Stokes' Theorem Examples

Stokes' Theorem relates surface integrals and line integrals.

STOKES' THEOREM Let F be a vector field. Let W be an oriented surface, and let G be the boundary curve of W , oriented using the right-hand rule. Then: ( ( curlaFb . A * F . s
W G

EXAMPLE 1 Let G be the curve defined by the parametric equations B! C # # cos > D # # sin > ! > #1

Use Stokes' Theorem to evaluate ( B# /&D .B B cos C .C $C .D .

G

SOLUTION

The parametric equations above describe a circle of radius # on the CD -plane:

z

Let H be the disc whose boundary is the given circle. By Stokes' Theorem:
# &D # &D ( B / i B cos C j $C k . s ( ( curlB / i B cos C j $C k . A G H

We compute the curl:

i B# /&D i B cos C j $C k ``B curl # &D B /

H

j ``C B cos C

k # &D ``D $ i &B / j cos C k $C

So we have to evaluate ( ( $ i &B# /&D j cos C k . A.

This integral can be evaluated geometrically. The vector . A for the disc points in the positive B direction. (Stokes' theorem uses the right-hand rule: if you curl the fingers of your right hand in the direction of G , then your thumb points in the direction of .A.) So: $ i &B# /&D j cos C k . A $ .E

Therefore:
# &D ( ( $ i &B / j cos C k . A ( ( $ .E $ athe area of the discb "#1 H H

integral (( Bk . A, where . A is the upward-pointing normal vector.

W

EXAMPLE 2 Let W be the surface D Ba" BbC a" C b for ! B " and ! C ". Evaluate the

SOLUTION

If we wish to use Stokes' theorem, we must express Bk as the curl of some vector field F. The formula for the curl is: i j k ``B ``C ``D `JD `JC `JB `JD `JC `JB curl F `C `D `D `B `B `C J JC JD B `JC `JD ! `C `D `JC `JB B `B `C

So what we need is: `JB `JD ! `D `B

It is not hard to guess that JC " B# , with JB JD !. Indeed: # i j k " # curl B j ``B ``C ``D Bk # ! " # B ! # By Stokes' Theorem, we conclude that ( ( Bk . A *
W G

" # B .C, where G is the boundary curve of the #

surface W . So what is the boundary of W ? Well, the equation D Ba" BbC a" C b specifies a surface whose D-coordinate varies with horizontal position:

y x

The allowed values of B and C are determined by the inequalities ! B " and ! C ", which describe a square on the BC -plane:
y 1

x 1

The sides of this square are along the lines B !, C !, B ", and C ". Looking at the equation, we see that D ! for these values of B and C , so the boundary of the surface is just the boundary of the square on the BC -plane:
y 1

x 1

We can evaluate * *

" # B .C geometrically: #

" # " # " # " # " # B .C ( B .C ( B .C ( B .C ( B .C # top # bottom # left # right #

The top and bottom sides are horizontal, so .C !. Furthermore, B ! along the left edge, and B "

along the right edge, so: * " # " " B .C ! ! ! ( .C # # right #

to evaluate ( ( B$ /C i $B# /C j . A, where . A is the upward-pointing normal vector.

W

EXAMPLE 3 Let W be the upper hemisphere of the unit sphere B# C # D # ". Use Stokes' theorem

If we wish to use Stokes' theorem, we must express B$ /C i $B# /C j as the curl of some vector field F. The formula for the curl is: i j k ``B ``C ``D `JD `JC `JB `JD `JC `JB curl F `C `D `D `B `B `C J JC JD B
SOLUTION

So what we need is: `JC `JD B $ /C `C `D `JB `JD $B# /C `D `B `JC `JB ! `B `C

If we guess that JC and JB are zero, it is not too hard to figure out that JD B$ /C . Indeed: i j k B$ /C k ``B ``C ``D B$ /C i $B# /C j curl ! ! B $ /C By Stokes' Theorem, we conclude that ( ( B$ /C i $B# /C j . A * B$ /C .D , where G is the
W G

boundary curve of the surface W . Since W is the upper hemisphere of the unit sphere, G is just the unit circle on the BC -plane. By the right-hand rule, G is oriented counterclockwise. (It would be clockwise if we had started with the We conclude that ( ( B / i $B# /C j . A !.
$ C W G

downward-pointing . A.) Then * B$ /C .D is zero, since D is not changing over the course of the circle.

EXAMPLE 4 Let W be the surface defined by D B# C # for D %. Use Stokes' Theorem to evaluate
# $ ( ( $BD i D k . A, where . A is the upward-pointing normal vector. W

If we wish to use Stokes' theorem, we must express $BD # i D $ j as the curl of some vector field F. The formula for the curl is: i j k `JC `JB `JD `JD `JC `JB curl F ``B ``C ``D `C `D `D `B `B `C J JC JD B
SOLUTION

So what we need is: `JC `JD $BD # `C `D `JB `JD ! `D `B `JC `JB D$ `B `C

If we guess that JB and JD are zero, it is not hard to figure out that JC BD $ . Indeed: i j k curlBD $ j ``B ``C ``D $BD # i D $ k $ ! BD ! By Stokes' Theorem, we conclude that ( ( $BD # i D $ k . A * BD $ .C, where G is the
W G

boundary curve of the surface W . So what is the boundary of W ? Well, the equation for the surface W can be expressed as D <# , where D %. This appears as a parabola on the <D -plane:
z

z (2, 4)
C y

Therefore, the surface W is a bowl-shaped paraboloid. Its boundary curve G is a counterclockwise circle on the plane D % with radius #, with parameterization: B # cos > C # sin > D% ! > #1

(The circle is counterclockwise by the right-hand rule.) Thus:

$ * BD .C ( G #1

a# cos >ba%b$ a# cos > .>b

#1

#&'( #&'(

cos# > .> " a" cos #>b .> #

#1

! #1

(double-angle formula)

" "#)> sin #> # ! #&'1