Surface Integrals: Solving Q6 & Q7

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around surface integrals, specifically questions Q6 and Q7, which involve evaluating integrals over defined surfaces. Participants are exploring the setup and calculations related to these integrals, focusing on the correct application of methods in vector calculus.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss their attempts at setting up the integrals for Q6 and Q7, with some expressing uncertainty about their methods and results. Questions arise regarding the correctness of their calculations and the application of different integration techniques, including the use of spherical coordinates and the fundamental vector product.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exchange of ideas, with some participants confirming their answers while others express confusion about specific steps. Guidance has been offered regarding the setup of the integrals and the importance of understanding the unit normal vector. Multiple interpretations of the problems are being explored, and participants are actively seeking clarification on their approaches.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention difficulties with vector calculus concepts, indicating a learning curve in understanding surface integrals. There are references to specific mistakes made in calculations, and the discussion reflects a collaborative effort to clarify these points without reaching definitive conclusions.

HmBe
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surface.png




Ok, so for Q6, I first said that

z = 3 - 3x - 1.5y

Using (∂z/∂x)^2 = 9, (∂z/∂y)^2 = 9/4

I then did a double integral of (x + y + (3 - 3x - 1.5y)) * sqrt(9 + 9/4 + 1) dA

Letting y and x be bounded below by 0 as stated, and x bounded above by 1 - 0.5y and y bounded above by 2, I went through the integral and got out 28.

Using pretty much the exact same method for Q7 I got the answer to be 2.

This is the first time attempting these sort of questions, really not sure if I'm doing it right. They only take a few minutes to do, so was hoping someone who was more confident in what they were doing could just check this for me, and let me know if I'm actually on the right track or not. Thanks a lot.
 
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HmBe said:
surface.png

Ok, so for Q6, I first said that

z = 3 - 3x - 1.5y

Using (∂z/∂x)^2 = 9, (∂z/∂y)^2 = 9/4

I then did a double integral of (x + y + (3 - 3x - 1.5y)) * sqrt(9 + 9/4 + 1) dA

Letting y and x be bounded below by 0 as stated, and x bounded above by 1 - 0.5y and y bounded above by 2, I went through the integral and got out 28.
It sounds like you set it up correctly, but your final answer doesn't match what I got, which was 7.

Using pretty much the exact same method for Q7 I got the answer to be 2.
This is a different type of integral, so you can't use the exact same method to evaluate it. Show us your work in more detail.
 
Last edited:
Thanks a lot for the help.

Tried Q6 again, got the same answer, 28.

Q7 I did wrong, realized it's a different type of question and used a different method.

Put the coordinates into spherical polar coordinates, x=sinθcos∅ y=sinθsin∅ z=cosθ

dS=sinθdθd∅, and do the integral of F dot producted with the unit normal vector with respect to dS,

So got an integral of cosθsinθ, limits between 0 and pi/2 and 0 and pi, so got an answer of pi/2 out. That sound better?
 
Here is a standard method for both scalar and vector surface integrals:
Write the surface in terms of two parameters, x= f(u,v), y= g(u,v), z= h(u,v).
(This is always possible because a surface is two dimensional.)

Hence write the "position vector" of any point on the surface
[tex]\vec{r}(u,v)= f(u,v)\vec{i}+ g(u,v)\vec{j}+ h(u,v)\vec{k}[/tex]

The two derivatives of that position vector
[tex]\vec{r}_u= f_u\vec{i}+ g_u\vec{j}+ h_u\vec{k}[/tex]
[tex]\vec{r}_v= f_v\vec{i}+ g_v\vec{j}+ h_v\vec{k}[/tex]
lie in the tangent plane to the surface at each point so their cross product
[itex]\vec{r}_u\times\vec{r}_v[/itex] is perpendicular to the surface and its length gives the "differential of surface area"

That is [itex]d\vec{S}= \vec{r}_u\times\vec{r}_v dudv[/itex] and

[itex]dS= \left|\vec{r}_u\times\vec{r}_v\right|dudv[/itex]
 
Thanks, that's one of the methods I tried though, and I still got 28 for the first one.
 
HmBe said:
Thanks a lot for the help.

Tried Q6 again, got the same answer, 28.
It doesn't really help to simply tell us the answer you got. All I can say is to try again.

Q7 I did wrong, realized it's a different type of question and used a different method.

Put the coordinates into spherical polar coordinates, x=sinθcos∅ y=sinθsin∅ z=cosθ

dS=sinθdθd∅, and do the integral of F dot producted with the unit normal vector with respect to dS,

So got an integral of cosθsinθ, limits between 0 and pi/2 and 0 and pi, so got an answer of pi/2 out. That sound better?
It's close, but not correct. What's the unit normal vector for ##d\vec{S}##?
 
the Well, I tried (6) myself and got 3.

As for (7), as I said above, I would not calculate dS or the unit normal. To find dS, you calculate the "fundamental vector product", and multiply dudv by the length of that vector. To find the unit normal, you do the same thing and divide by its length. If you take that seriously, you divide and multiply by the same thing!

Instead, take
[tex]\vec{r}(\theta, \phi)= cos(\theta)sin(\phi)\vec{i}+ sin(\theta)sin(\phi)\vec{j}+ cos(\phi)\vec{k}[/tex]
find its "fundamental vector product" and multiply that by [itex]d\theta d\phi[/itex].

But it isn't really necessary to integrate at all! Note that for every point in the upper hemisphere, there exist a corresponding point on the lower hemisphere with the opposite sign on "z".
 
HallsofIvy said:
the Well, I tried (6) myself and got 3.
Hmm, I got 7.

But it isn't really necessary to integrate at all! Note that for every point in the upper hemisphere, there exist a corresponding point on the lower hemisphere with the opposite sign on "z".
I just noticed the surface is only for y≥0 and z≥0, so the surface S is only a quarter of the sphere.
 
Just realized I made a really dumb mistake, and multiplied everything by 4, so for Q6 I did get the answer to be 7.

vela said:
It's close, but not correct. What's the unit normal vector for ##d\vec{S}##?
Not quite sure what you mean vela by that.
 
  • #10
Had another go, think I realized my mistake, got 2/3 this time for Q7. Pretty sure that's correct, thanks for the help.
 
  • #11
That's not correct.
 
  • #12
working.jpg


Hope you can read that ok.

Only thing I can think of that I might not be doing is if I have to square z, as it's squared on the surface..?

Only recently started vector calculus, and finding it pretty hard to get comfortable with. Really appreciating the advice, thanks a lot.
 
  • #13
I'm so sorry. I misread the vector field and thought it was F = zk instead of F = zj. Your answer is correct.
 
  • #14
Oh right, was starting to wonder if you'd done that, I did it too earlier. No worries, very easy mistake to make. Cheers for the help anyway - it's just great having it confirmed, so easy to get an answer, so hard to know if it's correct.
 

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