Stokes' Theorem

Mathematics 23: Elementary Analysis III

Institute of Mathematics
University of the Philippines-Diliman

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Physical Meaning of the Curl of a Vector Field

Recall:
If F~ = hP , Q , Ri, then curl F~ = hRy − Qz , Pz − Rx , Qx − Py i.

.
F~ (x, y, z) = h1 , 0 , 0i .
F~ (x, y, z) = h−y , x , 0i
curl F~ = h0 , 0 , 0i. curl F~ = h0 , 0 , 2i.

Is it true that laminar ow has zero curl while turbulent ow that has
rotating" arrow representations have nonzero curl?

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For today

1 Statement of Stokes' Theorem

2 Evaluation by Stokes' Theorem

3 Interpretation of the Curl of a Vector Field

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Stokes' Theorem

Let S be a positively oriented surface whose boundary is a simple,

closed curve C, and let F~ be a vector eld in R3 whose components
have continuous rst partials on some region containing S. Then
I ZZ
F~ · dR
~ = curl F~ · ~n dσ
C
S

where ~n is the normal vector eld of S.

Remark:

The LHS is a line integral while the RHS is a surface integral!

The integral of curl F~ · ~n across S is completely determined by

the line ~ along R
integral of F ~.

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 ~ ~ curl F~ · ~n dσ
H RR
Stokes:
C F · dR =
S

Example

Consider the hemispherical surface S dened by x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1,

z ≥ 0. Verify the Stokes' Theorem for F~ (x, y, z) = h−y , x , z 2 i.

Solution: We rst compute the LHS.

The curve boundary C is the unit circle x2 + y 2 = 1; z = 0, with
parametrization ~
R(t) = hcos t , sin t , 0i, t ∈ [0, 2π]. Hence,
I Z 2π
F~ · dR
~ = F~ (R(t)) · R
~ 0 (t) dt
C 0
Z 2π
= h− sin t , cos t , 0i · h− sin t , cos t , 0i dt
0
Z 2π
= 1 dt = 2π.
0

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 ~ ~ curl F~ · ~n dσ
H RR
Stokes:
C F · dR =
S

Example

Consider the hemispherical surface S dened by x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1,

z ≥ 0. Verify the Stokes' Theorem for ~
F (x, y, z) = h−y , x , z 2 i.

Now, we compute the RHS.

Note that S projects onto the D : x2 + y 2 ≤ 1; z = 0
p unit disk and
has Cartesian equation z = 1 − x2 − y 2 . Hence,
* +
x y
h−zx , −zy , 1i = p , p ,1 .
1 − x2 − y 2 1 − x2 − y 2

A straightforward computation gives curl F~ = h0 , 0 , 2i. Finally,

ZZ ZZ * +
~ · ~n dσ x y
curl F = h0 , 0 , 2i · p , p , 1 dA
1 − x2 − y 2 1 − x2 − y 2
S D
ZZ
= 2 1 dA = 2(area(D)) = 2π.
D

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Remarks:

Stokes' Theorem generalizes FTLI and Green's Theorem.

Common theme: Integral in the interior is completely determined by
the integral at the boundary.

Since Stokes' Formula states

I ZZ
F~ · dR
~ = curl F~ · ~n dσ,
C
S

then to compute the LHS, we may choose any surface S that has
C as its boundary curve.
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 ~ ~ curl F~ · ~n dσ
H RR
Stokes:
C F · dR =
S

Example
Let CIbe the rectangle with vertices (0, 0, 0), (2, 0, 0), (2, 1, 1), and (0, 1, 1).
Find ~ if F
~ · dR
F ~ (x, y, z) = hx2 , 4xy 3 , xy 2 i.
C

First, (i) Why is it cumbersome to use the denition? (ii) Why can't we use
Green's Theorem?

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 ~ ~ curl F~ · ~n dσ
H RR
Stokes:
C F · dR =
S

Example
Let CIbe the rectangle with vertices (0, 0, 0), (2, 0, 0), (2, 1, 1), and (0, 1, 1).
Find ~ if F
~ · dR
F ~ (x, y, z) = hx2 , 4xy 3 , xy 2 i.
C

Solution: We choose S to be the plane region enclosed by the rectangle.

By inspection or by Math 22 methods, the equation of this plane is z = y .

Therefore,
h−zx , −zy , 1i = h0 , −1 , 1i and curl F
~ = h2xy , −y 2 , 4y 3 i.
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 ~ ~ curl F~ · ~n dσ
H RR
Stokes:
C F · dR =
S

Example
Let CIbe the rectangle with vertices (0, 0, 0), (2, 0, 0), (2, 1, 1), and (0, 1, 1).
Find ~ if F
~ · dR
F ~ (x, y, z) = hx2 , 4xy 3 , xy 2 i.
C

Solution: (... continuation...)

h−zx , −zy , 1i = h0 , −1 , 1i and
~ = h2xy , −y 2 , 4y 3 i.
curl F

By Stokes,
I ZZ ZZ
~ · dR
F ~ = ~ · ~n dσ =
curl F h2xy , −y 2 , 4y 3 i · h0 , −1 , 1i dA
C
S D

where D = [0, 2] × [0, 1] is the projection of S onto the xy -plane. Finally,

I Z 2 Z 1
~ · dR
~ = y 2 + 4y 3 dy dx


F
C 0 0
Z 2  Z 1 
8
y 2 + 4y 3 dy = .


= 1 dx
0 0 3
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Example
ZZ
Evaluate the surface integral ~ · ~n dσ where S is the portion of
curl F
S
f (x, y) = 5 − x2 − 4y 2 above z = 1, and F
~ (x, y, z) = hy , 2x − yz , z 3 x − yi.

Solution Method 0: First, we attempt to solve this using direct evaluation.

~ = h−1 + y , −z 3 , 1i
curl F
h−fx , −fy , 1i = h2x , 8y , 1i
D = {(x, y) | x2 + 4y 2 ≤ 4}

ZZ ZZ
~ · ~n dσ =
curl F ~ · h−fx , −fy , 1i dA
curl F
S D
Z 1 Z 2√1−y2  
= √ − 2x + 2xy − 8y(5 − x2 − 4y 2 )3 + 1 dxdy.
−1 −2 1−y 2

This is clearly a complicated (but not impossible) integral to solve.

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 ~ ~ curl F~ · ~n dσ
H RR
Stokes:
C F · dR =
S

Example
ZZ
Evaluate the surface integral ~ · ~n dσ where S is the portion of
curl F
S
f (x, y) = 5 − x2 − 4y 2 above z = 1, and F
~ (x, y, z) = hy , 2x − yz , z 3 x − yi.

Solution Method 1: We now use Stokes' Theorem.

C : x2 + 4y 2 = 4; z = 1
~
R(t) = h2 cos t , sin t , 1i, t ∈ [0, 2π]
~ (R(t)) = hsin t , 4 cos t − sin t , 2 cos t − sin ti
F

Therefore,
ZZ I Z 2π
~ · ~n dσ =
curl F ~ · dR
F ~ = ~ (R(t)) · h−2 sin t , cos t , 0i dt
F
C 0
S
Z 2π  
2 2
= − 2 sin t + 4 cos t − sin t cos t dt = 2π.
0

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Example
ZZ
Evaluate the surface integral ~ · ~n dσ where S is the portion of
curl F
S
f (x, y) = 5 − x2 − 4y 2 above z = 1, and F
~ (x, y, z) = hy , 2x − yz , z 3 x − yi.

Solution Method 2: Since the surface integral does not depend on the
whole surface, we may replace the surface S by the planar surface S2 : z = 1
enclosed by C .
~ = h−1 + y , −z 3 , 1i
curl F
h−gx , −gy , 1i = h0 , 0 , 1i

Therefore,
ZZ ZZ
~ · ~n dσ =
curl F h−1 + y , −(1)3 , 1i · h0 , 0 , 1i dA
S2 D
ZZ
= 1 dA = area(D) = (2)(1)π = 2π.
D

Note: If the major and minor axes of an ellipse have lengths 2a and 2b,
then the area of the ellipse equals πab.
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Line Integral as the Circulation inside C

Z
Interpretations of I= F~ · dR
~
C

If F~ is a force eld, then I is the total work done along C.

If F~ is a velocity eld and C is closed, then I is interpreted as the
total circulation of F~ inside C .

To explain this terminology, let us consider some uid moving across

a surface S bounded by a closed curve C. We rst establish that the
total circulation inside C will depend only on C.

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Suppose S is partitioned into small patches and consider the sum of
all line integrals. Note that each line boundary in the interior is
traversed twice but in opposite directions, thereby cancelling its
contribution to the sum.

(Left) The surface S partitioned by a rectangular mesh. (Right) The sum of all
line integrals around each small rectangle produces cancellations of interior line
integrals.

Only the sum of the line integrals along the boundary is left.

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 I
For each of the following, let us try to guess the value of F~ · dR
~i
γi
~i S4
where R is a parametrization of a segment γi of γ= i=1 γi .

For the left diagram (laminar ow),

I
Therefore, F~ · dR
~ = 0.
I
F~ · dR
~2 = 0 γ
Iγ2 I I
F~ · dR
~4 = 0
Note that ~ · dR
F ~1 > − ~ · dR
F ~3
Iγ4 γ1 γ3
if theI arrows near γ1 are longer, so
I
F~ · dR
~1 = − F~ · dR
~3
γ1 γ3 that F~ · dR ~ 6= 0.
γ
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 I
For each of the following, let us try to guess the value of F~ · dR
~i
γi
~i S4
where R is a parametrization of a segment γi of γ= i=1 γi .

I
For the right diagram, F~ · dR
~i is positive for all i = 1, 2, 3, 4.
γi
I
Therefore, F~ · dR
~ is positive.
γ
I
Across a small partition σ of the surface, the line integral F~ · dR
~
γ
measures the tendency of the velocity eld to spin or rotate in the
same direction as γ on the local planar approximation of S.
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 I
This is why F~ · dR
~ is called the total circulation inside C.
C

As a consequence of Stokes' Theorem, curl F~ measures the tendency

of F~ to rotate on the plane that is normal to curl F~ , in the direction
consistent with the right-hand rule.

For example, if an object is at point P in a uid with velocity eld

F~ (x, y, z), curl F~ (P ) = h0 , 0 , 2i, then the object will rotate
and
counterclockwise on a plane parallel to the xy plane.

If the object is at point Q(x0 , y0 , z0 ) and curl F~ (Q) = ha , b , ci, then

the object will rotate counterclockwise on the plane
a(x − x0 ) + b(y − y0 ) + c(z − z0 ) = 0.

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Exercises

I. Use Stokes' Theorem toIcompute the total circulation of F~ inside

C, i.e. the line integral F~ · dR.

~
C
1. F~ (x, y, z) = hz 2 , y 2 , xi and C is the boundary of the portion of
the plane x + y + z = 1 in the rst octant.
2. F~ (x, y, z) = h2yz , xz , xyi and C is the boundary of the surface
parametrized by R(u, ~ v) = hu cos v , u sin v , u2 sin2 vi where
u ∈ [0, 1] and v ∈ [0, 2π].
II. Given the following velocity eldsZF ~ and corresponding surface S ,
Z
use Stokes' Theorem to compute curl F~ dσ .
S
1. F~ (x, y, z) = hz , x , yi and S is the paraboloid z = x2 + y 2 that is
below the plane z = 1.
2. F~ (x, y, z) = h3y , 4z , −6xi and S is the paraboloid
z = 16 − x2 − y 2 above the xy -plane.

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