3.

5 Surface Integrals

Suppose a surface S is submerged in a fluid having

velocity field ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 . Let S be a small area on surface
S. Then the volume of fluid crossing the surface
S per unit time is called as the flux of F across S.

Surface integral of the vector field is given by:

𝐹• 𝑛
∬ ⃗⃗⃗𝑆
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 (or flux)

where
𝐹 = 𝑀 𝑖 + 𝑁⃗𝑗 + 𝑃⃗⃗⃗𝑘
⃗⃗⃗
∇𝑆
𝑛⃗ = |∇𝑆| = normal vector to surface 𝑆
𝑆 = 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑆(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)

Theorem
1. If 𝑅 is a projection of the surface 𝑆 on xy plane, then
⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑛
∬𝑆 𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ • ∇𝑆. 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = ∬ ⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 𝐹 𝐹 • ⃗⃗⃗
𝑛 .
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
, ⃗⃗⃗
𝑘 =< 0,0,1 >
𝑆 𝑅 𝑧 ⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑘
|𝑛 ⃗⃗⃗ |

2. If 𝑅 is a projection of the surface 𝑆 on yz plane, then

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑧
𝐹• 𝑛
∬𝑆 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 • ∇𝑆.
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 •𝑛
= ∬𝑅 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ . |𝑛⃗⃗⃗ ⃗ | , 𝑖⃗ =< 1,0,0 >
𝑆 𝑥 • 𝑖

3. If 𝑅 is a projection of the surface 𝑆 on xz plane, then

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑧
𝐹 •𝑛
∬𝑆 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 • ∇𝑆.
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 •𝑛
= ∬𝑅 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ . |𝑛⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ | , 𝑗⃗ =< 0,1,0 >
𝑆 𝑦 • 𝑗

Steps to find surface integral: (taking example of projection on xy plane)

∇𝑆
1. Calculate 𝑛⃗ = |∇𝑆|

2. Find ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 •𝑛
⃗⃗⃗
3. ⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗⃗⃗
Find|𝑛 𝑘|
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
4. Solve integration ∬ ⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑛
𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ .
𝑆 ⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑘
|𝑛 ⃗⃗⃗ |

Example
1. A vector field ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 = 𝑥 𝑖 + 2𝑦⃗𝑗 + 3𝑧⃗⃗⃗𝑘 exist over a surface S defined by 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 𝑧 = 6
in the first octant. Evaluate the flux of the vector field.
𝑆 = 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 𝑧 − 6
∇𝑆 =< 𝑆𝑥 , 𝑆𝑦 , 𝑆𝑧 >
=< 2, 3, 1 >
 ∇𝑆 <2,3,1> 1
𝑛⃗ = |∇𝑆| = = < 2, 3, 1 >
√22 +32 +12 √14

1
𝐹•𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ =< 𝑥, 2𝑦, 3𝑧 > • < 2, 3, 1 >
√14
1
= (2𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 3𝑧)
√14

2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 𝑧 = 6
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
6, 3
+2+6 = 1

If projection is on xy plane:

1 1
⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗⃗⃗
|𝑛 𝑘|= < 2, 3, 1 > • < 0,0,1 > =
√14 √14

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝐹 •𝑛
∬𝑆 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 •𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ .
⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗⃗⃗
|𝑛 𝑘|

1 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
= ∬𝑅 (2𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 3𝑧) . 1
√14
√14

2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 6
= ∬𝑅 (2𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 3[6 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑦]) . 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 2𝑥 = 6 − 3𝑦
3𝑦
𝑥 = 3−
3𝑦 2
2 3−
= ∫0 ∫0 2 (−4𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 18) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 36

If projection is on yz plane:

1 2
⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑖⃗ | =
|𝑛 < 2, 3, 1 > • < 1,0,0 > =
√14 √14

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑧
⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑛
∬𝑆 𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ . |𝑛⃗⃗⃗ ⃗ |
• 𝑖

1 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑧
= ∬𝑅 (2𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 3𝑧) . 2
√14
√14
3𝑦 + 𝑧 = 6
1 𝑧 = 6 − 3𝑦
= ∬𝑅 ([6 − 3𝑦 − 𝑧] + 6𝑦 + 3𝑧) . 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑧 ,
2

1 2 6−3𝑦
= ∫0 ∫0 3𝑦 + 2𝑧 + 6 𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑦 = 36
2
 If projection is on xz plane:

1 3
⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗𝑗 | =
|𝑛 < 2, 3, 1 > • < 0,1,0 > =
√14 √14

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑧
𝐹 •𝑛
∬𝑆 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 •𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ . |𝑛⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ |
• 𝑗
1 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑧
= ∬𝑅 (2𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 3𝑧) . 3
√14
√14

1 2𝑥 + 𝑧 = 6
= ∬𝑅 (2𝑥 + [12 − 4𝑥 − 2𝑧] + 3𝑧) . 𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑥
3 𝑧 = 6 − 2𝑥

1 3 6−2𝑥
= ∫0 ∫0 −2𝑥 + 𝑧 + 12 𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑥 = 36
3

2. Evaluate ∬𝑆 ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 •𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 where ⃗⃗⃗𝐹 = 𝑦 𝑖 + 𝑥 ⃗𝑗 + 𝑧⃗⃗⃗𝑘 and S is the boundary of the solid
region E enclosed by the paraboloid 𝑧 = 1 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 and the plane 𝑧 = 0.

𝑆 = 𝑧 − 1 + 𝑥2 + 𝑦2
∇𝑆 =< 𝑆𝑥 , 𝑆𝑦 , 𝑆𝑧 >
=< 2𝑥, 2𝑦, 1 >

∇𝑆 <2𝑥,2𝑦,1> <2𝑥,2𝑦,1>
𝑛⃗ = |∇𝑆| = =
√(2𝑥)2 +(2𝑦)2 +12 √4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1

<2𝑥,2𝑦,1> 2𝑥𝑦+2𝑥𝑦+𝑧
⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑛
𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ =< 𝑦, 𝑥, 𝑧 > • =
√4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1 √4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1

Projection is on xy plane:

<2𝑥,2𝑦,1> 1
⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗⃗⃗
|𝑛 𝑘|= • < 0,0,1 > =
√4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1 √4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝐹 •𝑛
∬𝑆 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 •𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ .
⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑘
|𝑛 ⃗⃗⃗ |

2𝑥𝑦+2𝑥𝑦+𝑧 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
= ∬𝑅 . 1
√4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1
√4𝑥2 +4𝑦2 +1

= ∬𝑅 4𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧 . 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦

= ∬𝑅 4𝑥𝑦 + (1 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 ) . 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
 Convert to polar coordinates, x= r cos , y= r sin , 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃

𝑅 = {(𝑟, 𝜃): 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 1, 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋}

⃗⃗⃗
∬𝑆 𝐹 • 𝑛⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 4𝑥𝑦 + (1 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 ) . 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 becomes
2𝜋
1
= ∫ ∫0 4(𝑟 cos 𝜃)(r sin 𝜃) + 1 − (𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃)2 − (𝑟 sin 𝜃)2 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 . 𝑑𝜃
0
2𝜋
1
= ∫ ∫0 (4𝑟 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 + 1 − 𝑟 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 − 𝑟 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃)𝑟 𝑑𝑟 . 𝑑𝜃
0
2𝜋
1
= ∫ ∫0 (4𝑟 3 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 + 𝑟 − 𝑟 3 ) 𝑑𝑟 . 𝑑𝜃
0
2𝜋
4𝑟 4 𝑟2 𝑟4 1
=∫ [ 4
sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 + 2
− ]
4 0
. 𝑑𝜃
0
2𝜋
1 1
=∫ sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 + 2 − 4 . 𝑑𝜃
0
2𝜋
1 1
=∫ 2
sin 2𝜃 + 4 . 𝑑𝜃
0

= [−
1 cos 2𝜃 𝜃
+ ]
2𝜋
2 2 4 0 𝑧 = 1 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦2
= (− 4 +
1 2𝜋 1
) − (− 4 + 0) = 2
𝜋 at z=0, 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1
4

3. Find the flux of the vector field 𝐹

⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑧⃗⃗⃗𝑘 through the surface S where S is the first
octant of the paraboloid 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 , that is cut off by the plane 𝑧 = 4.

𝑆 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 − 𝑧
∇𝑆 =< 𝑆𝑥 , 𝑆𝑦 , 𝑆𝑧 >
=< 2𝑥, 2𝑦, −1 >

∇𝑆 <2𝑥,2𝑦,−1> <2𝑥,2𝑦,−1>
𝑛⃗ = |∇𝑆| = =
√(2𝑥)2 +(2𝑦)2 +(−1)2 √4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1
<2𝑥,2𝑦,−1> −𝑧
⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑛
𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ =< 0, 0, 𝑧 > • =
√4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1 √4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1

Projection on xy plane:
<2𝑥,2𝑦,− 1> −1
⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗⃗⃗
|𝑛 𝑘|= • < 0,0,1 > =
√4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1 √4𝑥 2 +4𝑦 2 +1
 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝐹 •𝑛
∬𝑆 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 •𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ .
⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑘
|𝑛 ⃗⃗⃗ |

−𝑧 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
=∬ .
𝑅 √4𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 + 1 −1
√4𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 + 1

= ∬𝑅 𝑧 . 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦

= ∬𝑅 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 . 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦

Convert to polar coordinates, 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2 , 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃

𝜋
𝑅 = {(𝑟, 𝜃): 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 2, 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ }
2
𝜋

𝐹 •𝑛
2
∬𝑆 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∫2 ∫0
0
𝑟2 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 . 𝑑𝜃
𝜋
2 2
= ∫ ∫0 𝑟 3 𝑑𝑟 . 𝑑𝜃
𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2,
0
𝜋
2 𝑟4 2 at z=4, 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4
= ∫ [4 ] . 𝑑𝜃
0 0
= 2𝜋