Finding the Wrong Answer with Stokes' Theorem

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the application of Stokes' Theorem in vector calculus, specifically addressing an error in calculating the curl of a vector field. The user parametrized a triangular surface in uv coordinates and computed the curl as ##curl\vec F=<-2z, -2x, 2(x-y)##. A mistake was identified in the z-component of the curl, which was confirmed using Wolfram Alpha. The correct approach involves recognizing the cyclic nature of the components of the field, allowing for the derivation of the remaining curl components through cyclic permutations.

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greg_rack
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Homework Statement
##\vec F=<x+y^2, y+z^2,z+x^2>##, C is the triangle with vertices (1,0,0), (0,1,0), (0,0,1). Compute ##\int_{C}^{}\vec F\cdot d \vec r##
Relevant Equations
Stoke's theorem
Computable form of a surface integral
From Stokes' theorem: ##\int_{C}^{}\vec F\cdot d\vec r=\iint_{S}^{}curl\vec F\cdot d\vec S=\iint_{D}^{}curl\vec F\cdot(\vec r_u \times \vec r_v)dA ##
To get to the latter surface integral, I started by parametrizing the triangular surface in ##uv## coordinates as:
$$\vec r=<1-u-v,u,v>, 0\leq u\leq 1, 0\leq v\leq 1-u$$
I then computed the curl of the vector field, the partial derivatives in ##u## and ##v## of the above parametrization and their cross product:
$$curl\vec F=<-2z, -2x, 2(x-y)>, \vec r_u \times \vec r_v=<1,1,1>$$
Now we can dot the curl with the cross product of the partial derivatives and get to a computable form of the surface integral
$$curl\vec F(\vec r(u,v))\cdot (\vec r_u \times \vec r_v)=-2(u+v)\rightarrow -2\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1-u}(u+v)dv du$$
which leads to a wrong answer. What am I missing?
 
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Check your curl. The ##z##-component looks funny. :smile:
 
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Yes I agree with ergospherical, checked the curl with wolfram and the z component is wrong.
 
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Thank you guys, I had indeed got the k hat component of the del cross F wrong!
It's cool now
 
Fun fact: The components of the field are just cyclic permutations ##x\to y \to z \to x## so the curl must have the same property. Therefore it is sufficient to compute one of the curl components and get the rest by cyclic permutation.
 
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