Chapter 9: Vector Calculus
Section 9.8: Divergence Theorem
Example 9.8.1
Apply the Divergence theorem to the vector field F=x i+y j+z k and the surface S, the unit sphere centered at the origin.
Solution
Mathematical Solution
The divergence of F:
∇·F=∂xx+∂yy+∂zz=1+1+1=3
Using spherical coordinates (volume element: ρ2sinφ), the integral of ∇·F over the unit sphere:
∫02 π∫0π∫013 ρ2sinφ ⅆρ ⅆφ ⅆθ = 4 π
The surface integral of F·N dσ is the flux of F through the surface S, with N being a unit normal on S and dσ being the surface-area element dA/z.
Describe S in Cartesian coordinates by f≡x2+y2+z2=1, so that N=x i+y j+z k by normalizing ∇f. Since F·N=x2+y2+z2=1 on S, the integral of F·N dσ on S is just the integral of 1⋅dσ over the surface of the unit sphere. This is the surface area of the sphere, and that is known to be 4 π.
The purist who wants to evaluate the surface integral in more detail would have to obtain
dσ=∇f|fz|x=a|f(x)S dA = 22z dA=dA|z|
and then write the integral over the upper hemisphere in polar coordinates as
∫02 π∫01r1−r2 dr dθ = 2 π
On the lower hemisphere where z is negative, dσ=dA/z gives the same integral as evaluated on the upper hemisphere because of the absolute value on z. Hence, the contribution to the flux through the lower hemisphere is the same 2 π, so that the total flux through the sphere is 4 π.
Maple Solution - Interactive
The Student VectorCalculus package is needed for calculating the divergence, but it then conflicts with any multidimensional integral set from the Calculus palette. Hence, the Student MultivariateCalculus package is installed to gain Context Panel access to the MultiInt command.
Initialize
Tools≻Load Package: Student Vector Calculus
Loading Student:-VectorCalculus
Tools≻Tasks≻Browse: Calculus - Vector≻ Vector Algebra and Settings≻ Display Format for Vectors
Press the Access Settings button and select "Display as Column Vector"
Display Format for Vectors
Define the vector field F
Enter the components of F in a free vector. Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
Context Panel: Student Vector Calculus≻Conversions≻To Vector Field
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻F
x,y,z = →to Vector Field →assign to a nameF
Obtain ∇·F, the divergence of F
Common Symbols palette: Del and dot-product operators
Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
∇·F = 3
Obtain the volume integral of the divergence
Tools≻Load Package: Student Multivariate Calculus
Loading Student:-MultivariateCalculus
Context Panel: Student Multivariate Calculus≻Integrate≻Iterated Complete the dialogs as per the figures below.
Context Panel: Evaluate Integral
3→MultiInt∫02⁢π∫0π∫013⁢ρ2⁢sin⁡φⅆρⅆφⅆθ=4⁢π
Use a task template to obtain the flux of F through the surface S
Tools≻Tasks≻Browse: Calculus - Vector≻Integration≻Flux≻3-D≻Through a Sphere
Flux through a Sphere
For the Vector Field:
Select Coordinate SystemCartesian [x,y,z]Cartesian - othercylindricalsphericalbipolarcylindricalbisphericalcardioidalcardioidcylindricalcasscylindricalconicalellcylindricalhypercylindricalinvcasscylindricallogcylindricallogcoshcylindricaloblatespheroidalparaboloidalparacylindricalprolatespheroidalrosecylindricalsixspheretangentcylindricaltangentspheretoroidal
In the Divergence theorem, the volume integral on the left and the surface flux integral on the right both have the value 4 π.
Maple Solution - Coded
Install the Student VectorCalculus package.
withStudent:-VectorCalculus:
Set display of vectors via BasisFormat.
BasisFormatfalse:
Define F via the VectorField command.
F≔VectorFieldx,y,z:
Invoke the Divergence command.
DivergenceF = 3
Use the int command to integrate the divergence of F over a sphere
int3,x,y,z=Sphere0,0,0,1,ρ,φ,θ,output=integral
∫01∫0π∫02⁢π3⁢ρ2⁢sin⁡φⅆθⅆφⅆρ
int3,x,y,z=Sphere0,0,0,1,ρ,φ,θ = 4⁢π
Use the Flux command to obtain the flux of F through the sphere
FluxF,Sphere0,0,0,1,output=integral
∫02⁢π∫0πsin⁡φⅆφⅆθ
FluxF,Sphere0,0,0,1 = 4⁢π
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