Understanding

the Flux
Integrals
 A Comparison Between Surface and Flux Integrals

Surface Integral Flux Integral

Notation ඵ 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) 𝒅𝑺 ඵ 𝑭(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) ⋅ 𝒅𝑺

𝓢 𝓢

Gold paint applied to the Solar energy that is received by

Prototypical Example
surface of a vase the solar panel

f(x, y, z), scalar-valued and F(x, y, z), vector-valued and

Integrand Function
evaluated on the surface evaluated on the surface

Integration Domain A Surface in 3D A Surface in 3D

Needed and specified by a unit

Surface Orientation Not needed normal, describing which
direction of flow is positive

‫𝒙(𝒇 𝓢׭‬, 𝒚, 𝒛) 𝒅𝑺=

Integral Evaluation Strategy ‫𝒖(𝒓(𝒇 𝑹׭‬, 𝒗)) 𝒓𝒖 × 𝒓𝒗 𝒅𝒖𝒅𝒗 ඵ 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒅𝑺 = ඵ 𝑭 ⋅ 𝐧𝒅𝐒
𝓢 𝓢
FAQ 1-Why do we need
to orient the surface?
FAQ 1-Why do we need
to orient the surface?

To determine the positive

direction of flow and to be able to
interpret the sign of the flux.
FAQ 2-How do
I know which
direction is
positive?
 Unlike what we have seen in Green’s theorem,
where the positive orientation of a curve is
defined as the direction in which, if you walk, the

FAQ 2-How do enclosed region lies on your left side, we do not

have any convention regarding the positive
I know which orientation of the surface.
direction is
positive?
It is an 'arbitrary' and personal choice you make
at the start or one that is provided by the
question. This choice truly depends on the
context.
FAQ 3-Why do we use a normal
vector to orient the surface? What
does “a normal pointing upward”
mean?
FAQ 3-Why do we use a unit
normal vector to orient the
surface? What does “a normal
pointing upward” mean?

At e a c h p o i n t o n t h e s u r f a c e , t h e r e a r e t w o
n o r m a l ve c t o r s p o i n t i ng i n o p p o s i t e d i r e cti o n s .
I n g e n e ra l , t h e y a r e n o t o r i e n te d p e r f e ctl y
ve r ti c a l l y; i n s t e a d, o n e o f t h e m p o i n t s s l i g h tl y
u p wa r d, w h i l e t h e o t h e r p o i n t s s l i g h tl y
d o w n wa r d. B y s e l e c ti ng o n e o f t h e m , w e
d e s i g n a te t h e p o s i t i ve d i r e cti o n o f f l o w.

The reason we choose normal vectors instead of non-

perpendicular vectors is that we are only interested in
the net rate of flow.
FAQ 4-The surface orientation is a
critical factor in flux integrals;
whereas it is not needed in
surface integrals. However,
‫𝐒𝒅𝐧 ⋅ 𝑭 𝓢׭ = 𝑺𝒅 ⋅ 𝑭 𝓢׭‬.

Where did the orientation go?

FAQ 4-The surface orientation is a
critical factor in flux integrals;
whereas it is not needed in
surface integrals. However,
‫𝐒𝒅𝐧 ⋅ 𝑭 𝓢׭ = 𝑺𝒅 ⋅ 𝑭 𝓢׭‬.
Where did the orientation go?
The surface orientation is
represented by the unit
normal vector 𝐧. If the
vector field 𝐅 goes against
this orientation, it implies
that 𝑭 is roughly opposing
𝐧. As a result, 𝐅 ⋅ 𝐧 < 0 and
‫<𝐒𝒅𝐧 ⋅ 𝐅 𝓢׭‬0.
FAQ 5-Must I parametrize
the given surface to
evaluate the flux integral?

11
FAQ 5-Must I parametrize
the given surface to
evaluate the flux integral?

It depends. If 𝐅 ⋅ 𝐧 is a scalar for

example, then the flux integral ‫⋅ 𝑭 𝓢׭‬

𝒅𝑺 = ‫ 𝐒𝒅𝐧 ⋅ 𝐅 𝓢׭‬is just that scalar

multiplied by the surface area.
Otherwise, we need to parametrize
the surface S to evaluate the resulting

surface integral ‫ 𝐒𝒅𝐧 ⋅ 𝐅 𝓢׭‬.

12
FAQ 6 - H o w d o I k n o w
w h e t h er I s h o u l d ch o ose
∇𝑓 ∇𝑓
or − ?
∇𝑓 ∇𝑓

Wh a t i f t h e ch o i ce i s n o t
t h e s a m e a t d i f fe ren t
points?
 ∇𝑓 ∇𝑓
Note that both and − are
FAQ 6 - H o w d o I k n o w ∇𝑓 ∇𝑓

w h e t h er I s h o u l d ch o ose unit normal vectors. Switching from

∇𝑓 ∇𝑓
or − ? ∇𝑓 ∇𝑓
∇𝑓 ∇𝑓
∇𝑓
to − ∇𝑓
is considered a sudden
Wh a t i f t h e ch o i ce i s n o t change. Such sudden changes are
t h e s a m e a t d i f fe ren t
not possible when the surface is
points?
nice and has gradually changing
(normal) orientations.
 𝒓(𝒕)

𝒓 ′ 𝒕𝟎

The Tangent
𝒓𝒗 (𝟎. 𝟒, 𝟐. 𝟏)
and Normal

𝒓𝒖 (𝟎. 𝟒, 𝟐. 𝟏)

Sample Footer Text 2/3/20XX 15

 𝒓(𝒕)

𝒓 ′ 𝒕𝟎

The Tangent
𝒓𝒗 (𝟎. 𝟒, 𝟐. 𝟏)
and Normal

𝒓𝒖 (𝟎. 𝟒, 𝟐. 𝟏)

± 𝒓𝒖 × 𝒓𝒗
𝒏=
Sample Footer Text 𝒓𝒖 × 𝒓𝒗 2/3/20XX 16
ඵ 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒅𝑺 = ඵ 𝑭 ⋅ 𝐧𝒅𝐒
𝓢 𝓢

± 𝒓𝒖 × 𝒓 𝒗
= ඵ𝑭 ⋅ 𝒅𝐒
Evaluate the
𝓢 𝒓 𝒖 × 𝒓 𝒗
± 𝒓𝒖 × 𝒓𝒗
= ඵ 𝑭 𝒓 𝒖, 𝒗 ⋅ 𝒓𝒖 × 𝒓𝒗 𝒅𝒖𝒅𝒗
𝒓𝒖 × 𝒓𝒗
Flux Integrals
𝑹

= ± ඵ 𝑭 𝒓 𝒖, 𝒗 ⋅ 𝒓𝒖 × 𝒓𝒗 𝒅𝒖𝒅𝒗
𝑹
 Summary
±𝜵𝒇
• If 𝑭 ⋅ is a scalar and the surface area is easy to compute, we
𝜵𝒇
±∇𝑓
use ‫⋅ 𝑭 𝓢׭ = 𝐒𝒅𝐧 ⋅ 𝑭 𝓢׭ = 𝑺𝒅 ⋅ 𝑭 𝓢׭‬ 𝒅𝐒 to avoid parametrization;
∇𝑓

• Otherwise, we parametrize the surface and use

ඵ 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒅𝑺 = ± ඵ 𝑭 𝒓 𝒖, 𝒗 ⋅ 𝒓𝒖 × 𝒓𝒗 𝒅𝒖𝒅𝒗
𝓢 𝑹