4.

Line Integrals in the Plane

4A. Plane Vector Fields

4A-1 Describe geometrically how the vector fields determined by each of the following
vector functions looks. Tell for each what the largest region in which F is continuously
differentiable is.

a) a i + bj , a , b constants b) - x i - y j

4A-2 Write down the gradient field Vw for each of the following:
a)w=ax+by b)w=lnr c)w=f(r)

4A-3 Write down an explicit expression for each of the following fields:
a) Each vector has the same direction and magnitude as i + 2j .
b) The vector at (x, y) is directed radially in towards the origin, with magnitude r2.
c) The vector at (x, y) is tangent to the circle through (x, y) with center at the origin,
clockwise direction, magnitude l / r 2 .
d) Each vector is parallel to i + j , but the magnitude varies.
4A-4 The electromagnetic force field of a long straight wire along the z-axis, carrying a
uniform current, is a two-dimensional field, tangent to horizontal circles centered along the
z-axis, in the direction given by the right-hand rule (thumb pointed in positive z-direction),
and with magnitude k/r. Write an expression for this field.

4B. Line Integrals in the Plane

4B-1 For each of the fields F and corresponding curve C or curves Ci, evaluate

Use any convenient parametrization of C , unless one is specified. . Begin by writing the
L F . dr.

r
M dx + N dy.
integral in the differential form
b
+
a) F = (x2 - y) i 2x j ; C1 and C2 both run from (- 1,O) to (1,O):
C1 : the x-axis C2: the parabola y = 1 - x2
b) F = xy i - x2j ; C: the quarter of the unit circle running from (0,l) to (1,O).
C) F = y i - x j ; C: the triangle with vertices at (0, O), (0, I ) , (1, 0), oriented clockwise.
d) F = y i ; C is the ellipse x = 2 cost, y = sin t, oriented counterclockwise.
e) F = 6y i + x j ; C is the curve x = t2, y = t3, running from ( 1 , l ) to (4,8).
f) F = (x + y) i + xy j ; C is the broken line running from (0,O) to (0,2) to (1,2).
4B-2 For the following fields F and curves C , evaluate Jc F - dr without any formal
calculation, appealing instead to the geometry of F and C .
a) F = x i + yj ; C is the counterclockwise circle, center at (0, 0), radius a.
b) F = y i - x j ; C is the counterclockwise circle, center a t (O,O), radius a .
 2 E. 18.02 EXERCISES

4B-3 Let F = i + j . How would you place a directed line segment C of length one so
that the value of Jc F . dr would be
a) a maximum; b) a minimum; c) zero;
d) what would the maximum and minimum values of the integral be?

4C. Gradient Fields and Exact Differentials

4C-1 Let f (x, y) = x3 +y3, and C be y 2 = x, between (1, -1) and (1, I ) , directed upwards.
a) Calculate F = V f .
b) Calculate the integral Jc F . d r three different ways:
(i) directly;
(ii) by using path-independence t o replace C by a simpler path
(iii) by using the Fundamental Theorem for line integrals.

4C-2 Let f (x, y) = s e x y , and C be the path y = l / x from ( 1 , l ) t o (0, m).

a) Calculate F = Vf
b) Calculate the integral Jc F . d r
(i) directly;
(ii) by using the Fundamental Theorem for line integrals.

4C-3 Let f (x, y) = sin x cosy .

a) Calculate F = V f .
b) What is the maximum value J F . d r can have over all possible paths C in the
c
plane? Give a path C for which this maximum value is attained.

4C-4* The Fundamental Theorem for line integrals should really be called the First Fun-
damental Theorem. There is an analogue for line integrals of the Second Fundamental
Theorem also, where you first integrate, then differentiate; it provides the justification for
Method 1 in this section. It runs:

If M dx + N dy is path-independent, and f (x, y) = F . d r , then Vf = M i + N j

The conclusion says f x = M , f y = N ; prove the second of these. (Hint: use the Second
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.)

4C-5 For each of the following, tell for what value of the constants the field will be a gradient
field, and for this value, find the corresponding (mathematical) potential function.
+ +
a) F = (y2 25) i axy j b) F = e X + y ( ( x + a ) i + x j )

4C-6 Decide which of the following differentials is exact. For each one that is exact, express
it in the form df .
a) y d x - x d y b) y ( 2 x + y ) d x + x ( 2 y + x ) d y
ydx - xdy
c)* x s i n y d x + ysinxdy
(X+Y)~
 4. LINE INTEGRALS IN T H E PLANE

4D. Green's Theorem

4D-1 For each of the following fields F and closed positively oriented curves C, evalu-

ate LF . d r both directly, as a line integral, and also by applying Green's theorem and
calculating a double integral.
a ) F : 2yi+xj, C : x2+y2=1
b) F : x 2 ( i +j ) C: rectangle joining (0,0), (2,0), (O,l), (2,l)
c)F: xyi+y2j, C:y=x2andy=x, O < x < l

4D-2 Show that 4x3ydx + x4dy = 0 for all closed curves C.

c!
4D-3 Find the area inside the hypocycloid x2I3 + y2I3 = 1, by using Green's theorem.
(This curve can be parametrized by x = cos3 8, y = sin3 8, between suitable limits on 8.)

4D-4 Show that the value of -y3dx+x3dy around any positively oriented simple closed
curve C is always positive.

+
4D-5 Show that the value of
b xy2dx+ (x2y 2x)dy around any square C in the xy-plane
depends only on the size of the square, and not upon its position.

+ xy2 dy
4D-6* Show that
b -x2y dx > 0 around any simple closed curve C.

4D-7* Show that the value of jc y(y + 3) dx + 2xy dy around any equilateral triangle C
depends only on the size of the triangle, and not upon its position in the xy-plane.

4E. Two-dimensional Flux

+
4E-1 Let F = -y i x j . Recalling the interpretation of this field (example 4, V1.5),. or
just by remembering how it looks geometrically, evaluate with little or no calculation the
flux integral Jc F . n ds, where
a) C is a circle of radius a centered a t (O,O), directed counterclockwise.
b) C is the line segment running from (- 1,0) to (1,O)
c) C is the line running from (0,O) to (1,O) .

4E-2 Let F be the constant vector field i +

j . Where would you place a directed line
segment C of length one in the plane so that the flux across C would be
a) maximal b) minimal c) zero d) -1 e) what would the maximal and minimal
values be?

4E-3 Let F = x2 i + xy j . Evaluate Jc F . n ds if C is given by r(t) = (t + 1) i + t2j ,

where 0 < t < 1; the positive direction on C is the direction of increasing t.
4E-4 Take C to be the square of side 1 with opposite vertices a t (0,O) and (1, I ) , directed
clockwise. Let F = x i + y j ; find the flux across C.
4 E. 18.02 EXERCISES

4E-5 Let F be defined everywhere except at the origin by the description:

dir F = radially outward, IF1 = r m , m an integer.
a) Evaluate the flux of F across a circle of radius a and center a t the origin, directed
counterclockwise.
b) For which value(s) of m will the flux be independent of a?

4E-6* Let F be a constant vector field, and let C be a closed polygon, directed counter-
clockwise. Show that jCF . dr = 0. (Hint evaluate the integral along one of the directed
sides; then add up the integrals over the successive sides, using properties of vectors.)

4E-7* Let F be a constant vector field, and C a closed polygon, as in the preceding exercise.
Show that jcF . nds = 0.

4F. Green's Theorem in Normal Form

4F-1 Calculate the functions div F and curl F for each of the following fields.
a ) a i + b j (a,bconstants) b ) ~ ~ i + c~ ) x~y (j i + j )

4F-2 Let F = w(-y i + x j ) be the vector field of Section V1, Example 4.

a) Calculate div F and curl F
b) Using the physical interpretation of this vector field, explain why it is reasonable
that div F = 0.
c) Using the physical interpretation of curl F, explain why it is reasonable that
curl F = 2w at the origin.

4F-3 Verify Green's theorem in the normal form by calculating both sides and showing
they are equal if F = x i + y j , and C is formed by the upper half of the unit circle and
the x-axis interval [- 1,1].

4F-4 Verify Green's theorem in the normal form by calculating both sides and showing
+
they are equal if F = x2 i xy j , and C is the square with opposite vertices at (0,O) and
(1,l)-

4F-5 Calculate div F and curl F for F = r n ( x i + yj ) . (Simplify the differentiation by

using r, = x l r , r, = ylr.)
For which value(s) of n is div F = O? For which value(s) of n is curl F = O?

4F-6* a) Suppose that all the vectors of a field F point radially outward and their magnitude
is a differentiable function f (r) of r alone. Show that curl F = 0.
b) Suppose all the vectors of a field F are parallel. Reasoning from the physical
interpretation of curl F, would you expect it to be zero everywhere? Illustrate your answer
by an example.
 4. LINE INTEGRALS IN T H E PLANE 5

4G. Simply-connected Regions.

4G-1 Using the criterion of this section, tell which of the following fields and differentials
definitely are respectively conservative or exact, which of them are definitely not, and for
which of them the criterion fails.

4G-2 For each of the following fields F, find f (x, y) such that F = V f .
a) the field of l a b) the field of l e
c) the field of Id; use polar coordinates.

xi
4G-3 Evaluate F dr, where F = yj . Use the results of Example 3 in Notes
+

T
V5.

4G-4 Even though the field of Example 1, F = xy i + x2j , is not a gradient field, show
that$ F . dr = 0 around every simple closed curve which is symmetric about the y-axis.

4G-5 Which of the following regions are simply-connected?

a) the half-plane lying above the x-axis
b) the plane minus the line segment joining (0,O) and (0,l)
c) the plane minus the positive x-axis
d) the plane minus the entire x-axis
e) in polar coordinates, the region where T > 0, 0 < 6' < Bo
f) the region between two concentric circles
g) the region in the plane between the two branches of the hyperbola xy = 1

4G-6 For which of the following vector fields is the domain where it is defined and contin-
uously differentiable a simply-connected region?

4G-7* By following the method outlined in the proof of (3), show that if curl F = 0 in the
whole xy-plane, then
h
F . dr = 0 over each of the following closed paths (break them into
as few pieces as possible):
6 E. 18.02 EXERCISES

4H. Multiply-connected Regions

4H-1 For each of the closed curves shown determine the winding number about the indi-
cated point. Then assume the point is (0, O), and tell what the value of $c F . dr around C
is, where F is the vector field (1).

4H-2 Suppose F is continuous differentiable everywhere in the xy-plane except at the

three points -1,0,1 on the x-axis. Suppose the line integrals of F around small circles
surrounding each of these points have respectively the values 2, &, and A. What is the
value of $c F . dr around each of the following closed curves?

41. Laplace's Equation and Harmonic Functions

41-l* Suppose f (x, y) is a polynomial in x and y all of whose terms have the same total
degree n in x and y (such a polynomial is called "homogeneous of degree n"). Show that,
a and b being arbitrary constants,
a) if n = 2, f ( x , y) is harmonic eJ f = a(x2 - y2) + bxy
b) if n = 3, f (x, y) is harmonic f = a(x3 - 3xy2) + b ( 3 x 2 ~- y3) .
In each case, prove + by using (5)
41-2* a) Show that the functions c l n r are harmonic (c constant; use rz = x l r , etc.)
b) Show that if w = f (r) and w is harmonic, then f (r) = cl l n r + c2 .
(Hint: introduce a new variable y = dwldr and solve the resulting differential equation in
y and r.)

41-3* Verify that ekz sin(ky + c) is harmonic for any constants k and c.
41-4* Can you find a function 4 harmonic in a region containing the circle of radius 1
and center at the origin, if the boundary values are prescribed by the following (s is the
arclength along the circle, measured counterclockwise from (1,O)):

41-5* "Derive" the equation beneath (12) symbolically, assuming that the product rule for
differentiation applies to the operator V.

41-6* The function In r is zero on the unit circle and harmonic; why doesn't this contradict
Theorem 3, (13)?
 4. LINE INTEGRALS IN T H E PLANE 7

41-7* Prove the reciprocity law: if 4 and 1C, are harmonic in a region containing a simple
closed curve C and its interior R, then

(Hint: use Theorem 2.)

41-8* An important property of a harmonic function is that its value at the center of
any circle is equal to its average value over the circle. (This is the basis of one important
numerical method for calculating it by successive approximations.)
What would be the value of 4(O, 0), if on the unit circle 4(s) = sin2 s? (cf. Exercise 4 for
the notations.)