3.

6 Integral Theorem

3.6.1 Stokes Theorem

⃗ , bounded
Let S be a surface with normal vector 𝑛
by closed curve C. If 𝐹
⃗⃗⃗ is a vector field on region
containing S and C, then,

⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑑𝑟
∮𝐶 𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ )• 𝑛
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ∬ (∇ × 𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆
𝑆

Curl ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹

But, 𝐹 • 𝑑𝑟
∮𝐶 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ is actually finding line integral along C (ie. work done)
𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
∮𝐶 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑑𝑟 = ∮𝐶 𝑀 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁𝑑𝑦 + 𝑃 𝑑𝑧

LHS RHS
Use Stokes Theorem to
𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
∮ ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑑𝑟 = ∮ 𝑀 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁𝑑𝑦 + 𝑃 𝑑𝑧 𝐹 )• 𝑛
∬ (∇ × ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆
evaluate: 𝐶 𝐶 𝑆

Note:
If asked to evaluate RHS, then use the LHS formula.
If asked to evaluate LHS, then use the RHS formula.

Example:
1. Use Stokes Theorem to evaluate ∬𝑆 curl ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹• 𝑛 ⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 where ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 = 2𝑧 𝑖 + 𝑥 ⃗𝑗 + 𝑦 2 𝑘⃗ and S
is the surface of paraboloid 𝑧 = 4 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 , and C is the trace of S in xy plane.

Question is asking to evaluate ∬𝑆 curl ⃗⃗⃗

𝐹• 𝑛⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆, therefore
use ∮𝐶 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑑𝑟 .
𝐹 • ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑑𝑟
∮𝐶 𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ∮ 𝑀 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁𝑑𝑦 + 𝑃 𝑑𝑧
𝐶

= ∮𝐶 2𝑧 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑧

integrating along C, hence 𝑧 = 0 → 𝑑𝑧 = 0,

= ∮𝐶 𝑥 𝑑𝑦

convert to polar coordinates, x= r cos  , y= r sin  , dy= r cos  d ,

but along C, 𝑟 = 2, so x= 2 cos  , y= 2 sin  , dy= 2 cos  d ,

 = ∫ 2 cos 𝜃 . 2 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋
= ∫0 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋 cos 2𝜃+1
= ∫0 4 ( 2
) 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋
= 2 ∫0 1 + cos 2𝜃 𝑑𝜃
sin 2𝜃 2𝜋
= 2 [𝜃 + ]
2 0
sin 4𝜋 sin 0
= 2 [(2𝜋 + 2
)− (0 + 2
)] = 4𝜋

2. Use Stokes Theorem to evaluate ∮𝐶 𝑧 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦 𝑑𝑧 where C is the rim of the

cylinder 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1, where the plane 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2 cut it as shown in the diagram.

Question is asking to evaluate ∮𝐶 𝐹 𝑑𝑟 , therefore use ∬𝑆 curl ⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹• 𝑛⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆.

𝐹 • ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
∮𝐶 𝑧 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦 𝑑𝑧 = ∮𝐶 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑑𝑟

Hence, ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑧 𝑖 + 𝑥⃗𝑗 + 𝑦⃗⃗⃗𝑘

Curl 𝐹
⃗⃗⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ∇  𝐹
⃗⃗⃗

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘⃗
= |∂ ∂ ∂
|
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑧 𝑥 𝑦
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
= 𝑖 |𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧| − 𝑗 |𝜕𝑥 + 𝑘⃗ |𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑧| 𝜕𝑦|
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 𝑦 𝑧 𝑥
= 𝑖 + 𝑗 + 𝑘⃗ = < 1,1,1 >
𝑆 =𝑦+𝑧−2
∇𝑆 =< 𝑆𝑥 , 𝑆𝑦 , 𝑆𝑧 >
=< 0, 1, 1 >
∇𝑆 <0,1,1> <0,1,1>
𝑛⃗ = |∇𝑆| = =
√02 +12 +12 √2
<0,1,1> 2
𝐹•𝑛
𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ =< 1,1,1 > . =
√2 √2

Since projection is on xy plane,

<0,1,1> 1
⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗⃗⃗
|𝑛 𝑘|= 2
. < 0,0,1 > =
√ √2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝐹• 𝑛
∬𝑆 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 )• 𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 = ∬𝑅 (∇ × ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ . |𝑛⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗⃗⃗𝑘 |

2 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
= ∬𝑅 . 1
√2
√2

= ∬𝑅 2 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
convert to polar coordinates, 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋
1
= 2 ∫ ∫0 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃 = 2𝜋 (D.I.Y)
0

3. Given ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = (𝑒 𝑧 ) 𝑖 + (4𝑧 − 𝑦)⃗𝑗 + (8𝑥 sin 𝑦) ⃗⃗⃗𝑘 . Let S be the surface of the
2

paraboloid 𝑧 = 4 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 above the xy plane.

a) State Stokes Theorem and sketch the diagram.

𝐹 • ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
∮ ⃗⃗⃗
𝐶
𝑑𝑟 = ∮ 𝑀 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁𝑑𝑦 + 𝑃 𝑑𝑧
𝐶
⃗⃗⃗ )• ⃗⃗⃗
= ∬𝑆 (∇ × 𝐹 𝑛 . 𝑑𝑆
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
⃗⃗⃗ )• 𝑛
= ∬𝑅 (∇ × 𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ . ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑘 |
|𝑛

b) Use Stokes Theorem to evaluate ∬𝑆 (∇ × ⃗⃗⃗

𝐹 )• 𝑛
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆

Question is asking to evaluate ∬𝑆 curl ⃗⃗⃗

𝐹• 𝑛⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆, therefore use ∮𝐶 𝐹
⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑑𝑟

𝐹 • ⃗⃗⃗⃗
∮𝐶 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑑𝑟 = ∮𝐶 𝑀 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑁𝑑𝑦 + 𝑃 𝑑𝑧
2
= ∮𝐶 𝑒 𝑧 𝑑𝑥 + (4𝑧 − 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 + (8𝑥 sin 𝑦) 𝑑𝑧

integrating along C, hence 𝑧 = 0 → 𝑑𝑧 = 0,

= ∮𝐶 1 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑦 𝑑𝑦

convert to polar coordinates, x= r cos  , y= r sin 

but along C, 𝑟 = 2, so x= 2 cos  , y= 2 sin 

hence dx= -2 sin  d , d y= 2 cos  d

2𝜋
= ∫0 −2 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 − 2 sin 𝜃 . (2 cos 𝜃) 𝑑𝜃

u dv
let 𝑢 = 2 sin 𝜃, 𝑑𝑢 = 2 cos 𝜃
𝑢2 (2 sin 𝜃)2
∫ 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 = 2
= 2
(2 sin 𝜃)2 2𝜋
= [−2 cos 𝜃 − 2 ]
0
(2 sin 2𝜋)2 (2 sin 0)2
= (−2 cos 2𝜋 − 2
)− (−2 cos 0 − 2
) =0
4. Use Stokes theorem to evaluate ∮𝐶 𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ where
⃗⃗⃗ • 𝑑𝑟
⃗⃗⃗ = −3𝑦 𝑖 + 4𝑧⃗𝑗 + 6𝑥⃗⃗⃗𝑘 and C is triangle 2𝑧 = 𝑦 as shown in
𝐹 2

diagram.

Question is asking to evaluate ∮𝐶 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑑𝑟 , therefore use

𝐹 • ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐹• 𝑛
∬𝑆 curl ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆.

Answer: 14 (D.I.Y)

5. Use Stokes Theorem to evaluate ∬𝑆 curl ⃗⃗⃗

𝐹• 𝑛⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑑𝑆 where ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 =< 𝑥𝑧, sin 𝑥𝑦𝑧, 3𝑥 >. S is
a surface of cone 𝑦 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑧 2 that lies between 𝑦 = 0 and 𝑦 = 3, while C is the trace
of S on 𝑦 = 3. (diagram is not given)

Answer: 27 (D.I.Y)

6. Evaluate ∮𝐶 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑑𝑟 using Stokes Theorem where ⃗⃗⃗

𝐹 • ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑦 3 𝑖 + 𝑥𝑧⃗𝑗 + 𝑥 2 ⃗⃗⃗𝑘 and C is
the boundary of parabolic surface 𝑧 = 1 − 𝑥 2 in the first octant, cut off by the plane
𝑦 = 4.
Answer: -64 (D.I.Y)

Hint:
To get the idea how the parabolic surface looks like,
sketch the graph on 2-dimensional axis.

Since y is not in the surface equation, means we need to

extend the 2D graph along the y-axis.

This is the projection of the surface on xy plane.

Additional Notes on Stokes Theorem

In all the Stokes Theorem examples, the surface S is given in the questions.
Therefore, students have no problem to select which equation to be the surface
S.

Now lets look at this example:

In this question, it is not mentioned which surface S we should choose, whether

the cone or the plane. However, the curve C is given. The diagram is given as:
Based on the curve C given in the question, we put the right hand following the
direction of C, and we found that the surface S is the PLANE.
Hence, we must use S = z-4.