Calculating Curve Integrals with the Del Operator: A Pain in the Brain?

In summary, a curve integral is a type of integral used to find the area under a curve in a specific region. It involves integrating along a curve or line. The del operator (∇) is a vector operator used in vector calculus to find the gradient, divergence, and curl of a vector field. It is used in curve integrals to express the derivative of a function along a curve and to find the directional derivative of a scalar function or the line integral of a vector field. Curve integrals and the del operator are closely related, with the del operator being used to evaluate curve integrals, also known as path integrals. These concepts are commonly used in fields such as physics, engineering, and mathematics, particularly in vector calculus, electrom
  • #1
Karl Karlsson
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Homework Statement
Consider the vector field
##\vec v = exp(\frac {xy} {r_0^2}) [\frac {z} {r_0^2} (x\vec e_1 + y\vec e_2) + \vec e_3] + \frac {1} {r_0} (x\vec e_2 - y\vec e_1) + cos(\frac {z} {r_0})\vec e_3##
where ##r_0## is a constant with dimension length.

a) Calculate ##\nabla\cdot\vec v## and ##\nabla\times\vec v##.
b)Calculate the circulation integral $$\oint_Γ \vec v \,d\vec S$$ where Γ is the curve that is parameterized by ## x = r_0cos(t), y = r_0sin(t), z = r_0cos^2(2t), (1 < t < 2\pi)##
Relevant Equations
##\vec v = exp(\frac {xy} {r_0^2}) [\frac {z} {r_0^2} (x\vec e_1 + y\vec e_2) + \vec e_3] + \frac {1} {r_0} (x\vec e_2 - y\vec e_1) + cos(\frac {z} {r_0})\vec e_3##
My attempt is below. Could somebody please check if everything is correct?
Skärmavbild 2020-09-04 kl. 18.59.53.png

Skärmavbild 2020-09-04 kl. 19.00.04.png

Skärmavbild 2020-09-04 kl. 19.00.13.png

Thanks in advance!
 

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  • #2
This problem looks like it is setup to cause calculation pain in the brain ?:).

Using wolfram I checked your answers for the divergence and the curl and I found them to be correct.

Cant find an easy way to check the curve integral. That calculation is really a pain in the brain...
 
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1. What is a curve integral?

A curve integral is a mathematical concept used to calculate the area under a curve or the length of a curve. It is often used in physics and engineering to solve problems related to motion, work, and energy.

2. How is a curve integral different from a regular integral?

A curve integral is different from a regular integral in that it involves integrating along a curve rather than a straight line. This means that the limits of integration are defined by the start and end points of the curve, rather than fixed values.

3. What is the del operator used for?

The del operator, denoted as ∇ (nabla), is a vector differential operator used in vector calculus to operate on a function and produce a vector result. It is commonly used to calculate gradient, divergence, and curl.

4. How is the del operator used in curve integrals?

In curve integrals, the del operator is used to calculate the line integral of a vector field along a curve. This is done by taking the dot product of the vector field with the tangent vector of the curve at each point and integrating over the curve.

5. Are there any applications of curve integrals and the del operator?

Yes, there are many applications of curve integrals and the del operator in various fields such as physics, engineering, and mathematics. Some examples include calculating work done by a force, finding the center of mass of a curved object, and solving problems related to fluid flow and electromagnetic fields.

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