Showing Divergence Theorem Equivalence

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves applying the divergence theorem to find the total charge enclosed by a cube in three-dimensional space, defined by the corners <0,0,0> and . The electric field is given in a specific form, and the original poster attempts to solve the problem using both the volume integral of the divergence and the surface integral of the electric field.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of the divergence of the electric field and the evaluation of both volume and surface integrals. There are attempts to clarify the setup of the problem and the direction of the normal vectors for the surface integrals. Some participants question the correctness of the electric field expression and the integration steps taken by the original poster.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing guidance on the correct setup for the surface integrals and questioning the original poster's calculations. There is recognition of potential errors in the integration process and the need to consider all six faces of the cube for the surface integral. Multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored, but no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of the original poster's uncertainty due to a lack of recent practice with surface and volume integrals. The discussion also highlights the complexity of integrating the divergence and the potential for mistakes in the calculations.

Eruditee
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Homework Statement


The problem states that a cube encloses charge. This cube is given in three space by <0,0,0> and <a,a,a>. The electric field is given by:
\hat{E}=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}[\frac{xy}{a^{2}}\hat{i}+\frac{(y-x)}{a}\hat{j}+\frac{xyz}{a^{2}}\hat{k}]. I am to find the total charge enclosed using both methods or "sides" of the divergence theorem equivalence.

Homework Equations


\displaystyle \iiint \limits_U \left({\nabla \cdot \mathbf F} \right) d V = \iint \limits_{\partial U} \mathbf F \cdot \mathbf n \ d S
\nabla=\frac{\partial}{\partial x}\hat{i}+\frac{\partial}{\partial y}\hat{j}+\frac{\partial}{\partial z}\hat{k}

The Attempt at a Solution



The first half worked out fine and makes sense, so I think this part is right. Do note; I do get a bit sloppy with notation; this is a rough draft:
\int_{0}^{a}\int_{0}^{a}\int_{0}^{a}\nabla\bullet EdV
\nabla\bullet\hat{E}=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}[<br /> \frac{y}{a^{2}}\hat{i}+\frac{1}{a}\hat{j}+\frac{xy}{a^{2}}\hat{k}]

\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}\int_{0}^{a}\int_{0}^{a}\int_{0}^{a}(\frac{y}{a^{2}}+\frac{1}{a}+\frac{xy}{a^{2}})dV
=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}\int(\frac{y}{a^{2}}+\frac{1}{a}+\frac{xy}{a^{2}})dx(dA)=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}(\int(\frac{y}{a^{2}})dx+\int\frac{1}{a}dx)+\int\frac{xy}{a^{2}}dx)dA=\frac{yx}{a^{2}}+\frac{x}{a}+\frac{x^{2}y}{2a^{2}}|_{0}^{a}=\frac{y}{a}+1+\frac{y}{2}<br /> [\itex]<br /> =\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}\int_{0}^{a}(\frac{y}{a}+1+\frac{y}{2}dy)dz=\frac{y^{2}}{2a}+y+\frac{y^{2}}{4a}|_{0}^{a}=\frac{a}{2}+a+\frac{a}{4}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> =\int\frac{a}{2}+a+\frac{a}{4}dz=\frac{az}{2}+az+\frac{az}{4}=\frac{a^{2}}{2}+a^{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{4}=a^{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{4}=a^{2}(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4})=\frac{3a^{2}}{4}*\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}=\frac{3e}{e_{0}}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> which makes sense, as there are 3 faces in which flux can go by?<br /> <br /> However, the surface integral is a mess:<br /> when z=a ; Sz(surface raised from xy by a)=a<br /> \int\int\hat{F}\bullet\hat{dS}=\int\int F\bullet-kdxdy&lt;br /&gt; =-\int_{0}^{a}\frac{xyz}{a^{2}}dxdy=-z\int_{0}^{a}\frac{xy}{a^{2}}dxdy=-\int\frac{x^{2}y}{2a^{2}}dy=\frac{-x^{2}z}{2a^{2}}\int ydy=\frac{-x^{2}zy^{2}}{4a^{2}}=-\frac{a^{3}}{4}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> likewise:<br /> \int\int\hat{F}\bullet\hat{dS}=\int\int F\bullet jdxdy&lt;br /&gt; =\frac{1}{a}\int_{0}^{a}(y-x)dxdz=\frac{1}{a}\int yx-\frac{x^{2}}{2}dz=yxz-\frac{x^{2}z}{2}=a^{2}-\frac{a^{2}}{2}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> \int\int\hat{F}\bullet\hat{dS}=\int\int F\bullet idydz&lt;br /&gt; =\int&lt;br /&gt; \frac{xy}{a^{2}}dydz=\frac{x}{a^{2}}\int ydydz=\int\frac{xy^{2}}{2}dz=\frac{xy^{2}z}{a^{2}}=\frac{a^{2}}{2}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> And the total:<br /> a^{2}-\frac{a^{3}}{4}=\frac{4a^{2}-a^{3}}{4}=\frac{a^{2}(4-a)}{4}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> <br /> which I know is wrong because the flux is zero at a=4. <br /> <br /> Where am I going wrong? I haven&#039;t done surface/volume integrals in about 4-5 years, so bear with me. I&#039;m trying to relearn through Boas.
 
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Eruditee said:

Homework Statement


The problem states that a cube encloses charge. This cube is given in three space by <0,0,0> and <a,a,a>. The electric field is given by:
\hat{E}=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}[\frac{xy}{a^{2}}\hat{i}+\frac{(y-x)}{a}\hat{j}+\frac{xyz}{a^{2}}\hat{k}]. I am to find the total charge enclosed using both methods or "sides" of the divergence theorem equivalence.


Homework Equations


\displaystyle \iiint \limits_U \left({\nabla \cdot \mathbf F} \right) d V = \iint \limits_{\partial U} \mathbf F \cdot \mathbf n \ d S
\nabla=\frac{\partial}{\partial x}\hat{i}+\frac{\partial}{\partial y}\hat{j}+\frac{\partial}{\partial z}\hat{k}


The Attempt at a Solution



The first half worked out fine and makes sense, so I think this part is right. Do note; I do get a bit sloppy with notation; this is a rough draft:
\int_{0}^{a}\int_{0}^{a}\int_{0}^{a}\nabla\bullet EdV
\nabla\bullet\hat{E}=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}[<br /> \frac{y}{a^{2}}\hat{i}+\frac{1}{a}\hat{j}+\frac{xy}{a^{2}}\hat{k}]

\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}\int_{0}^{a}\int_{0}^{a}\int_{0}^{a}(\frac{y}{a^{2}}+\frac{1}{a}+\frac{xy}{a^{2}})dV
=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}\int(\frac{y}{a^{2}}+\frac{1}{a}+\frac{xy}{a^{2}})dx(dA)=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}(\int(\frac{y}{a^{2}})dx+\int\frac{1}{a}dx)+\int\frac{xy}{a^{2}}dx)dA=\frac{yx}{a^{2}}+\frac{x}{a}+\frac{x^{2}y}{2a^{2}}|_{0}^{a}=\frac{y}{a}+1+\frac{y}{2}<br /> [\itex]<br /> =\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}\int_{0}^{a}(\frac{y}{a}+1+\frac{y}{2}dy)dz=\frac{y^{2}}{2a}+y+\frac{y^{2}}{4a}|_{0}^{a}=\frac{a}{2}+a+\frac{a}{4}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> =\int\frac{a}{2}+a+\frac{a}{4}dz=\frac{az}{2}+az+\frac{az}{4}=\frac{a^{2}}{2}+a^{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{4}=a^{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{4}=a^{2}(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4})=\frac{3a^{2}}{4}*\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}=\frac{3e}{e_{0}}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> which makes sense, as there are 3 faces in which flux can go by?<br /> <br /> However, the surface integral is a mess:<br /> when z=a ; Sz(surface raised from xy by a)=a<br /> \int\int\hat{F}\bullet\hat{dS}=\int\int F\bullet-kdxdy&lt;br /&gt; =-\int_{0}^{a}\frac{xyz}{a^{2}}dxdy=-z\int_{0}^{a}\frac{xy}{a^{2}}dxdy=-\int\frac{x^{2}y}{2a^{2}}dy=\frac{-x^{2}z}{2a^{2}}\int ydy=\frac{-x^{2}zy^{2}}{4a^{2}}=-\frac{a^{3}}{4}&lt;br /&gt;
<br /> Your normal is pointing in the wrong direction. It should point outward from the volume, so on the z=a face, it should point in the ##+\hat{k}## direction.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> likewise:<br /> \int\int\hat{F}\bullet\hat{dS}=\int\int F\bullet jdxdy&lt;br /&gt; =\frac{1}{a}\int_{0}^{a}(y-x)dxdz=\frac{1}{a}\int yx-\frac{x^{2}}{2}dz=yxz-\frac{x^{2}z}{2}=a^{2}-\frac{a^{2}}{2}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> \int\int\hat{F}\bullet\hat{dS}=\int\int F\bullet idydz&lt;br /&gt; =\int&lt;br /&gt; \frac{xy}{a^{2}}dydz=\frac{x}{a^{2}}\int ydydz=\int\frac{xy^{2}}{2}dz=\frac{xy^{2}z}{a^{2}}=\frac{a^{2}}{2}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> And the total:<br /> a^{2}-\frac{a^{3}}{4}=\frac{4a^{2}-a^{3}}{4}=\frac{a^{2}(4-a)}{4}&lt;br /&gt;<br /> <br /> which I know is wrong because the flux is zero at a=4. <br /> <br /> Where am I going wrong? I haven&#039;t done surface/volume integrals in about 4-5 years, so bear with me. I&#039;m trying to relearn through Boas. </div> </div> </blockquote>You need to calculate the flux through all six faces and sum them.<br /> <br /> Also, your expression for ##\vec{E}## looks wrong. Should the z-component be ##xyz/a^3## rather than ##xyz/a^2##? It doesn&#039;t work out dimensionally otherwise.<br /> <br /> Finally, I got a different result for the integral of the divergence, so you probably made an error integrating somewhere. Your setup looked fine.
 
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Corrected

vela said:
Your normal is pointing in the wrong direction. It should point outward from the volume, so on the z=a face, it should point in the ##+\hat{k}## direction.


You need to calculate the flux through all six faces and sum them.

Also, your expression for ##\vec{E}## looks wrong. Should the z-component be ##xyz/a^3## rather than ##xyz/a^2##? It doesn't work out dimensionally otherwise.

Finally, I got a different result for the integral of the divergence, so you probably made an error integrating somewhere. Your setup looked fine.

Thankx, it was a cubed!

I actually made a mistake in the addition; it should be:
=\int\frac{a}{2}+a+\frac{a}{4}dz=\frac{az}{2}+az+\frac{az}{4}=\frac{a^{2}}{2}+a^{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{4}=a^{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{4}=a^{2}(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4})+a^{2}=\frac{7a^{2}}{4}*\frac{7e}{4a^{2}e_{0}}=\frac{7e}{4e_{0}}
I'm a bit lost with the surface integral.
 
Last edited:
Eruditee said:
Thankx, it was a cubed!

I redid the integral. Somehow, I decided to add an a in just the right place to make it consistent with the a cubed variety. Also, it comes out pretty neatly to be 3 times the charge through a plane, which makes sense because there's three flux possibilities? The professor I have seems to set up most of his problems to have a usually simple answer.
I'm not sure what you mean by three flux possibilities, but the integral should evaluate to ##\frac{7 e}{\epsilon_0}##.

It does look like that's the correct integral of divergence, but I'm not integrating properly for the surfaces. If I hold a surface constant, doesn't that mean the volume is just the area*the height of the surface, which is what I'm trying to do?
There's no volume involved in doing the surface integrals. I'm not sure what you're getting at.
 
vela said:
I'm not sure what you mean by three flux possibilities, but the integral should evaluate to ##\frac{7 e}{\epsilon_0}##.


There's no volume involved in doing the surface integrals. I'm not sure what you're getting at.

Sorry, I edited it before seeing your response. I'm getting 7/4ths. I'll try it again. thank you.
 
Right Answer

Eruditee said:
Sorry, I edited it before seeing your response. I'm getting 7/4ths. I'll try it again. thank you.
Yes, same answer youu got, forgot the constant coeff. I should do this much more neatly in lyx; the whole issue was adding improperly there.

Ok, so I finally got it done:
=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}\int(\frac{y}{a^{2}}+\frac{1}{a}+\frac{xy}{a^{3}})dx(dA)=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}(\int(\frac{y}{a^{2}})dx+\int\frac{1}{a}dx)+\int\frac{xy}{a^{3}}dx)dA=\frac{yx}{a^{2}}+\frac{x}{a}+\frac{x^{2}y}{2a^{3}}|_{0}^{a}=\frac{y}{a}+1+\frac{y}{2a}<br />
=\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}\int_{0}^{a}(\frac{y}{a}+1+\frac{y}{2a}dy)dz=\frac{y^{2}}{2a}+y+\frac{y^{2}}{4a}|_{0}^{a}=\frac{a}{2}+a+\frac{a}{4}
=\int\frac{a}{2}+a+\frac{a}{4}dz=\frac{az}{2}+az+\frac{az}{4}=\frac{a^{2}}{2}+a^{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{4}=a^{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{4}=a^{2}(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4})+a^{2}=\frac{7a^{2}}{4}*\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}=
\frac{7e}{e_{0}}<br />

And by the surface integral:
First at x=0 (the yz axis)<br /> <br /> \int\int F\bullet-idydx=0<br />
x=a<br /> <br /> \int\int F\bullet idydx=\frac{x}{a^{2}}\int\int ydydz=\frac{y^{2}zx}{2a^{2}}=\frac{a^{4}}{2a^{2}}=\frac{a^{2}}{2}<br />
at y=0<br /> <br /> \int\int F\bullet-jdxdz=\frac{1}{a}\int\int xdxdy=\frac{x^{2}z}{2a}=\frac{a^{2}}{2}<br />
This is where I went wrong; I automatically assumed this plane to be of zero when there was a y-x term not y-xy term or so.
at y = a<br /> <br /> \int\int F\bullet jdxdz=\frac{1}{a}\int(y-x)dxdz=yxz-\frac{x^{2}z}{2}=\frac{a^{3}-\frac{a^{3}}{2}}{a}=a^{2}-\frac{a^{2}}{2}<br />
at z = 0<br /> <br /> \int\int F\bullet-kdxdz=0<br />
at z=a<br /> <br /> \int\int F\bullet kdxdz=\frac{z}{a^{3}}\int xydxdy=\frac{x^{2}y^{2}z}{4a^{3}}=\frac{a^{5}}{4a^{3}}=\frac{a^{2}}{4}<br />

\frac{a^{2}}{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{2}+a^{2}-\frac{a^{2}}{2}+\frac{a}{4}=a^{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{2}+\frac{a^{2}}{4}=a^{2}(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4})+a^{2}=\frac{7a^{2}}{4}*\frac{4e}{a^{2}e_{0}}=\frac{7e}{e_{0}}<br />

Thank you!

Aside: On a side note, I'm using lyx. I'm actually a MSCS student; I just want to work on scientific computation. Is there a real urgency in learning LaTex itself outside of WYSIG?
 
Last edited:
Good work!

I don't know if there's an urgency to learn LaTeX for your field, but it's not very hard to get decent at it.
 

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