Winter 2012 Math 255

Problem Set 10
Section 17.1:
1) Find the gradient vector field of f (x, y, z) = xcos(y/z)
Solution:
∂f ∂f ∂f
∇f = î + ĵ + k̂
∂x ∂y ∂z
x xy
= cos(y/z)î − sin(y/z)ĵ + 2 sin(y/z)k̂
z z
2) Give a formula F = M (x, y)î+N (x, y)ĵ for the vector
field in the plane that has the properties that F =
0 at (0, 0) and that at any other point (a, b), F is
tangent to the circle x2 +y 2 = a2 +b2 and points
√ in the
clockwise direction with magnitude |F| = a2 + b2 .
Solution:

F = y î − xk̂
Note that
F(0, 0) = 0
p
|F| = x2 + y 2
p
|F(a, b)| = a2 + b 2

Section 17.2
3) Integrate f (x, y, z) = (x + y + z)/(x2 + y 2 + z 2 ) over
the path r(t) = tî + tĵ + tk̂, 0 < a ≤ t ≤ b.
Solution:

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r0 (t) = h1, 1, 1i
√
|r0 (t) = 3
t+t+t 1
f (r(t)) = 2 2 2
=
t +t +t t
Z √ Z b1
f ds = 3 dt = ln(b/a)
C a t

4) Find the mass of a wire that lies along the curve

r(t) = (t2 − 1)ĵ + 2tk̂, 0 ≤ t ≤ 1, if the density is
ρ = (3/2)t
Solution:
√
r0 (t) = h0, 2t, 2i, and |r0 (t) = 2 1 + t2

Z 1
0
Z 1 p √
M= ρ|r (t)|dt = 3 t 1 + t2 dt = 2 2 − 1
0 0

5) Evaluate C xydx + (x + y)dy along the curve y = x2

R

from (−1, 1) to (2, 4).

Solution:
Parametrization:
r(t) = tî + t2 ĵ −1 ≤ t ≤ 2
x = t, dx = dt; y = t2 , dy = 2tdt.
Z Z 2
3
t + (t + t2 ) · 2t dt

xydx + (x + y)dy =
C −1
Z 2
 3 69
3 + 2t2 dt =

=
−1 4

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6) Find the circulation and flux of the field

F = −y î + xĵ,
around and across the closed semicircular path that
consists of the semicircular arch r1 (t) = (acost)î +
(asint)ĵ, 0 ≤ t ≤ π, followed by the line segment
r2 (t) = tî, −a ≤ t ≤ a.
Solution:
I Z Z
P dx+Qdy = P dx+Qdy+ P dx+Qdy = circulation
C C1 C2

C1 : x = acost, dx = −asint dt
y = asint, dy = acost dt.
C2 : x = t, dx = dt, y = 0, dy = 0.
P = −y = −asint. Q = x = acost.
Z π Z a
circulation = [−asint(−asint) + acost(acost)]dt + tdt
0 −a
Z π  2 a
2 t
= a dt + = πa2
0 2 −a
I Z Z
Flux = P dy − Qdx = P dy − Qdx + P dy − Qdx
C
ZCπ1 C2

= [−asint(acost) − acost(−asint)]dt
0Z
a
+ 0dt
−a
= 0
(7) Find the flow of the velocity field
F = −4xy î + 8y ĵ + 2k̂,

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along the curve r(t) = tî + t2 ĵ + k̂, 0 ≤ t ≤ 2.

Solution:

Z
Flow = Circulation = P dx + Qdy + Rdz
ZC2
= [−4t2 (t2 ) + 8(t2 )(2t)]dt
Z0 2
= 4t3 dt = 16
0

Section 17.3
8) Show that the line integral C (1 − ye−x )dx + e−x dy,
R

is path independent and evaluate the integral. C is

any path from (0, 1)to(1, 2).
Solution:
Z Z
(1 − ye−x )dx + e−x dy = P dx + Qdy
C C
∂P
∂y = ∂Q −x
∂x = −e , hence the line integral is path
independent. Then
Z
(1 − ye−x )dx + e−x dy = f (1, 2) − f (0, 1),
C

where fx = (1 − ye−x ) and fy = e−x

fy = e−x =⇒ f (x, y) = ye−x + g(x)
=⇒ fx = −ye−x + g 0 (x) = 1 − e−x
=⇒ g 0 (x) = 1. Then g(x) = x + C
=⇒ f (x, y) = ye−x + x + C

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Then
Z
(1 − ye−x )dx + e−x dy = f (1, 2) − f (0, 1) = 2e−1 .
C

9) Show that the differential form

Z (1,2,3)
2xydx + (x2 − z 2 )dy − 2yzdz,
(0,0,0)

is exact. Then evaluate the integral

Solution:
∂P
∂y = ∂Q ∂P ∂R ∂Q ∂R
∂x = 2x, ∂z = ∂x = 0, ∂z = ∂y = −2z, hence
the differential form is exact. Then
Z (1,2,3)
2xydx+(x2 −z 2 )dy−2yzdz = f (1, 2, 3)−f (0, 0, 0),
(0,0,0)

where fx = 2xy, fy = x2 − z 2 , and fz = −2yz.

fx = 2xy =⇒ f (x, y, z) = x2 y + g(y, z)
=⇒ fy = x2 + gy = x2 − z 2
=⇒ gy = −z 2 . Then, g(y, z) = −yz 2 + h(z)
=⇒ f (x, y, z) = x2 y − yz 2 + h(z)
Then, fz = −2yz + h0 (z) = −2yz
=⇒ h0 (z) = 0 =⇒ h(z) = C
=⇒ f (x, y, z) = x2 y − yz 2 + C
Then,
Z (1,2,3)
2xydx+(x2 −z 2 )dy−2yzdz = f (1, 2, 3)−f (0, 0, 0) = −16,
(0,0,0)

10) Find the work done by F = (x2 +y)î+(y 2 +x)ĵ+zez k̂

over the following paths from (1, 0, 0) to (1, 0, 1).

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 Winter 2012 Math 255

(a) The line segment x = 1, y = 0, 0 ≤ z ≤ 1.

(b) The helix r(t) = (cost)î + (sint)ĵ + (t/2π)k̂, 0 ≤
t ≤ 2π.
(c) The x-axis from (1, 0, 0) to (0, 0, 0) followed by
the parabola z = x2 , y = 0 from (0, 0, 0) to
(1, 0, 1).
Solution:
∂P ∂Q ∂P ∂R ∂Q ∂R
∂y = ∂x = 1, ∂z = ∂x = 0, ∂z = ∂y = 0, hence F
is conservative and the work done is independent of
the path. Thus,
Z Z
Work = F·Tds = ∇f ·Tds = f (1, 0, 1)−f (1, 0, 0),
C C
for all the paths in (a), (b), and (c).

2 x3
fx = x + y =⇒ f (x, y, z) = + xy + g(y, z)
3
=⇒ fy = x + gy = y 2 + x
2 y3
=⇒ gy = y . Then, g(y, z) = + h(z)
3
x3 y3
=⇒ f (x, y, z) = + xy + + h(z)
3 3
Then, fz = h0 (z) = zez
Z
=⇒ h(z) = zez dz = zez − ez + C
x3 y3
=⇒ f (x, y, z) = + xy + + zez − ez + C.
3 3
Then,
Z Z
Work = F·Tds = ∇f ·Tds = f (1, 0, 1)−f (1, 0, 0) = 1.
C C

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11) Suppose that F = ∇f is a conservative vector field

and Z (x,y,z)
g(x, y, z) = F · dr.
(0,0,0)
Show that ∇g = F.
Solution: Since F = ∇f ,
Z (x,y,z)
g(x, y, z) = F · dr = f (x, y, z) − f (0, 0, 0).
(0,0,0)

Then
∇g = ∇{f (x, y, z) = f (0, 0, 0)} = ∇f = F
Thus, ∇g = F.
Section 17.4
12) Evaluate the line integral below along the given pos-
itively oriented curve using Green’s Theorem.
Z
xe−2x dx + (x4 + 2x2 y2)dy,
C

where C is the boundary of the region between the

circles x2 + y 2 = 1 and x2 + y 2 = 4.

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Solution:
Z Z
−2x 4 2 2
xe dx + (x + 2x y )dy = P dx + Qdy
C C  
ZZ
∂Q ∂P
= − dA
R ∂x ∂y
ZZ
= (4x3 + 4xy 2 )dA
R
Z 2π Z 2
= (4r3 cos3 θ + 4r3 cosθsin2 θ)rdrdθ
0
Z 2π 1Z 2
= 4 (cos3 θ + cosθsin2 θ)r4 drdθ
Z0 2π 1 Z 2
= 4 cosθdθ r4 dr
0 1
= 0

13) Use Green’s Theorem to find the counterclockwise

circulation and outward flux of the field F = xy î+y 2 ĵ
around and over the boundary of the region enclosed
by the curves y = x2 and y = x in the first quadrant.
Solution:

I ZZ  
∂Q ∂P
circulation = P dx + Qdy = − dA
C ∂x ∂y
Z ZR
= (0 − x)dA
R
Z 1Z x
= − xdydx
0 x2
1
= −
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ZZ  
∂P ∂Q
Flux = + dA
∂x ∂y
Z ZR
= (y + 2y)dA
ZR1 Z x
= 3 ydydx
0 x2
1
=
5
14) Use a Green’s Theorem area formula to find the area
of the region enclosed
√ by√ the curve r(t) = t2 î +
((t3 /3) − t)ĵ, − 3 ≤ t ≤ 3.
Solution:
3
x = t2 , dx = 2t dt; y = t3 − t, dy = (t2 − 1) dt.
ZZ
Area = dA
IR
1
= xdy − ydx
2
Z √3  3

1 t
= √ t2 (t2 − 1) − ( − t)(2t) dt
2 − 3 3
Z √3  4 
1 t
= √ + t2 dt
2 − 3 3
√
8 3
=
5
Section 17.5
15) Which of the fields are conservative and which are
not? Find the curl and divergence of each field.

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 Winter 2012 Math 255

(i) F = −y î + xĵ
(ii) F = yz î + xz ĵ + xy k̂
(iii) F = (ysinz)î + (xsinz)ĵ + (xycosz)k̂
(iv) F = y î + (x + z)ĵ − y k̂
Solution:
∂ ∂ ∂
Recall that ∇ = ∂x î + ∂y ĵ + ∂z k̂

∂P ∂Q
(i) ∂y = −1 6= ∂x = 1. Thus, the field is not con-
servative.
Divergence: ∇ · F = 0
Curl: ∇ × F = 2k̂

(ii) ∂P
∂y = z = ∂Q ∂P ∂R
∂x ; ∂z = y = ∂x ;
∂Q
∂z =x= ∂R
∂y ,. Thus,
the field is conservative.
Divergence: ∇ · F = 0
Curl: ∇ × F = 0. Since F is conservative

(iii) ∂P
∂y = sinz = ∂Q ∂P ∂R ∂Q
∂x ; ∂z = ycosz = ∂x ; ∂z = xcosz =
∂R
∂y , Thus, the field is conservative.
Divergence: ∇ · F = −xysinz
Curl: ∇ × F = 0. Since F is conservative

(iv) ∂P
∂y = 1 = ∂Q ∂P ∂R ∂Q
∂x ; ∂z = 0 = ∂x ; but ∂z = 1 6==
∂R
∂y = −1, Thus, the field is not conservative.
Divergence: ∇ · F = 0
Curl: ∇ × F = −2î.

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16) Show that

(a) any vector field of the form F = f (x)î + g(y)ĵ +
h(z)k̂ where f , g, h are differentiable functions,
is irrotational.
(b) any vector field of the form F = f (y, z)î+g(x, z)ĵ+
h(x, y)k̂ is incompressible.
Solution:
(i)
 
 î ĵ k̂ 
 ∂ ∂ ∂

∇ × F =  ∂x ∂y

∂z 
 f (x) g(y) h(z) 
 
∂ ∂
= h(z) − g(y) î
∂y ∂z
 
∂ ∂
− h(z) − f (x) ĵ
∂x ∂z
 
∂ ∂
+ g(y) − f (x) k̂
∂x ∂y
= 0
Hence any vector field F = f (x)î + g(y)ĵ + h(z)k̂
is irrotational.
(ii)
∂ ∂ ∂
∇·F= f (y, z) + g(x, z) + h(x, y) = 0.
∂x ∂y ∂z
Hence any vector field of the form F = f (y, z)î +
g(x, z)ĵ + h(x, y)k̂ is incompressible.

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