Stokes Theorem in cylindrical coordinates

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of Stokes' Theorem in cylindrical coordinates, specifically analyzing a vector field A defined in these coordinates and its line and surface integrals over a circular path and area, respectively.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to compute both the line integral and the surface integral of the vector field A, noting a discrepancy between the two results. They question why an additional term appears in the surface integral that is absent in the line integral.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring the conditions under which Stokes' Theorem applies, with some questioning the continuity of the vector field A and its derivatives. A hint has been provided regarding the necessary conditions for the theorem's validity, prompting further inquiry into the properties of the vector field.

Contextual Notes

There is a discussion about the continuity of the vector field A, particularly concerning its behavior as the angular coordinate φ approaches 2π, which may affect the application of Stokes' Theorem.

SDas
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Homework Statement



A vector field A is in cylindrical coordinates is given.

A circle S of radius ρ is defined.

The line integral [tex]\int[/tex]A∙dl and the surface integral [tex]\int[/tex]∇×A.dS are different.

Homework Equations



Field: A = ρcos(φ/2)uρ2 sin(φ/4) uφ+(1+z)uz (1)

The Attempt at a Solution



The line integal of A over the circumference of the circle S is

[tex]\int[/tex]Adl =[tex]\int_0^{2\pi}[/tex]ρ3sin(φ/4)dφ = 4ρ3 (2)

The surface integral over the area of the circle is

[tex]\int[/tex]∇×A.dS = [tex]\int_0^{2\pi} \int_0^\rho[/tex](3ρsin(φ/4)+(1/2)sin(φ/2))ρdρdφ = [tex]\int_0^{2\pi}[/tex](ρ3sin(φ/4)+ρ2/4 sin(φ/2))dφ=4ρ32 (3)

Observing more closely, in the surface integral (3), we get an additional term [tex]\int_0^{2\pi}[/tex](ρ2/4sin(φ/2))dφ which is not present in the line integral (2).
This gives rise to the second term ρ2 in (3) after the integration.
What is the reason this new term appears in the surface integral, but not the line integral?
 
Last edited:
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Hi SDas, welcome to PF!:smile:

Hint: what are the conditions [itex]\textbf{A}[/itex] must satisfy for Stokes theorem to be true on a given region?:wink:
 
Hi gabbagabbahey, thanks for the welcome.

I've been trying to check the conditions for Stoke's theorem to hold. I could not find them in any textbook on electromagnetics. Intuitively, the field A should
(i) be bounded, and
(ii) have continuous, first order partial derivatives w.r.t. ρ, φ, and z.
Am I missing something?
 
Is your field even continuous? What happens when the angular coordinate passes through 2pi?
 
Got it! Of course it isn't. I should not have missed that. The sin(φ/4) and the cos(φ/2) should have been sin(4φ) and cos(2φ) to make A be the same at φ=0 and φ=2π. That was the mistake in what I was trying to do.
 

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