Z
y x
− 2 dx + 2 dy + dz = −y dx + x dy = 2π,
C2 x + y2 x + y2 C1

as we had calculated earlier.

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26
(ii) Let D := R3 , and let F (x, y , z) := (y e z , x e z , x y e z ) for
(x, y , z) ∈ D. Is F a gradient field? Now

(curl F )(x, y , z) = (xe z − xe z , ye z − ye z , e z − e z ) = (0, 0, 0)

for all (x, y , z) ∈ D. Also, D is simply connected. Hence F

must be a gradient field. In fact, if we let f (x, y , z) := x y e z
for (x, y , z) ∈ D, then ∇f = F on D.

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

Recall the Green theorem for a multiply connected region D in
R2 : If ∂D denotes the positively oriented boundary of D, then
Z ZZ
P dx + Q dy = (Qx − Py )d(x, y ).
∂D D

(i) (Circulation-Curl form) Let F := (P, Q, 0). Then

Z ZZ
F · dss = (curl F )· k d(x, y ).
∂D D

(ii) (Flux-Divergence form) Let F := (Q, −P, 0). Then

Z ZZ
F · n̂n ds = (div F ) d(x, y ).
∂D D

We have seen that the Stokes theorem generalizes the form (i)
above from a region D in R2 to a surface in R3 . We shall now
show that the Gauss divergence theorem generalizes the form
(ii) above from a region D in R2 to a solid in R3 .
Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26
Let D be a closed and bounded subset of R3 . Suppose that
the (usual) boundary ∂D of D consists of a finite number of
orientable, piecewise smooth, nonintersecting closed geometric
surfaces. (Thus all these surfaces are without any ‘edges’, that
is, their intrinsic boundary is empty.) If each of these surfaces
is so oriented that the unit normal vectors point out of the
solid D, then we say that the boundary ∂D of D is positively
oriented.
(Compare the definition of the positively oriented boundary of
a multiply connected domain in R2 .)
Example: Let D := {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 : 1 ≤ x 2 + y 2 + z 2 ≤ 4}.
Then ∂D = S1 ∪ S2 is positively oriented if
S1 := {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 : x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1} is oriented by the
inward unit normal vectors, and
S2 := {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 : x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 4} is oriented by the
outward unit normal vectors. Note that ðS1 = ∅ = ðS2 .
Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26
Theorem (Gauss Divergence Theorem)
Let D be a closed and bounded subset of R3 whose boundary
∂D consists of a finite number of orientable, piecewise
smooth, nonintersecting closed geometric surfaces. Suppose
∂D is positively oriented. Let F be a smooth vector field on
an open subset of R3 containing D. Then
ZZ ZZZ
F · dS
S= (div F )d(x, y , z).
∂D D

Proof: Let F := (P, Q, R). Then the surface integral

RR
∂D
S on the left side is well-defined since
(P, Q, R)· dS
P, Q, R are continuous on ∂D. The triple integral
RRR
D
(Px + Qy + Rz ) d(x, y , z) on the right side is well-defined
since Px , Qy and Rz are continuous on D and since ∂D is of
three-dimensional content zero. (See Lecture 27.)

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

We show that
ZZ ZZZ
S=
(0, 0, R)· dS Rz d(x, y , z).
∂D D

The other two equalities would follow similarly.

Let us suppose that D is an elementary region given as follows.
Let D0 ⊂ R2 , and let ψ1 , ψ2 : D0 → R be continuous
functions. Let

D := {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 : ψ1 (x, y ) ≤ z ≤ ψ2 (x, y )},

and suppose ∂D consists of a single piecewise smooth,

positively oriented, closed geometric surface S, where
S := S1 ∪ S2 , with
S1 := {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 : z = ψ1 (x, y )} is its lower part, and
S2 := {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 : z = ψ2 (x, y )} is its upper part.
Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26
 z k
n
b

S2
b

z = ψ2 (x, y)

z = ψ1 (x, y) S1
k

y
b

D0
x n
b

Figure: An outward normal n̂n to the upper part S2 is upward, and

an outward normal n̂n to the lower part S1 is downward.

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

The upper part S2 is given by Φ(x, y ) := (x, y , ψ2 (x, y )) for
(x, y ) ∈ D0 , and so the normal vector




Φx × Φy = 1, 0, (ψ2 )x × 0, 1, (ψ2 )y = − (ψ2 )x , −(ψ2 )y , 1 ,

points ‘upward’, that is, it goes out of the solid D. Hence Φ is

an orientation-preserving parametrization of S2 , and so
ZZ ZZ


S =
(0, 0, R)· dS 0, 0, R(Φ(x, y )) · (Φx × Φy )d(x, y )
S2
Z ZD0
= R(x, y , ψ2 (x, y ))d(x, y ).
D0

The lower part S1 is given by Ψ (x, y ) := (x, y , ψ1 (x, y )) for

(x, y ) ∈ D0 . Now the
‘upward’ normal vector Ψx × Ψy =
− (ψ1 )x , −(ψ1 )y , 1 points inward to the solid D.

Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26

Hence Ψ is an orientation-reversing parametrization of S1 ,
and so
ZZ ZZ
S =−
(0, 0, R)· dS R(x, y , ψ1 (x, y ))d(x, y ).
S1 D0

Combining the above two equalities, and using domain

additivity (since S1 ∪ S2 = S = ∂D), we obtain
ZZ ZZ Z ψ2 (x,y ) 
S =
(0, 0, R)· dS Rz dz d(x, y )
∂D D0 ψ1 (x,y )
ZZZ
= Rz d(x, y , z)
D

by Part II of the FTC, and by the Fubini theorem for the triple
integrals, which is also known as the Cavalieri Principle.
The above proof can be modified to treat the general case.
Prof. Sudhir R. Ghorpade, IIT Bombay MA 105 Calculus: Division 1, Lecture 26