Math 4013

Solutions to Homework Problems from Chapter 4

Section 4.2
4.2.1. Calculate the arc length of the following curves.


(a) (t) = 6t, 3t2 , t3 , t [0, 1]
Well,


(t)


= 6, 6t, 3t2
so,


(t) = 36 + 36t2 + 9t4

= 9 (t4 + 4t2 + 4)

= 9 (t2 + 2)2


= 3 t2 +2
Thus,
 tf
L[ ] =  (t) dt

ti
 1

2 
= 3 t +2 dt
0

3 1
= t + 6t 
0
= 7


(b) ( t) = sin(3t), cos(3t), 2t
3 /2 , t [0, 1]
Well,
 


(t) = 3 cos(3t), 3 sin(3t), 3t1/2
so,
 2 2

(t) =
=
99 cos (3 ) + 9 sin (3 ) + 9

(1 + ) t
t t t

= 3 1+t
Thus,
 tf
L[ ] = 
(t) dt
ti
 1
= 3 1 + tdt
0
 2
= 3 udu , u = 1+t
1
2
3 /2 
= u 
1
3 /2
= 2 1

1
2

4.2.2. Let be the path (t) = (t, t sin(t), t cos(t)). Find the arc length of between (0,0,0) and (, 0, ).

Well,
( t) = (1, sin(t) + t cos(t), cos(t) t sin(t))

so
 2 2
2
 (t) =
1 + (sin( ) + t cos( t)) + (cos(t) t sin(t))


t

2
= t2 cos2 (t) + cos2 (t) + t2 sin2 (t)
=
12 ++ sin ( ) +t2
t

Note also that we must have ti = 0 and tf = so that

( ti ) = (0, 0, 0)
(tf ) = (, 0, )
Therefore, the arc lenght will be given by the following integral
 tf
L[ ] = 
(t) dt

=
 2 +
ti

t2 dt

 + 2 + 2 log  + 
0

=
t
t2  t t2 + 2 
2
 + 2 + log  + 
2
  
0

 + 2 log  2

= 2 2
2
(See integral #43 in the tables at the back of the text.)

Section 4.3

4.3.1. A particle of mass m moves along a path r(t) according to Newtons law in a force field F = V
on R3 , where V is a given potential energy function.

(a) Prove that in the energy along the trajectory

1 2
E = mr ( t) + V (r(t))

2
is constant in time.

We have

dE d 1 2
= mr ( t) + V (r(t))

dt dt 2
md d
= (r
(t) r
(t)) + (V (r(t)))
2 dt dt
m dr
= (r

(t) r
(t) + r
(t) r

(t)) + V
2 dt
= mr (t) r
(t) + V r
(t)

(In the third line we have simply applied the product and chain rules to, respectively, the first and
second terms of the second line.) According to Newtons law F = ma, so
mr = F = V



.

Thus,
dE
= V r
(t) + V r
(t) = 0 .
dt
 3

(b) If the particle moves on an equipotential surface, show that its speed is constant.

Well, the particle speed is just the magnitude of the velocity vector. So it suffices to prove that

d

r (t)2


=0
dt

whenever the particle moves along an equipotential surface.

But
d
 d
r (t)2


= (r
(t) r
(t))
dt dt
= r

(t) r
(t) + r
(t) r

(t)
= 2r
(t) r

(t)
2

= r (t) (mr

(t))
m
2
= r
(t) V (r(t))
m

Now we know from Section 2.5, that the gradient vector V evaluated at r(t) will be normal to
the surface
 
S = x R3 | V ( x ) = k

at the point r(t). On the other hand, since the trajectory is constrained to lie in such a surface, the
tangent vector r
(t) at a point r(t) must always be perpendicular to the surface normal. In other
words,

r
(t) V (r(t)) = 0 .

Thus,

d
 2
r
(t)2 = r
(t) V (r(t)) = 0 .
dt m

4.3.2. Sketch a few flow lines of the vector field F(x, y) = (x, y).

The flow lines for this vector field must satisfy the differential equation

d
= F ( (t))
dt

But

d x
dt x ( t)

d x
dt
= x t
x ( t) = xo e
d y
dt
=
y (t)
d y
dt
= y y (t) = yo e
t

so the flow lines of F will be curves of the form

t t 
(t) = x o e , yo e .
4

4.3.3. Let c(t) be a flow line of a gradient field F = V . Prove that V (c(t)) is a decreasing function of
t. Explain.

d dc
[V (c(t))] = V (c(t))
dt dt
= V (c(t)) F (c(t))
= V (c(t)) (V (c(t)))
= V (c(t)) 2

d
Since the magnitude of a vector is either positive or zero, we conclude that dt [V (c(t))] is either
negative or zero.
To understand this, recall that V (r) represents the direction of the fastest decrease in V at the
point r. Thus, the the flow lines of a vector field F = V will always move in the direction of the
fastest decrease in V ; V obviously V will be decreasing along these flow lines.
In a physical situation, F is interpretable as a force field and V is a corresponding potential energy.
The fact that V is always decreasing along the flow lines of F = V implies that a particle acted
upon by F always moves along a path that decreases its potential energy. (Now you know why apples
fall.)


4.3.4. Sketch the gradient field V for V (x, y ) = (x + y ) / x
2 + y2 . Sketch the equipotential surface
V = 1.
 5

The easiest way to approach this problem is first uncover the nature of the equipotential surfaces.
Now the points on an equipotential surface for V must satisfy an equation of the form

x +y
=k
x2 + y2

which is equivalent to

2 1 1
x x + y2 y =0
k k

1 2
which, upon adding 2 2k to both sides, becomes

2
2
2
1 1 1 1 1
x
2

k
x+
2k
+y 2
k
y+
2k
=2
2k

or

2
2
1 1 1
x + y = .
2k 2k 2k2

1 1
This is the equation of a circle of radius 21|k| centered about the point 2k , 2 k . Noting that the

1 1
distance of the point 2k , 2 k from the origin is precisely
1 2 , we can conclude that equipotential
2k
surfaces are circles that always contain the origin (0,0), and whose their centers will lie along the line
x = y.

The flow lines of the gradient field F = V will always be anti-parallel to V which will always
be perpendicular to the equipotential surfaces (this we know from Section 2.5). Thus, to sketch the
vector field F we can sketch the equipotential surfaces and then draw vectors that are perpendicular
to the equipotential surfaces.
6

2t 
4.3.5. Show


that (t) = e , ln |t| , 1/t for t =

0 is a flow line of the velocity vector field F(x, y, z) =
2x, z, z2 .

Well,
d x
dt
(t) = 2e2t = 2x (t) = Fx ( (t))
d y
dt
(t) = 1 = (t) = F ( (t))
t
z y

d z
=
1 = ( (t))2 = F ((t))
z z
dt t2

Thus
d
dt
(t) = F ((t))
and so (t) is a flow line of F.

Section 4.4

4.4.1. Compute the curl, F, of each of the following vector fields.

(a) F(x, y, z) = xi + yj + zk

We have

Fz Fy Fx Fz Fy Fx
F = y
,
z z
,
x x

y
= (0 0, 0 0, 0 0)
= (0, 0, 0)

(b) F (x, y, z) = yzi + xzj + xyk

 7

We have

Fz Fy Fx Fz Fy Fx
F = , ,
y z z x x y
= (x x, y y, z z)
= (0, 0, 0)

 
(c) F (x, y, z) = x2 + y2 + z
2
(3i + 4j + 5k)

Fz Fy Fx Fz Fy Fx
F = y
,
z z
,
x x

y
= (10y 8z, 6z 10x, 8x 6y)

4.4.2. Compute the divergence of each of the vector fields in Exercise 1.

(a)

F = (x, y, z)

= x
(x) + y (y) + z (z)
= 1+1+1
= 3

(b)

F = (yz, xz, xy)

= x
(yz) + y (xz) + z (xy)
= 0+0+0
= 0

(c)



F = 3x2 + 3y2 + 3z2 , 4x2 + 4y2 + 4z 2 , 5x2 + 5y2 + 5z2

2 
2 
2 
= 3x + 3y2 + 3z2 + 4x + 4y2 + 4z2 + 5x + 5y 2 + 5z 2
x y z
= 6x + 8y + 10z


4.4.3. Let F (x, y, z) = 3x2 yi + x3 + y3 j .

(a) Verify that F = 0.

8

Fz Fy Fx Fz Fy Fx
F = , ,
y z z x x y

2 2

= 0 0, 0 0, 3x 3x
= (0, 0, 0)

(b) Find a function f such that F = f .

We need to find a function f : R3 R such that

f
= 3x2 y
x
f
= x3 + y 3
y
f
= 0
z
Now the most general function f of x, y, z satisfying the first equation in (B1) will be of the form

f (x, y, z) = 3x2 y dx + h1 (y, z) = x3 y + h1 (y, z) (B 2)

Here h1 (y, z) is an arbitrary function of y and z .

The most general function satisfying the second equation in (B2) will be of the form


3  1
f (x, y, z) = x + y3 dy + h2 (x, z) = x3 y + y4 + h2 (x, z) B3
4
where h2 (x, z) is an arbitrary function of x and z.
The most general function satisfying the third equation (B3) will be of the form

f (x, y, z) =
0 dz + h3 (x, y) = h3 (x, y) . (B4)

Now the function f that we seek must satisfy (B2), (B3), and (B4) simultaneously. Equation (B2)
tells us that the x dependence of f lies solely in a term of the form x3 y; equation (B3) tells us that
the y dependence of f lies solely in the sum of two terms x3 y + 14 y4 ; and equation (B4) tells us that
f does not depend at all on z. We can thus conclude that any function of the form
1
f (x, y, z) = x3 y + y4 + C
4
will be a solution of f = F.
(c) Is it true that for a vector field F such a function can exist only if F = 0?
 
Suppose F = f = f f f
x , y , z . Then

f f f f f f
F = , ,
y z z y z x x z x y y x
Now by Theorem 15 (Section 2.6), if f is of class C 2 , then
f f f f
f f
0=
y z z y =
x y y x .
z x x z =

We conclude that if F
= 0, there can be no function of class C 2 such that F = f .

4.4.4. Show that F = y (cos(x)) i + x (sin(y)) j is not a gradient field.

 9

Suppose that F = f . Then

f = y cos(x)
x
f = x sin(y)
y
Each of the two functions on the right hand side are perfectly continuous, and moreover, their partial
derivatives exist and are continuos for all x and y. Therefore, f is at least of class C 2 . But then, by
Theorem 15 of Section 2.6, we must have
f f
x y =
y x .
But
f f
y x = cos(x)
= sin(x) = x y .
We conclude that F can not be a gradient field.

Section 4.5

4.5.1. Suppose F = 0 and G = 0. Which of the following vector fields necessarily have zero
divergence?

(a) F + G

By Identity 5 on page 283 we have

(F + G) = F + G = 0 + 0 = 0 .

(b) F G

By Identity 9 on page 283 we have

(F G) = G ( F) F ( G) .
The expression of the right hand side does not necessarily vanish (even if 0 = F = G). For
example, if
F = (y, x, 0)
G = (0, 0, 1)

Then
0 = F =G
and
( F G) = G ( F) F ( G)
= (0, 0, 1) (0, 0, 2) (y, x, 0) (0, 0, 0)
= 2

(c) (F G) F
10

By Identities 8 and 7 on page 283 we have

((F G) F) = (F G) ( F) + F (F G)
= (F G) ( F)
+F ((F ) G + (G ) F + F ( G) + G ( F))
= 0 + F ((F ) G + (G ) F + F ( G) + G ( F))

The expression of the right hand side does not necessarily vanish (even if 0 = F = G).

4.5.2. Prove the following identities.

(a) (F G) = (F ) G + (G ) F + F ( G) + G ( F)

By virtue of the product rule the left hand side is equivalent to

LHS = (F G) =

= , , (FxGx + Fy Gy + Fz Gz )
x y z

Fx G F G F G
= Gx + Fx x + y Gy + Fy y + z Gz + Fz z i
xF x
G
x
F
x
G
x
F
x
G

x
+ Gx + Fx x + y Gy + Fy y + z Gz + Fz z j
y y y y y y
F G F G F G

x
+ Gx + Fx x + y Gy + Fy y + z Gz + Fz z k
z z z z z z

On the other hand,

(F ) G = + Fy
Fx + Fz (Gx , Gy , Gz )
x y z
G G G

= Fx x + Fy x + Fz x i
x
G y G z G

y y y
+ Fx + Fy + Fz j
x y z
G Gz Gz

z
+ Fx + Fy + Fz k
x y z

(G ) F = Gx
+ Gy + Gz (Fx , Fy , Fz )
x y z
F F F

= Gx x + Gy x + Gz x i
x y z

Fy Fy Fy
+ Gx + Gy + Gz j
x y z
F Fz Fz

z
+ Gx + Gy + Gz k
x y z
 11

G Gy Gx Gz Gy Gx

z
F ( G) = ( Fx , F y , Fz ) , ,
y z z x x y

G G G Gz
= Fy y Fy x Fz x + Fz i
x y z x

Gz Gy Gy Gx
+ Fz Fz Fx + Fx j
y z x y
G Gz Gz Gy

x
+ Fx Fx Fy + Fy k
z x y z

F
Fy Fx Fz Fy Fx

z
G ( F) = (Gx , Gy , Gz ) ,
,
y z z x x y
F F F F z

= Gy y Gy x Gz x + Gz i
x y z x

Fz Fy Fy Fx
+ Gz Gz Gx + Gx j
y z x y

Fx Fz Fz Fy
+ Gx Gx Gy + Gy k
z x y z

And so the right hand side of (a) is

RHS = (F ) G + (G ) F + F ( G) + G ( F)

Gx Gx Gx Fx Fx Fx Gy
= Fx + Fy + Fz + Gx + Gy + Gz + Fy
x y z x y z x

Gx Gx Gz Fy Fx Fx Fz
Fy Fz + Fz + Gy Gy Gz + Gz i

yG z
Gy
x
Gy
x
Fy
y
Fy
z
Fy
x
Gz
y
+ Fx + Fy + Fz + Gx + Gy + Gz + Fz
x y z x y z y
Gy Gy Gx Fz Fy Fy Fx

Fz Fx + Fx + Gz Gz Gx + Gx j
z x y y z x y

G G G F F F G
Fx z + Fy z + Fz z + Gx z + Gy z + Gz z + Fx x
x y z x y z z

Gz Gz Gy Fx Fz Fz Fy
Fx Fy + Fy + Gx Gx Gy + Gy k
x y z z x y z

Fx G F G F G
= Gx + Fx x + y Gy + Fy y + z Gz + Fz z i
xF x
G
x
F
x
G
x
F
x
Gz

x x y y z
+ G + Fx + G + Fy + G + Fz
y x y y y z
j
y y y
F G F G F G

x
+ Gx + Fx x + y Gy + Fy y + z Gz + Fz z k
z z z z z z

which is equivalent to the left hand side of identity (a).

(b) (F G) = G ( F) F ( G)
12

We have

(F G) = , , (Fy Gz Fz Gy , Fz Gx Fx Gz , Fx Gy Fy Gx )
x y z
Fy Gz Fz Gy
= Gz + Fy Gy Fz
x x x x
Fz Gx Fx Gz
+Gx + Fz Gz Fx
y y y y
Fx Gy Fy Gx
+Gy + Fx Gx Fy
z z z z

Fz Fy Fx Fz Fy Fx
G ( F) = ( Gx , G y , G z ) , ,
y z z x x y
Fz Fy Fx Fz Fy Fx
= Gx Gx + Gy Gy + Gz Gz
y z z x x y

G Gy Gx Gz Gy Gx

z
F ( G) = (F x , F y , F z ) , ,
y z z x x y
Gz Gy Gx Gz Gy Gx
= Fx Fx + Fy Fy + Fz Fz
y z z x x y

So

Fz Fy Fx Fz Fy Fx
G ( F) F ( G) = Gx Gx + Gy Gy + Gz Gz
y z z x x y
Gz Gy Gx Gz Gy Gx
Fx + Fx Fy + Fy Fz + Fz
y z z x x y
Fy Gz Fz Gy
= Gz + Fy Gy Fz
x x x x
Fz Gx Fx Gz
+Gx + Fz Gz Fx
y y y y
Fx Gy Fy Gx
+Gy + Fx Gx Fy
z z z z
= (F G)

(c) (f F) = f ( F) + f F
 13

We have

f Fz f Fy
(fFx , fFy , fFz ) = Fz +f Fy f i
y y z z
f F f Fz

x
+ Fx +f Fz f j
z z x x
f F f Fx

y
+ Fy +f Fx f k
x x y y
F Fy Fx Fz Fy Fx

z
= f , ,
y z z x x y
 
+ (f )y Fz (f )z Fy i
+ ((f )z Fx (f )x Fz ) j
 
+ (f )x Fy (f )y Fx

= f ( F ) + f F



4.5.3. Let F = 2xz2 , 1, y3 zx , G = x2 , y2 , z2 , and f = x2 y. Compute the following quantities.
(a) f



f = 2xy, x2 , 0

(b) F



F = 3y2 zx, 4xz y3 z, 0

(c) (F ) G


(F ) G = 2xz2 x + y + y3 zx z x2 , y2 , z2


= 4x2 z2 , 2y, 2y3 z2 x .

(d) F (f )




F (f ) = 2xz2 , 1, y3 zx 2xy, x2 , 0
= 4x2 yz2 + x2

(e) F f




F (f ) = 2xz2 , 1, y3 zx 2xy, x2 , 0


= y3 zx3 , 2y4 x2 z, 2x3 z 2 2xy
14

4.5.4. Let F be a general vector field. Does F have to be perpendicular to F.

No, consider the vector field
F(x, y, z) = (y, x, 1) .
We have
F = (0 0, 0 0, 1 (1)) = (0, 0, 2)
So,
F ( F) = (y, x, 1) (0, 0, 2) = 2
= 0 .
Thus, F is not perpendicular to F.