MATH-243 Vector Calculus

Conservative Field

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected])

DBS&H, CEME-NUST

December 21, 2021

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

Quiz# 4
Let F(x, y ) = y iˆ + x j,
ˆ find the work performed by the field on a particle
that moves from the point (0, 0) to the point (1, 1) along the
(a) The parabola y = x 2 from (0, 0) to (1, 1). (Odd Rows)
(b) The cubic y = x3 from (0, 0) to (1, 1). (Even Rows)

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

Solution to Quiz # 4

Z Z h i h i Z Z
y iˆ + x jˆ . dx iˆ + dy jˆ = yx 0 + xy 0 dt


F.dr = ydx + xdy =
C C C C

Part(a) x = t, y = t 2 , 0 ≤ t ≤ 1.
R1
x = 1 y = 2t =⇒ C (yx 0 + xy 0 ) dt = 0 t 2 + 2t 2 dt
0 0
R

Z 1
3t 2 dt = 1
0

Part(b) x = t, y = t 3 , 0 ≤ t ≤ 1.
R1
x = 1 y = 3t =⇒ C (yx 0 + xy 0 ) dt = 0 t 3 + 3t 3 dt
0 0 2
R

Z 1
4t 3 dt = 1
0

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

The following properties of a vector field ~F are equivalent.
1 ~F is conservative.
~
R
C F.d~r is path-independent, meaning that it only depends on the
2

endpoints of the curve C .

~F.d~r around any closed curve C .
R
3
C

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

The following properties of a vector field ~F are equivalent.
1 ~F is conservative.
~
R
C F.d~r is path-independent, meaning that it only depends on the
2

endpoints of the curve C .

~F.d~r around any closed curve C .
R
3
C

Facts
If ~F is conservative then Curl ~F = 0.
If f (x, y , z) has continuous second order partial derivatives then
Curl(∇f ) = 0.

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

The following properties of a vector field ~F are equivalent.
1 ~F is conservative.
~
R
C F.d~r is path-independent, meaning that it only depends on the
2

endpoints of the curve C .

~F.d~r around any closed curve C .
R
3
C

Facts
If ~F is conservative then Curl ~F = 0.
If f (x, y , z) has continuous second order partial derivatives then
Curl(∇f ) = 0.

~F = ∇f
~ =⇒ [F1 , F2 , F3 ] = [fx , fy , fz ].
∂f ∂f ∂f
Here fx denotes ∂x , similarly, fy = ∂y and fz = ∂z

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

The following properties of a vector field ~F are equivalent.
1 ~F is conservative.
~
R
C F.d~r is path-independent, meaning that it only depends on the
2

endpoints of the curve C .

~F.d~r around any closed curve C .
R
3
C

Facts
If ~F is conservative then Curl ~F = 0.
If f (x, y , z) has continuous second order partial derivatives then
Curl(∇f ) = 0.

~F = ∇f
~ =⇒ [F1 , F2 , F3 ] = [fx , fy , fz ].
∂f ∂f ∂f
Here fx denotes ∂x , similarly, fy = ∂y and fz = ∂z

Who to find f (x, y , z) when ~F is given?

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus
If ~F is conservative then ∇
~ × ~F = 0

iˆ jˆ k̂
~ × ~F = ∇
∇ ~ × ∇f
~ = ∂ ∂ ∂
∂x ∂y ∂z
fx fy fz
leads to
~ × ~F = (fzy − fyz ) iˆ + (fxz − fzx ) jˆ + (fyx − fxy ) k̂ = ~0
∇
Because for a continuous function
fzy = fyz , fzx = fxz , fxy = fyx

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

If ~F is conservative then ∇
~ × ~F = 0

iˆ jˆ k̂
~ × ~F = ∇
∇ ~ × ∇f
~ = ∂ ∂ ∂
∂x ∂y ∂z
fx fy fz
leads to
~ × ~F = (fzy − fyz ) iˆ + (fxz − fzx ) jˆ + (fyx − fxy ) k̂ = ~0
∇
Because for a continuous function
fzy = fyz , fzx = fxz , fxy = fyx

So if the field ~F is conservative

~F = ∇f
~ =⇒ [F1 , F2 , F3 ] = [fx , fy , fz ]

along with
fzy = fyz , fzx = fxz , fxy = fyx
Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus
 ~ is conservative then
If F
Z (x1 ,y1 ,z1 )
~ r = f (x1 , y1 , z1 ) − f (x0 , y0 , z0 )
F.d~
(x0 ,y0 ,z0 )

where f is a potential function.

We can find f using

For 2 dimensions
fx = F 1 , fy = F2 and fxy = fyx

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

 ~ is conservative then
If F
Z (x1 ,y1 ,z1 )
~ r = f (x1 , y1 , z1 ) − f (x0 , y0 , z0 )
F.d~
(x0 ,y0 ,z0 )

where f is a potential function.

We can find f using

For 2 dimensions
fx = F 1 , fy = F2 and fxy = fyx

For 3 dimensions

fx = F1 , fy = F2 , fz = F 3 and fzy = fyz , fzx = fxz , fxy = fyx

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

Let F(x, y ) = y iˆ + x j,
ˆ find the work performed by the field on a particle
that moves from the point (0, 0) to the point (1, 1) along the
(a) The parabola y = x 2 from (0, 0) to (1, 1).
(b) The cubic y = x 3 from (0, 0) to (1, 1).

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

Let F(x, y ) = y iˆ + x j,
ˆ find the work performed by the field on a particle
that moves from the point (0, 0) to the point (1, 1) along the
(a) The parabola y = x 2 from (0, 0) to (1, 1).
(b) The cubic y = x 3 from (0, 0) to (1, 1).

Here (x0 , y0 ) = (0, 0) and (x1 , y1 ) = (1, 1).

For F(x, y ) = y iˆ + x jˆ to be conservative we need to check fxy = fyx

Here fx = F1 = y and fy = F2 = x =⇒ fxy = fyx

Therefore, Z
F.dr = f (1, 1) − f (0, 0)
C

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

 fx = y (1)
fy = x (2)

Integrating (1) w. r. t x we get

f (x, y ) = xy + h(y ) (3)

Now differentiating (3) w.r.t y and comparing with (2), we get

x + h0 (y ) = x =⇒ h0 (y ) = 0 or h(y ) = c

Using this value of h(y ) = c in (3) we get

f (x, y ) = xy + c

Z (1,1)
F.dr = f (1, 1) − f (0, 0) = 1
(0,0)

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

Calculate the work done by the force
~ = [2x + y 3 , 3xy 2 + 4] acting from point (0, 1) to (2, 3).
F

Z (2,3)
F.dr =? Check whether ~F is conservative or not.
(0,1)

We have

fx = F1 = 2x + y 3 and fy = F2 = 3xy 2 + 4

Clearly,
∂fy ∂fx
= 3y 2 = =⇒ ~F is conservative
∂x ∂y
Thus Z (2,3)
F.dr = f (2, 3) − f (0, 1)
(0,1)

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

 fx = 2x + y 3 (4)
2
fy = 3xy + 4 (5)

Integrating (4) w. r. t x we get

f (x, y ) = x 2 + xy 3 + h(y ) (6)

Now differentiating (6) w.r.t y and comparing with (5), we get

3xy 2 + h0 (y ) = 3xy 2 + 4 =⇒ h0 (y ) = 4 or h(y ) = 4y + c

Using this value of h(y ) = 4y + c in (6) we get

f (x, y ) = x 2 + xy 3 + 4y + c

Z (1,1)
F.dr = f (1, 1) − f (0, 0) = 66
(0,0)

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

 ~ = (e x cos y + yz)iˆ + (xz − e x sin y )jˆ + (xy + z)k̂ is
Let F
conservative over its natural domain and find a potential
function for it.
Since the field is conservative therefore,

fx = e x cos y + yz (7)
x
fy = xz − e sin y (8)
fz = xy + z (9)

Here f would be function of three variable f (x, y , z)

Integrating (7) w. r. t x we get

f = e x cos y + xyz + g (y , z) (10)

Now differentiating (10) w.r.t z and comparing with (9), we get

∂g ∂g
xy + = xy + z =⇒ =z
∂z ∂z
Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus
 ∂g
Integrating ∂z = z w. r. t z we get

z2
g (y , z) = + h(y ) (11)
2
Using this value of in (10) we get

z2
f (x, y , z) = e x cos y + xyz + + h(y ) (12)
2
Differentiating (12), w. r. t y and comparing with (8)

−e x sin y + xz + h0 (y ) = −e x sin y + xz =⇒ h0 (y ) = 0 =⇒ h(y ) = c

Using this in (12)

z2
f (x, y , z) = e x cos y + xyz + +c
2

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

For more questions see Exercise 16.3 of THOMAS Calculus 12th Ed.

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus

Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus
Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus
Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus
Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus
Dr. Yasir Ali ([email protected]) MATH-243 Vector Calculus