Subject Name: Physics I

Subject Code: BSPH101/201

(According to MAKAUT)
Module 1-Mechanics
Introduction to Vector Calculus (line, surface
and volume integral, Gauss’ divergence
theorem and Stokes theorem) - Lecture- 13
Presented By : Dr. Ranjita Sinha
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Basic Science&Humanities
(Physics Section)
Asansol Engineering College

Contact details:
ranjita.phy@aecwb.edu.in
 Line Integral

Let dl be an element of
length on a smooth curve PQ

and A be continuous vector
point function. The scalar

product of A with the line

element dl is called the line

integral of the vector A
and for an extended path it
will be equal to the integral
Q   Q
 A . dl   Adl cos 
P P
 
It is defined as the line integral of the vector A along the

curve PQ, where  is the angle between A and elementary
 
length dl . In terms of components of A along the three
cartesian coordinates we have
Q   Q

 A . dl    ˆ  .  iˆ dx  ˆj dy  kˆ dz 
ˆ x  ˆjAy  kA
iA z
P P
Q
   Ax dx  Ay dy  Az dz 
P
If the path of integration is a closed curve then we write

 instead of  .
If the value of the line integral depends only on the initial
and final points in the vector field and independent of path
then the vector field is called conservative field. All central
force fields such as gravitational field, electrostatic field are
 
conservative fields. For a conservative force field  A . dl  0
C

If the line integral over a closed path in

 
a vector field A is zero then A will be
 
the gradient of the scalar function A  
Where  is a scalar point function..
  
If A is conservative then   A  0
 Surface integral

If S be the outward
surface of a body placed

in a vector field A . If nˆ
be an outward drawn
unit normal to an
element of surface dS

such that dS  nˆ dS .
 
Where dS is the vector area

of dS and dS  dS
The outward flux of the

continuous vector function A through dS is
 
dN  A .dS
The total outward flux through
the whole surface S is
  
N=  A .dS   A . nˆ dS
S S
 Volume integral

If A is a single valued continuous
vector function in volume V
enclosed by a surface S then the

volume integral of A is given by

ˆ
 A dV  ˆ
i  1
A dV  ˆ
j  2
A dV  k  A3 dV
V V V V

Where A  iˆ A1  ˆj A2  kˆ A3
 The divergence theorem of Gauss

The Gauss' divergence theorem states that if V is the volume


bounded by a close surface S and A is the vector
function of position with continuous derivatives then
    
 . A dV   A . nˆ dS  
 A . dS
V S S
Where nˆ is the positive(outward drawn) normal to S.
 Stokes’ theorem

Stokes' theorem states that if S is an open, two sided

surface bounded by a closed, non intersecting curve C

(simple closed curve) then if A has continuous derivatives
      
   
 A. dr =    A .nˆ dS     A . dS
C S S
Where C is traversed in the positive direction.
The direction of C is called positive if an observer
walking on the boundary of S in this direction,
with his head pointing in the direction of the positive
normal to S, has the surface on his left.
 Problems
1
2
3
4
 REFERENCES

1. Schaum's Outline Of Vector Analysis by Murray

Spiegel .

2. Higher Engineering Mathematics” by B S

Grewal.

3. VECTOR ANALYSIS: VECTOR ALGEBRA &

VECTOR CALCULUS by J. G. Chakravorty
and P. R. Ghosh .

4. Vector Analysis (Dover Books on Mathematics) n

Edition by Louis Brand.