How to find flux through certain sides of a surface with divergence theorem.

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the flux through specific sides of a composite surface using the divergence theorem. The vector field is defined as \textbf{F}=\frac{xz}{x^2+y^2} \textbf{i}+\frac{yz}{x^2+y^2}\textbf{j}+ze^{x^2+y^2}\sqrt{x^2+y^2}\textbf{k}, and the solid body E is defined by the inequalities \sqrt{x^2+y^2}\leq z\leq2 and x^2+y^2\geq 1, representing a hollow stumped cone. The flux through the cylindrical part S_0 is calculated to be -3\pi, but the user seeks guidance on how to compute the flux through the top and bottom discs to subtract from the total flux.

PREREQUISITES
  • Divergence theorem
  • Vector calculus
  • Parameterization of surfaces
  • Triple integrals in cylindrical coordinates
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to apply the divergence theorem to composite surfaces
  • Study parameterization techniques for cylindrical surfaces
  • Explore flux integrals using surface integrals
  • Practice calculating flux through different geometric shapes
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in mathematics, physics, and engineering who are working with vector fields and surface integrals, particularly those interested in applying the divergence theorem to complex geometries.

SiggyYo
Messages
5
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Given a vector field \textbf{F} and a composite (with this I mean cuboids, cylinders, etc. and not spheres for example) surface S, how do I calculate the flux through only some of the sides of S? I am interested in a general way to do this, but right now I am struggling with the following:

Let \textbf{F}=\frac{xz}{x^2+y^2} \textbf{i}+\frac{yz}{x^2+y^2}\textbf{j}+ze^{x^2+y^2}\sqrt{x^2+y^2}\textbf{k}, defined on \mathbb{R}^3

and E\subset\mathbb{R}^3 be the solid body given by
\sqrt{x^2+y^2}\leq z\leq2,\ x^2+y^2\geq 1. (This is a sort of hollow stumped cone)

a) A part of E's edge is the cylinder part S_0 given by
x^2+y^2=1, 1\leq z\leq 2
Show that the flux of F inward through S_0 is -3\pi.

Homework Equations


The divergence theorem.

The Attempt at a Solution


div{\textbf{F}}=e^{x^2+y^2}\sqrt{x^2+y^2}-2z\frac{x^2-y^2}{x^2+y^2},
and with x=\cos{\theta} and y=\sin{\theta} we get
div{\textbf{F}}=e-2z(1-\sin^2{\theta}). Our triple integral then becomes

\int_1^2\int_0^1\int_0^{2\pi}re-2rz(1-\sin^2{\theta})\,d\theta\,dr\,dz=2e\pi^2-\frac{3}{2}\pi.

And that is how far I've gotten. Assuming all of this is correct, my problem now is that this is the flux through the entire cylinder, along with its top and bottom. How to I calculate the flux through these discs, so that I can subtract them from the total flux?

Thanks in advance.

SiggyYo
 
Physics news on Phys.org
SiggyYo said:

Homework Statement


Given a vector field \textbf{F} and a composite (with this I mean cuboids, cylinders, etc. and not spheres for example) surface S, how do I calculate the flux through only some of the sides of S? I am interested in a general way to do this, but right now I am struggling with the following:

Let \textbf{F}=\frac{xz}{x^2+y^2} \textbf{i}+\frac{yz}{x^2+y^2}\textbf{j}+ze^{x^2+y^2}\sqrt{x^2+y^2}\textbf{k}, defined on \mathbb{R}^3

and E\subset\mathbb{R}^3 be the solid body given by
\sqrt{x^2+y^2}\leq z\leq2,\ x^2+y^2\geq 1. (This is a sort of hollow stumped cone)

a) A part of E's edge is the cylinder part S_0 given by
x^2+y^2=1, 1\leq z\leq 2
Show that the flux of F inward through S_0 is -3\pi.

Homework Equations


The divergence theorem.


The Attempt at a Solution


div{\textbf{F}}=e^{x^2+y^2}\sqrt{x^2+y^2}-2z\frac{x^2-y^2}{x^2+y^2},
and with x=\cos{\theta} and y=\sin{\theta} we get
div{\textbf{F}}=e-2z(1-\sin^2{\theta}). Our triple integral then becomes

\int_1^2\int_0^1\int_0^{2\pi}re-2rz(1-\sin^2{\theta})\,d\theta\,dr\,dz=2e\pi^2-\frac{3}{2}\pi.

And that is how far I've gotten. Assuming all of this is correct, my problem now is that this is the flux through the entire cylinder, along with its top and bottom. How to I calculate the flux through these discs, so that I can subtract them from the total flux?

Thanks in advance.

SiggyYo

I didn't check all your work, but the limits on your last integral for r aren't correct. r doesn't go from 0 to 1; it goes from 1 to 2.

The way you calculate flux through a surface S is to parameterize it:
##\vec R(u,v) = \langle x(u,v),y(u,v),z(u,v)\rangle##. Then you use the formula for a flux integral$$
\iint_S \vec F\cdot d\vec S = \pm\iint_{(u,v)}\vec F(u,v)\cdot \vec R_u\times
\vec R_v\, dudv$$ where the ##\pm## sign is chosen so that the direction of ##\pm\vec R_u\times\vec R_v## agrees with the orientation. In your problem, for the cylinder part you might use the parameterization$$
\vec R(\theta,z)=\langle \cos\theta,\sin\theta,z\rangle$$to get started. Then you have two more surfaces to work similarly with their appropriate parameterizations.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K