Proving Stokes' Theorem with Green's Theorem

In summary, the conversation discusses the use of Green's theorem and Stokes' theorem to prove the Stokes' theorem. The conversation also talks about the difference between $\iint_{ABCDE} \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n} d \sigma$ and $\iint_{ABCDE} \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot dA$, and the use of $dA$ in Green's theorem and $\hat{n} d \sigma$ in Stokes' theorem. It also explains the reasoning behind using the same limit for both the line integral and surface integral in the proof.
  • #1
mathmari
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Hey! :eek:

View attachment 2092

$\overrightarrow{F}=M \hat{i}+ N \hat{j}+ P \hat{k}$

To prove the Stokes' Theorem we apply Green's Theroem at $ABE$, $BCE$, $CDE$.

$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$
$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F} }d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_B^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^B{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_C^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^C{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$

Isn't the Green's Theorem:
$\oint_S{\overrightarrow{F} d \overrightarrow{R}}=\iint_R{\nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} dA}$?
Is this the same as $\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$?
 

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  • #2
mathmari said:
Hey! :eek:

View attachment 2092

$\overrightarrow{F}=M \hat{i}+ N \hat{j}+ P \hat{k}$

To prove the Stokes' Theorem we apply Green's Theroem at $ABE$, $BCE$, $CDE$.

$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$
$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F} }d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_B^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^B{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_C^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^C{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$

Isn't the Green's Theorem:
$\oint_S{\overrightarrow{F} d \overrightarrow{R}}=\iint_R{\nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} dA}$?
Is this the same as $\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$?

Hi! (Blush)

They look the same, but they are not.

Green's Theorem only applies to closed curves in a 2D plane (usually the XY plane).
Stokes' Theorem is more general and applies to any 3D curve that is the boundary of a surface.

Your proof seems to split up a 3D curve into 3 2D curves.
 
  • #3
I like Serena said:
Hi! (Blush)

They look the same, but they are not.

Green's Theorem only applies to closed curves in a 2D plane (usually the XY plane).
Stokes' Theorem is more general and applies to any 3D curve that is the boundary of a surface.

Your proof seems to split up a 3D curve into 3 2D curves.

Is $\hat{n} d \sigma = dA$?

So can we replace $\iint_{ABCDE} \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n} d \sigma$ with $\iint_{ABCDE} \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot dA$ ?? (Wondering)
 
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  • #4
mathmari said:
Is $\hat{n} d \sigma = dA$.

So can we replace $\iint_{ABCDE} \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n} d \sigma$ with $\iint_{ABCDE} \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot dA$ ?? (Wondering)

Yes and no.
The symbol $dA$ can indeed mean $\hat n d\sigma$.
But in this particular case I believe $dA$ is supposed to be an infinitesimal surface element in the XY plane, because that is its meaning in Green's theorem.
And $\hat n d\sigma$ is intended to be an infinitesimal surface element in 3D, which is how it is used in Stokes' theorem. (Wasntme)
 
  • #5
I like Serena said:
Yes and no.
The symbol $dA$ can indeed mean $\hat n d\sigma$.
But in this particular case I believe $dA$ is supposed to be an infinitesimal surface element in the XY plane, because that is its meaning in Green's theorem.
And $\hat n d\sigma$ is intended to be an infinitesimal surface element in 3D, which is how it is used in Stokes' theorem. (Wasntme)

Applying the Green's theorem at $ABE, BCE, CDE$ we get:
$$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$$

Since it is the Green's theorem, why don't we use $dA$? (Wondering)
 
  • #6
mathmari said:
Applying the Green's theorem at $ABE, BCE, CDE$ we get:
$$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$$

Since it is the Green's theorem, why don't we use $dA$? (Wondering)

I don't know.
It's just a symbol and either can be used anyway. (Wasntme)
 
  • #7
mathmari said:
$\overrightarrow{F}=M \hat{i}+ N \hat{j}+ P \hat{k}$

To prove the Stokes' Theorem we apply Green's Theroem at $ABE$, $BCE$, $CDE$.

$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$
$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F} }d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_B^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^B{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_C^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^C{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$

Why do we take at the integral $\displaystyle{\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma}$ the limit $ABCDE$, and at the integral $\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$ we take the same limit??(Wondering)
 
  • #8
mathmari said:
$\overrightarrow{F}=M \hat{i}+ N \hat{j}+ P \hat{k}$

To prove the Stokes' Theorem we apply Green's Theroem at $ABE$, $BCE$, $CDE$.

$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$
$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F} }d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_B^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^B{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_C^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^C{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$

mathmari said:
Why do we take at the integral $\displaystyle{\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma}$ the limit $ABCDE$, and at the integral $\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$ we take the same limit??(Wondering)

In the first line we have from Green's theorem that:
$$\oint_{ABE} \overrightarrow{F}d \overrightarrow{R} = \iint_{ABE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$$
So:
$$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}
=\iint_{ABE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma
+\iint_{BCE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma
+ \iint_{CDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$$
Those 3 surface integrals on the right hand side can be bundled to yield:
$$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}
=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$$In the second line:
$$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$$
we follow the path of the line integrals.
In this path for instance BE is first traversed in one direction and than back in the other direction.
We can split this path up in the path ABCDE and the traversals of each of BE and CE back and forth.As a result we can conclude that the right hand side of the first line must be equal to the right hand side of the second line. (Mmm)
 

1. What is Stokes' Theorem?

Stokes' Theorem is a fundamental theorem in vector calculus that relates the surface integral of a vector field over a surface to the line integral of the same vector field over the boundary of the surface.

2. How is Stokes' Theorem related to Green's Theorem?

Stokes' Theorem is a generalized version of Green's Theorem, which relates a line integral over a closed curve to a double integral over the region enclosed by the curve. Green's Theorem can be derived from Stokes' Theorem by considering a surface with a small thickness and taking the limit as the thickness approaches zero.

3. Can Green's Theorem be used to prove Stokes' Theorem?

Yes, Green's Theorem can be used to prove Stokes' Theorem. This is because Stokes' Theorem is a generalization of Green's Theorem, so the proof of Green's Theorem can be extended to prove Stokes' Theorem.

4. Why is it important to prove Stokes' Theorem using Green's Theorem?

Proving Stokes' Theorem using Green's Theorem provides a deeper understanding of both theorems and their relationship. It also allows for a more general and elegant proof of Stokes' Theorem, as opposed to using other more specific methods.

5. Are there any real-world applications of proving Stokes' Theorem with Green's Theorem?

Yes, there are many real-world applications of Stokes' Theorem and Green's Theorem, especially in the fields of physics, engineering, and fluid mechanics. For example, these theorems are used to calculate the circulation of a fluid along a closed loop or the flux of a vector field through a surface, which have practical applications in understanding fluid flow and designing efficient machines.

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