# Flux of the vector field F = (1,1,1)

1. Apr 20, 2010

### squenshl

I'm studying for a test.
How do I find the flux of the vector field F = (1,1,1) down through the surface $$\sigma$$, given by z = $$\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$$ and 1 < z < 2. The answer is 3pi but have no idea how to get it. I got it down to$$\int\int_R$$ x+y/$$\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$$ +1 dA. Now what?

Last edited: Apr 20, 2010
2. Apr 20, 2010

### tiny-tim

Hi squenshl!

(have a sigma: σ and a square-root: √ and an integral: ∫ and a pi: π and try using the X2 tag just above the Reply box )

Use the divergence theorem (Gauss' theorem)

(oh, and it's a cone )

3. Apr 20, 2010

### HallsofIvy

Re: Flux

As tiny-tim says, the simplest thing to do is to use Gauss' theorem and integrate over the volume instead. If you want to do it directly, write the cone in parametric equations, $x= r cos(\theta)$, $y= r sin(\theta)$, $z= r$.

Now we can write each point as the vector $\rho(r,\theta)= r cos(\theta)\vec{i}+ r sin(\theta)\vec{j}+ r\vec{k}$.

The derivatives, $\rho_r= cos(\theta)\vec{i}+ sin(\theta)\vec{j}+ \vec{k}$ and $\rho_\theta= -r sin(\theta)\vec{i}+ r cos(\theta)\vec{j}$ are in the tangent plane at each point and the cross product of the two vectors, $r cos(\theta)\vec{i}+ r sin(\theta)\vec{j}+ r\vec{k}$ is normal to the surface. The "vector differential of surface area" is $d\vec{S}= (r cos(\theta)\vec{i}+ r sin(\theta)\vec{j}+ r\vec{k})drd\theta)$.

(I chose the order of cross product to give a negative z component so the vector is oriented downward since the problem said "down through the surface".)

Since the vector function is $\vec{i}+ \vec{j}+ \vec{k}$ the flux is given by $\int\int (\vec{i}+ \vec{j}+ \vec{k})\cdot(r cos(\theta)\vec{i}+ r sin(\theta)\vec{j}+ r\vec{k})drd\theta))$ or

$$\int_{\theta= 0}^{2\pi}\int_{r= 1}^2 r( cos(\theta)+ sin(\theta)+ 1) drd\theta$$
($\theta$ runs from 0 to $2\pi$ to go all the way around the cone and r runs from 1 to 2 because z= r and we are told that "1< z< 2".)

4. Apr 20, 2010

### LCKurtz

Re: Flux

I'm afraid both of the previous answers have mistakes. First, the Gauss theorem does not apply directly since there is no enclosed volume. So you need the method suggested by Halls, but his rk term in dS should be -rk. His integral leads to $-3\pi$, which I think is correct vs. $3\pi$.

5. Apr 20, 2010

### tiny-tim

Yes there is … it's the frustrum of a cone.

6. Apr 20, 2010

### LCKurtz

Re: Flux

The top and bottom surfaces are not included so it is not a surface enclosing a volume. Of course the answer would be 0 for a constant vector and a closed surface.

7. Apr 20, 2010

### squenshl

Re: Flux

Cheers.

8. Apr 21, 2010

### tiny-tim

oh i see now … i've been reading it as z = 1 and z = 2

9. Apr 21, 2010

### squenshl

Re: Flux

Actually it was 1 $$\leq$$ z $$\leq$$ 2