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Let $S$ be the surface defined by $z = x^{2} + y^{2}$ for $z \leq 4$, oriented with upward-pointing normal.

Use Stokes' theorem to evaluate $\iint_{S}\left(\, -3xz^{2}\ ,\ 0\ ,\ z^{3}\,\right)\cdot{\rm d}\mathbf{S}$.

Hint: You may look for a vector field $ \mathbf{F} = M\left(\,x,y,z\,\right)\mathbf{i} + N\left(\,x,y,z\,\right)\mathbf{j} $ such that $\nabla \times \mathbf{F} = (-3xz^2, 0, z^3)$.

The question itself is straightforward except the fact that we need to find out $\mathbf{F}$.

Upon expanding $\nabla \times \mathbf{F}$, we get $$(-\frac{dN}{dz}, \frac{dM}{dz}, \frac{dN}{dx}-\frac{dM}{dy})=(-3xz^2, 0, z^3).$$

Problem arises as I try to find out $M$ and $N$. First, I have $$N = xz^3 + g(x,y)$$for some function $g$.It then gives $$\frac{dM}{dy}=g_x$$ which I cannot proceed. Is it even possible to find out $M$ and $N$ explicitly? Or do I need to solve the above question without finding $M$ and $N$?

Felix Marin
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Nighty
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1 Answers1

6

$\newcommand{\angles}[1]{\left\langle\, #1 \,\right\rangle} \newcommand{\braces}[1]{\left\lbrace\, #1 \,\right\rbrace} \newcommand{\bracks}[1]{\left\lbrack\, #1 \,\right\rbrack} \newcommand{\ceil}[1]{\,\left\lceil\, #1 \,\right\rceil\,} \newcommand{\dd}{{\rm d}} \newcommand{\ds}[1]{\displaystyle{#1}} \newcommand{\dsc}[1]{\displaystyle{\color{red}{#1}}} \newcommand{\expo}[1]{\,{\rm e}^{#1}\,} \newcommand{\fermi}{\,{\rm f}} \newcommand{\floor}[1]{\,\left\lfloor #1 \right\rfloor\,} \newcommand{\half}{{1 \over 2}} \newcommand{\ic}{{\rm i}} \newcommand{\iff}{\Longleftrightarrow} \newcommand{\imp}{\Longrightarrow} \newcommand{\Li}[1]{\,{\rm Li}_{#1}} \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\left\vert\left\vert\, #1\,\right\vert\right\vert} \newcommand{\pars}[1]{\left(\, #1 \,\right)} \newcommand{\partiald}[3][]{\frac{\partial^{#1} #2}{\partial #3^{#1}}} \newcommand{\pp}{{\cal P}} \newcommand{\root}[2][]{\,\sqrt[#1]{\vphantom{\large A}\,#2\,}\,} \newcommand{\sech}{\,{\rm sech}} \newcommand{\sgn}{\,{\rm sgn}} \newcommand{\totald}[3][]{\frac{{\rm d}^{#1} #2}{{\rm d} #3^{#1}}} \newcommand{\ul}[1]{\underline{#1}} \newcommand{\verts}[1]{\left\vert\, #1 \,\right\vert}$ \begin{align}& \left.\begin{array}{rcl} -\,\partiald{N}{z} & = & -3xz^{2} \\[1mm] \partiald{M}{z} & = & 0 \\[1mm] \partiald{N}{x} - \partiald{M}{y} & = & z^{3} \end{array}\right\} \qquad\imp\qquad \left\{\begin{array}{rcl} N & = & xz^{3} + \fermi\pars{x,y} \\[1mm] M & = & \,{\rm g}\pars{x,y} \end{array}\right. \end{align}

Moreover,

$$ z^{3} + \partiald{f}{x} - \partiald{g}{y} = z^{3} \qquad\imp\qquad\partiald{f}{x} = \partiald{g}{y}\tag{1} $$

Indeed, we can always add $\ds{\nabla\Psi}$ to any $\ds{\bf F}$ we find because $\ds{\nabla\times\pars{{\bf F} + \nabla\Psi} = \nabla\times\bf F}$. For instance, in applying the Stokes Theorem, $\ds{\oint\nabla\Psi\cdot\dd\vec{r}=0}$

The simplest choice, which satisfies $\pars{1}$, is $\ds{\fermi\pars{x,y} = {\rm g}\pars{x,y} = 0\,,\ \forall\ x,y}$. So,

$$ M=0\,,\qquad N=xz^{3}\qquad\imp\qquad{\bf F}=xz^{3}\,{\bf j} $$

Felix Marin
  • 89,464