Line Integrals of Scalar Fields

Institute of Mathematics
University of the Philippines-Diliman

1 / 22
Curtain Area Problem

Let f be a positive continuous

function in R2 .
Let C be a smooth curve
parametrized by
~
R(t) = hx(t) , y(t)i,

t ∈ [a, b].
What is the area of the "curtain"
illustrated on the left?

2 / 22
Curtain Area Problem

1. Partition [a, b] into n

subintervals:
a = t0 < . . . < tn = b.

2. Divide C into n subarcs of

lengths
∆s1 , ∆s2 , . . . , ∆sn .

3. For each i ∈ 1, . . . , n, choose

t∗i ∈ [ti−1 , ti ] and determine
the corresponding point
(x∗i , yi∗ ) := (x(t∗i ), y(t∗i )).

3 / 22
Curtain Area Problem

4. The area A of the curtain can

be approximated by
n
X
f (x∗i , yi∗ )∆si .
i=1

5. Thus,
n
X
A = lim f (x∗i , yi∗ )∆si .
n→+∞
i=1

If this limit exists, we denote

it by
Z
f (x, y) ds.
C

4 / 22
Line Integrals w.r.t. the Arclength Parameter

Denition
Let f be a function in R2 that is continuous on a region containing
the smooth curve C parametrized by R(t)
~ = hx(t) , y(t)i, t ∈ [a, b].
The line integral of f along C with respect to the arclength
parameter is dened by
Z n
X
f (x, y) ds = lim f (x∗i , yi∗ )∆si ,
C n→+∞
i=1

if this limit exists.

5 / 22
Line Integrals w.r.t. the Arclength Parameter

Remark
1.If −C denotes the curve C traced in the opposite direction, then
Z Z
f (x, y) ds = f (x, y) ds.
−C C
ds
Recall that ~ 0 (t) . Thus,

2. = R
dt
Z Z b
~ (t) dt
0
f (x, y) ds = f (x(t), y(t)) R
C a
Z b p
= f (x(t), y(t)) (x0 (t))2 + (y 0 (t))2 dt.
a

6 / 22
Line Integrals w.r.t. the Arclength Parameter

Remark (continuation)
3. Line integral is independent of the parametrization of C . If C
can be parametrized by both R(t) ~ = hx(t) , y(t)i, t ∈ [a, b] and
S(t) = hξ(t) , η(t)i, t ∈ [c, d], then
~
Z Z b
~ (t) dt
0
f (x, y) ds = f (x(t), y(t)) R
C a
Z d 0
= f (ξ(t), η(t)) ~
S (t) dt.
c

4. If C is piecewise smooth, that is, if it is a union of a nite

number of smooth curves C1 , C2 , . . . , Cn , then
Z Z Z Z
f (x, y) ds = f (x, y) ds + f (x, y) ds + · · · + f (x, y) ds.
C C1 C2 Cn

7 / 22
Other Physical Interpretations

If f (x, y) denotes the linear density of a wire shaped like the curve C ,
parametrized by R(t),
~ t ∈ [a, b], then
1 The mass of the wire equals
Z
m= f (x, y) ds.
C

2 The center of mass of the wire is located at (x̄, ȳ), where

Z Z
1 1
x̄ = xf (x, y) ds and ȳ = yf (x, y) ds.
m C m C

3 If f (x, y) = 1, then
Z Z b
~ (t) dt
0
ds = R
C a

gives the arclength of C .

8 / 22
Line Integrals w.r.t. the Arclength Parameter

Example
Given f (x,
Z y) = x y + x and C : R(t) = h3 sin t , 3 cos ti, t ∈ [0, π/2].
2 ~
Evaluate f (x, y) ds.
C

Solution:

~
R(t) = h3 sin t , 3 cos ti =⇒ ~ 0 (t) = h3 cos t , −3 sin ti
R
0 p
=⇒ ~ (t) = 9 cos2 t + 9 sin2 t = 3.
R

Z Z π/2 0
f (x, y) ds = ~ (t) dt
f (3 sin t, 3 cos t) R
C 0
Z π/2
27 sin2 t cos t + 3 sin t 3dt


=
0
Z π/2
= 9 (9 sin2 t cos t + sin t) dt
0
π/2
= 9(3 sin3 t − cos t)0
= 9((3 − 0) − (0 − 1)) = 36.
9 / 22
Parameterization of Curves

A parametrization of the line segment joining two points A(x1 , y1 )

and B(x2 , y2 ) is
~
R(t) = hx1 + (x2 − x1 )t , y1 + (y2 − y1 )ti, t ∈ [0, 1].

A parametrization of the the graph of y = f (x), x ∈ [a, b] is

~
R(t) = ht , f (t)i, t ∈ [a, b].

Example
A parametrization of the line segment from (1,1) to (3,2) is
~
R(t) = h1 + 2t , 1 + ti, t ∈ [0, 1].
A parametrization of the portion of the parabola y = x2 from
(0,0) to (1,1) is R(t)
~ = ht , t2 i, t ∈ [0, 1].

10 / 22
Line Integrals w.r.t. the Arclength Parameter

Example
Z
Evaluate 2x ds, where C consists of the portion of the parabola y = x2
C
from (0, 0) to (1, 1) followed by the line segment from (1, 1) to (3, 2).

Solution: From the previous example,

~ 1 (t) = ht , t2 i, t ∈ [0, 1]
C1 : R
~ 2 (t) = h1 + 2t , 1 + ti, t ∈ [0, 1].
C2 : R
Z Z Z
2xds = 2xds + 2xds
C C1 C2
1 1 √
Z p Z
= 2t 1 + 4t2 dt + 2(1 + 2t) 1 + 4dt
0 0
1 1
(1 + 4t ) 2 3/2  √ 
2

= + 2 5 t + t

6
 
 
0 0
√
5 5−1 √
= +4 5
6
√
29 5 − 1
=
6
11 / 22
Line Integrals w.r.t. x and y

Denition
Let f be a function in R2 that is continuous on a region containing
the smooth curve C parametrized by R(t)
~ = hx(t) , y(t)i, t ∈ [a, b].

The line integral of f along C with respect to x is

Z n
X
f (x, y) dx = lim f (x∗i , yi∗ )∆xi ,
C n→+∞
i=1

if this limit exists.

The line integral of f along C with respect to y is
Z n
X
f (x, y) dy = lim f (x∗i , yi∗ )∆yi ,
C n→+∞
i=1

if this limit exists.

12 / 22
Line Integrals w.r.t. x and y

Remark
dx dy
1. Because dx = dt = x0 (t) dt and dy = dt = y 0 (t) dt,
dt dt
Z Z b
f (x, y) dx = f (x(t), y(t)) x0 (t) dt,
C a
Z Z b
f (x, y) dy = f (x(t), y(t)) y 0 (t) dt.
C a

2. If −C denotes the curve C traced in the opposite direction, then

Z Z
f (x, y) dx = − f (x, y) dx,
Z−C ZC
f (x, y) dy = − f (x, y) dy.
−C C

13 / 22
Line Integrals w.r.t. x and y

Remark (continuation)
3. The line integral with respect to x or y is independent of
parametrization of the curve.
4. If C is piecewise smooth curve with disjoint smooth components
C1 , C2 , . . . , Cn , then
Z n Z
X
f (x, y) dx = f (x, y) dx,
C i=1 Ci

Z n Z
X
f (x, y) dy = f (x, y) dy.
C i=1 Ci

5. We write
Z Z Z
P (x, y) dx + Q(x, y) dy = P (x, y) dx + Q(x, y) dy.
C C C

14 / 22
Line Integrals w.r.t. x and y

Example
Let C be the curve parametrized
Z by R(t)
~ = h1 − t2 , ti, where
t ∈ [−1.2]. Evaluate 3y dx + 4xy dy.
C

~ 0 (t) = hx0 (t) , y 0 (t)i = h−2t , 1i. Therefore,

Solution: R
Z Z 2
3y dx + 4xy dy = 3t (−2t) dt + 4(1 − t2 )t (1) dt
C −1
Z 2
= (−6t2 + 4t − 4t3 ) dt
−1
2
= (−2t3 + 2t2 − t4 )

−1
= −27.

15 / 22
Line Integrals along Space Curves

Denition
Let f be a function of three variables x, y and z that is continuous on
some region containing the smooth curve C described by the vector
function R(t)
~ = hx(t) , y(t) , z(t)i, t ∈ [a, b]. We dene
Z n
X
f (x, y, z) ds = lim f (x∗i , yi∗ , zi∗ )∆si
C n→+∞
i=1
Z b
~ (t) dt
0
= f (x(t), y(t), z(t)) R
a

if the limit exist.

16 / 22
Line Integrals along Space Curves

Denition (continuation)
Z n
X
f (x, y, z) dx = lim f (x∗i , yi∗ , zi∗ )∆xi
C n→+∞
i=1
Z b
= f (x(t), y(t), z(t)) x0 (t) dt,
a
Z n
X
f (x, y, z) dy = lim f (x∗i , yi∗ , zi∗ )∆yi
C n→+∞
i=1
Z b
= f (x(t), y(t), z(t)) y 0 (t) dt,
a
Z n
X
f (x, y, z) dz = lim f (x∗i , yi∗ , zi∗ )∆zi
C n→+∞
i=1
Z b
= f (x(t), y(t), z(t)) z 0 (t) dt,
a

if these limits exist.

17 / 22
Line Integrals along Space Curves

Remark
Z Z Z
P (x, y, z) dx + Q(x, y, z) dy + R(x, y, z) dz
C C C
Z
= P (x, y, z) dx + Q(x, y, z) dy + R(x, y, z) dz.
C

18 / 22
Line Integrals along Space Curves

Example
Z
Evaluate x2 sin z ds, where C is the curve parametrized by
C
~
R(t) = hcos t , sin t , ti, t ∈ [0, π].
√
Solution: R~ (t) = h− sin t , cos t , 1i = 2. Therefore,
0

Z
2
Z π √
x sin z ds = cos2 t sin t 2 dt
C 0
π
√ cos3 t 
= − 2
3 

0
√
2
= − (−1 − 1)
√3
2 2
= .
3

19 / 22
Line Integrals along Space Curves

Example
Let C be the line
Z segment from the point P (3, 0, −1) to Q(2, −3, 1).
Evaluate I = (y − x) dx + z dy + (x − y) dz.
C

Solution: A parametrization of the line segment from P to Q is

~
R(t) = h3 − t , − 3t , 2t − 1i, t ∈ [0, 1].

~ 0 (t) = h−1 , −3 , 2i. Therefore,

Hence, R
Z 1
I = (−3t − (3 − t)) (−1) dt + (2t − 1) (−3) dt + (3 − t − (−3t)) (2) dt
0
Z 1
= 12 dt
0
= 12.

20 / 22
Exercises

I. Evaluate
Z
the line integral over the given curve.
2 + x2 y ds,


1. where C is the upper half of the semicircle
C
x + y2 = 1
Z
2

2. 3y dx + 4xy dy , where C is the curve described by

C
~ = 1 − t2 , t , t ∈ [−1, 2]


R(t)
Z
3. (x2 + xy) dx + (y 2 − xy) dy , where C consists of the line
C
segment y=x from the point (0, 0) to the point (2, 2) followed by

the vertical line from

Z (2, 2) to (2, 0).
4. yz dx + xy dz , where C is the path where x = et , y = e3t , and
C
−t
zZ = e , t ∈ [0, 1].
5. 3xz ds, where C is the oriented curve with vector equation
C
~
R(t) = h4t, sin 3t, cos 3ti, 0 ≤ t ≤ π .

21 / 22
Exercises

II. Use a line integral to nd the mass of a wire running along the
parabola y = x2 from (0, 0) to (1, 1), if the density (mass per unit
length) of the wire at any point (x, y) is numerically equal to x.
III. Find the mass of a thin wire
√ shaped in the form of the curve
x = 2t, y = ln t and z = 4 t, 1 ≤ t ≤ 4, if the density function is
√
x + y.

22 / 22