# Vector Calculus Question about Surface Integrals

1. Dec 4, 2012

### Conaissance99

Why is it that when the force field is z^2 and you take the surface integral over a sphere of radius a using spherical coordinates, that yields the flux to be (4pi a^3 )/ 3

BUT in a calculus book, the force field is z instead of z^2 evaluated using polar coordinates and it yields the same amount of flux, (4pi a^3 )/ 3.

How can this be when the force is different (z^2 instead of z?) Isn't it when you for example, get five times the force, like 5z you would get the answer multiplied by a factor of 5. When you square z it should come out to be different shouldn't it?

Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

Last edited: Dec 4, 2012
2. Dec 4, 2012

### Conaissance99

Please note that this is not a homework question. Simply a question that if you change the value of the force in your surface integral in this case, shouldn't the answer be different?

3. Dec 4, 2012

### Vargo

Sorry I don't understand the question. What exactly is the integral being calculated? Alternatively, what exactly is the physical quantity being calculated? If it is the flux of a force field across the sphere, then what is the force field? You need to say what direction it is pointing.

4. Dec 5, 2012

### HallsofIvy

First, this doesn't make sense. Force is a vector quantity and the force field must be a vector function, not scalar. I will assume you mean something like <0, 0, z>. In that case, "the force field is z instead of z^2 evaluated using polar coordinates and it yields the same amount of flux, (4pi a^3 )/ 3" is incorrect. The integral over the top part of the sphere, z> 0, will cancel the integral over the bottom part, t< 0, and the integral is 0.

5. Dec 10, 2012

### algebrat

What do you mean by polar coordinates? Did you mean spherical, cylindrical?