Vector calculus - Divergence Theorem

[joex444]

Homework Statement

Find \int_{s} \vec{A} \cdot d\vec{a} given \vec{A} = ( x\hat{i} + y\hat{j} + z\hat{k} ) ( x^2 + y^2 + z^2 ) and the surface S is defined by the sphere R^2 = x^2 + y^2 + z^2 directly and by Gauss's theorem.

Homework Equations

\int_{s} \vec{A} \cdot d\vec{a} = \int_{V} \nabla \cdot \vec{A} da = \int\int\int \frac{1}{r^2} \frac{\partial}{\partial r}(r^2 A_{r}) r^2 \sin\theta dr d\theta d\phi = \int\int\int \frac{\partial}{\partial r}(r^2 A_{r}) \sin\theta dr d\theta d\phi = 4 \pi R^5

The Attempt at a Solution

Given the answer, I was able to work backwards using limits of integration of 0 to 2pi for phi, 0 to pi for theta and 0 to R on r to find out that A = r^3. Now, the question I have is how can I show that A = r^3 given the A in cartesian coordinates? Since r=\sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2} its clear that A=r^2(x\hat{i} + y\hat{j} + z\hat{k}) but to call the vector valued term r is not agreeing with me. Obviously, since the surface is a sphere, I thought it would be easier to use spherical coordinates...

Edit: Using cartesian coordinates I can find \nabla \cdot \vec{A} = 5(x^2 + y^2 + z^2) = 5r^2 but using the formula given for spherical coordinates, I would need to show A = r^3 to do a full solution in spherical.

 

[HallsofIvy]

What do you mean "A= r³"? What is A? There is no A in the statement of the problem.

 

[joex444]

A is given, it is the vector. It's in the first line... Of course, to solve for A in spherical I worked backwards from the answer (I needed an R^5 in the final answer, and the divergence in spherical gives me an integral of a partial of r^2 * A, so obviously r^2 * A needs to have a 5th power, thus A = r^3, working it through, it does come out correctly).

When I try to convert the given A into spherical directly, I can only get as far as \vec{A} = r^2(x\hat{i}+y\hat{j}+z\hat{k})

Another question I have is whether it would be easier to show it directly in cartesian or spherical...I'm leaning towards cartesian because A is given in cartesian.

 

[siddharth]

A = r^3

As Halls pointed out, that's not right.

The conversion from cartesian to spherical, and vice versa, should be found in any vector calculus text.

(or try, http://www.math.montana.edu/frankw/ccp/multiworld/multipleIVP/spherical/body.htm )

Another question I have is whether it would be easier to show it directly in cartesian or spherical...I'm leaning towards cartesian because A is given in cartesian.

The integral \int_{s} \vec{A} \cdot d\vec{a} over x^2 + y^2 + z^2=R^2 should be easier to evaluate in spherical coordinates because of the symmetry (ie, you're integrating over a sphere).