MHB Proving Stokes' Theorem with Green's Theorem

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The discussion focuses on proving Stokes' Theorem using Green's Theorem by applying it to segments of a 3D curve. It highlights that while both theorems relate line integrals to surface integrals, Green's Theorem is limited to 2D closed curves, whereas Stokes' Theorem applies to 3D surfaces. Participants clarify that the notation for infinitesimal area elements differs between the two theorems, with dA representing a 2D area and n dσ representing a 3D area. The conversation also addresses the equivalence of integrals over the same limits in both theorems, emphasizing the bundling of surface integrals to demonstrate their equality. Overall, the thread reinforces the relationship and distinctions between the two theorems in vector calculus.
mathmari
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Hey! :o

View attachment 2092

$\overrightarrow{F}=M \hat{i}+ N \hat{j}+ P \hat{k}$

To prove the Stokes' Theorem we apply Green's Theroem at $ABE$, $BCE$, $CDE$.

$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$
$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F} }d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_B^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^B{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_C^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^C{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$

Isn't the Green's Theorem:
$\oint_S{\overrightarrow{F} d \overrightarrow{R}}=\iint_R{\nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} dA}$?
Is this the same as $\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$?
 

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mathmari said:
Hey! :o

View attachment 2092

$\overrightarrow{F}=M \hat{i}+ N \hat{j}+ P \hat{k}$

To prove the Stokes' Theorem we apply Green's Theroem at $ABE$, $BCE$, $CDE$.

$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$
$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F} }d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_B^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^B{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_C^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^C{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$

Isn't the Green's Theorem:
$\oint_S{\overrightarrow{F} d \overrightarrow{R}}=\iint_R{\nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} dA}$?
Is this the same as $\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$?

Hi! (Blush)

They look the same, but they are not.

Green's Theorem only applies to closed curves in a 2D plane (usually the XY plane).
Stokes' Theorem is more general and applies to any 3D curve that is the boundary of a surface.

Your proof seems to split up a 3D curve into 3 2D curves.
 
I like Serena said:
Hi! (Blush)

They look the same, but they are not.

Green's Theorem only applies to closed curves in a 2D plane (usually the XY plane).
Stokes' Theorem is more general and applies to any 3D curve that is the boundary of a surface.

Your proof seems to split up a 3D curve into 3 2D curves.

Is $\hat{n} d \sigma = dA$?

So can we replace $\iint_{ABCDE} \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n} d \sigma$ with $\iint_{ABCDE} \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot dA$ ?? (Wondering)
 
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mathmari said:
Is $\hat{n} d \sigma = dA$.

So can we replace $\iint_{ABCDE} \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n} d \sigma$ with $\iint_{ABCDE} \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot dA$ ?? (Wondering)

Yes and no.
The symbol $dA$ can indeed mean $\hat n d\sigma$.
But in this particular case I believe $dA$ is supposed to be an infinitesimal surface element in the XY plane, because that is its meaning in Green's theorem.
And $\hat n d\sigma$ is intended to be an infinitesimal surface element in 3D, which is how it is used in Stokes' theorem. (Wasntme)
 
I like Serena said:
Yes and no.
The symbol $dA$ can indeed mean $\hat n d\sigma$.
But in this particular case I believe $dA$ is supposed to be an infinitesimal surface element in the XY plane, because that is its meaning in Green's theorem.
And $\hat n d\sigma$ is intended to be an infinitesimal surface element in 3D, which is how it is used in Stokes' theorem. (Wasntme)

Applying the Green's theorem at $ABE, BCE, CDE$ we get:
$$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$$

Since it is the Green's theorem, why don't we use $dA$? (Wondering)
 
mathmari said:
Applying the Green's theorem at $ABE, BCE, CDE$ we get:
$$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$$

Since it is the Green's theorem, why don't we use $dA$? (Wondering)

I don't know.
It's just a symbol and either can be used anyway. (Wasntme)
 
mathmari said:
$\overrightarrow{F}=M \hat{i}+ N \hat{j}+ P \hat{k}$

To prove the Stokes' Theorem we apply Green's Theroem at $ABE$, $BCE$, $CDE$.

$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$
$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F} }d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_B^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^B{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_C^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^C{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$

Why do we take at the integral $\displaystyle{\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma}$ the limit $ABCDE$, and at the integral $\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$ we take the same limit??(Wondering)
 
mathmari said:
$\overrightarrow{F}=M \hat{i}+ N \hat{j}+ P \hat{k}$

To prove the Stokes' Theorem we apply Green's Theroem at $ABE$, $BCE$, $CDE$.

$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$
$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F} }d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_B^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^B{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_C^E{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}+\int_E^C{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}=\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$

mathmari said:
Why do we take at the integral $\displaystyle{\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma}$ the limit $ABCDE$, and at the integral $\oint_{ABCDE}{\overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$ we take the same limit??(Wondering)

In the first line we have from Green's theorem that:
$$\oint_{ABE} \overrightarrow{F}d \overrightarrow{R} = \iint_{ABE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$$
So:
$$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}
=\iint_{ABE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma
+\iint_{BCE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma
+ \iint_{CDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$$
Those 3 surface integrals on the right hand side can be bundled to yield:
$$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}
=\iint_{ABCDE}{ \nabla \times \overrightarrow{F} \cdot \hat{n}}d \sigma$$In the second line:
$$(\oint_{ABE}+\oint_{BCE}+\oint_{CDE}){ \overrightarrow{F}}d \overrightarrow{R}$$
we follow the path of the line integrals.
In this path for instance BE is first traversed in one direction and than back in the other direction.
We can split this path up in the path ABCDE and the traversals of each of BE and CE back and forth.As a result we can conclude that the right hand side of the first line must be equal to the right hand side of the second line. (Mmm)