Is the boundary of ##S^{*}## the same as the boundary of ##D##?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of Stokes' theorem to a vector field defined in three-dimensional space, specifically concerning the surface defined as the upper hemisphere of a sphere. The original poster is attempting to relate the integrals over different surfaces and their boundaries.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the validity of applying Stokes' theorem to the surface ##S##, questioning whether it can be treated as a closed surface. There is a focus on the relationship between the boundaries of surfaces ##S^{*}## and ##D##, with some participants suggesting that they may be the same.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the conditions under which Stokes' theorem applies, with participants clarifying misunderstandings about the necessity of closed surfaces. Some guidance has been offered regarding the interpretation of the boundaries involved in the integrals.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the surface ##S## is not closed, which is central to the application of Stokes' theorem. There is also mention of confusion regarding the definitions and roles of the surfaces ##S^{*}## and ##D## in the context of the theorem.

mahler1
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Homework Statement .
Let ##F## be the vector field defined by ##F(x,y,z)=(-y,yz^2,x^2z)## and ##S \subset \mathbb R^3## the surface defined as ##S=\{x^2+y^2+z^2=4, z\geq 0\}##, oriented according to the exterior normal vector. Calculate:
##\iint_S (\nabla\times F).dS##.

The attempt at a solution.

I've calculated the curl, it's not an easy integral to calculate.

I can't apply Stokes' theorem because it is not a closed surface, but if I consider the surface ##S^{*}=\{x^2+y^2+z^2=4, z\geq 0\} \cup \{ x^2+y^2\leq 4, z=0\}##, then this is a closed surface and ##F## is of class ##C^1##, so Stokes'theorem says that:

##\iint_S^{*} (\nabla\times F).dS=\int_CF.ds## where ##C## is the boundary of the surface ##S^{*}##.

Now, my original integral is

##\iint_S (\nabla\times F).dS=\iint_S^{*} (\nabla\times F).dS-\iint_D (\nabla\times F).dS##, where ##D=\{ x^2+y^2\leq 4, z=0\}##. But as ##D## is a closed surface, I can also apply Stokes' theorem, so

##\iint_D (\nabla\times F).dS=\int_{C'} F.ds##, where ##C'## is the boundary of ##D##.

Now, my question is: isn't ##C=C'##?, I mean, the curve boundary of ##S^{*}## is the same boundary than the one of ##D##. If this is the case

##\iint_S (\nabla\times F).dS=\int_C F.ds-\int_{C'} F.ds=\int_C F.ds-\int_{C} F.ds=0##.Could someone tell me if I am doing something wrong?
 
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hi mahler1! :smile:
mahler1 said:
##\iint_S (\nabla\times F).dS=\iint_S^{*} (\nabla\times F).dS-\iint_D (\nabla\times F).dS##

i don't understand what you've done here, in particular what is the difference between ∫∫S and ∫∫*S :confused:

S and D have the same boundary, so stokes' says ∫∫S = ∫∫D

carry on from there :wink:
 
mahler1 said:
Homework Statement .
Let ##F## be the vector field defined by ##F(x,y,z)=\color{red}{(-y,yz^2,,x^2,z)}##

Say what?
 
LCKurtz said:
Say what?

Yes, sorry, I've corrected it and now it makes sense
 
tiny-tim said:
hi mahler1! :smile:


i don't understand what you've done here, in particular what is the difference between ∫∫S and ∫∫*S :confused:

S and D have the same boundary, so stokes' says ∫∫S = ∫∫D

carry on from there :wink:

##S## is the upper semisphere of radius##2## centered at the origin. I cannot apply Stokes' theorem on ##S## because ##S## is not a closed surface. Then, I define a new surface (I call it ##S^{*}## which is the union of two surfaces: the upper semisphere and the disk of radius ##2## centered at the origin and with ##z=0##. This new surface is a closed surface so here I can apply Stokes' theorem. I hope that now is clear what ##S^{*}## is. Thanks for your suggestion, but I think that it isn't true that ∫∫S=∫∫D since ##S## is not closed.
 
Some additional comments after looking more closely...

mahler1 said:
Homework Statement .
Let ##F## be the vector field defined by ##F(x,y,z)=(-y,yz^2,x^2z)## and ##S \subset \mathbb R^3## the surface defined as ##S=\{x^2+y^2+z^2=4, z\geq 0\}##, oriented according to the exterior normal vector. Calculate:
##\iint_S (\nabla\times F).dS##.

The attempt at a solution.

I've calculated the curl, it's not an easy integral to calculate.

I can't apply Stokes' theorem because it is not a closed surface,

No, it is an open surface with boundary, just what you would want for Stokes theorem.

but if I consider the surface ##S^{*}=\{x^2+y^2+z^2=4, z\geq 0\} \cup \{ x^2+y^2\leq 4, z=0\}##, then this is a closed surface and ##F## is of class ##C^1##, so Stokes'theorem says that:

##\iint_S^{*} (\nabla\times F).dS=\int_CF.ds## where ##C## is the boundary of the surface ##S^{*}##.

But now the surface is closed, with no boundary, so Stokes theorem does not apply directly. Perhaps you are meaning to apply Stokes theorem to a second surface with the same boundary as the first?
 
LCKurtz said:
Some additional comments after looking more closely...
No, it is an open surface with boundary, just what you would want for Stokes theorem.
But now the surface is closed, with no boundary, so Stokes theorem does not apply directly. Perhaps you are meaning to apply Stokes theorem to a second surface with the same boundary as the first?

This means I didn't get at all the hypothesis of Stokes, the surface doesn't need to be closed? If this is the case, I don't even need to define ##S^{*}## or ##D##, I could just parametrize the boundary of ##S##, which is the set ##C=\partial S=\{(x,y,z) \in \mathbb R^3 : x^2+y^2=4, z=0\}##, and then, by Stokes' theorem:

##\iint_S (\nabla \times F)dS=\int_C F.ds##, would this be correct?
 
mahler1 said:
… I think that it isn't true that ∫∫S=∫∫D since ##S## is not closed.

stokes' is supposed to apply to non-closed surfaces …

it relates an integral over the surface to an integral over its boundary (for a closed surface, the boundary is a null set, so the integral over the boundary is zero)

and now I'm off to bed :zzz:
 
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tiny-tim:

Hmmm, what I've said before is completely wrong. I've read Stokes theorem in Tromba's textbook and evidently I mixed up all the concepts, I'll have to reread all the hypothesis of the theorem carefully, sorry about that and thanks for the previous suggestion.
 
  • #10
yeah, to make use of stokes theorem, you need a surface that is not closed. just use the given surface ##S=\{x^2+y^2+z^2=4, z\geq 0\}##. So from here, what is the boundary of this surface? and use that boundary for the line integral.
 
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  • #11
mahler1 said:
This means I didn't get at all the hypothesis of Stokes, the surface doesn't need to be closed?

Perhaps you should look up the statement of Stokes theorem?

If this is the case, I don't even need to define ##S^{*}## or ##D##, I could just parametrize the boundary of ##S##, which is the set ##C=\partial S=\{(x,y,z) \in \mathbb R^3 : x^2+y^2=4, z=0\}##, and then, by Stokes' theorem:

##\iint_S (\nabla \times F)dS=\int_C F.ds##, would this be correct?

Now you're getting somewhere.
 
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  • #12
LCKurtz said:
Perhaps you should look up the statement of Stokes theorem?



Now you're getting somewhere.

Thanks, I've read Stokes and Gauss theorem and I've mixed up the hypothesis of the two. I know how to solve the problem from here.
 
  • #13
stokey-dokey! :smile:
 
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  • #14
I gauss that pun was inevitable...
 

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