Help Needed: Solving Stroke's Theorem Problem w/ z Surface

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In summary, the conversation discusses how to compute a problem using Stoke's theorem and the surface z = \sqrt{4-x^2-y^2} above the xy-plane. The conversation also touches on finding the normal vector and integrating on the surface, with a mistake pointed out in the calculations. The main question is about what to do in situations where z is 0 and the conversation concludes with an explanation of how to deal with the square root factors.
  • #1
Phymath
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what do i do with z!?

ok no idea what to do with this z in the this problem, cause I am teaching this to myself i don't know what to do and I am asking for some help thanks anyone...

ok well I am trying to compute this problems with Stroke's therom

the surface is [tex] z = \sqrt{4-x^2-y^2} [/tex] above the xy-plane

and [tex] \vec{F} = <2x-y,yz^2,y^2z>[/tex]

ok using stoke's i do [tex]\nabla X \vec{F} = \vec{k}[/tex]
and...
then instead of finding the normal vector with the surface z, i did, [tex]f(x,y,z) = 4-x^2-y^2-z^2[/tex] which [tex]\vec{n} = \nabla f = <-2x,-2y,-2z>[/tex] but we want a normal vector pointing out from the surface, so..(also note i didn't but the normalizing sqrt cause it comes out in the dS -> dA change) [tex] -\vec{n} = <2x,2y,2z>[/tex] and then fallowing stoke's...[tex]\vec{k} \bullet\vec{n} = 2z -> \int\int_{A}2zdydx[/tex] but my understanding of a surface intergral is that z is 0 so that the surface is actually an area projected on to the xy-plane, what am to do in these situations? or did i just do it wrong?
 
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  • #2
Ok, after a bit of contemplation about doing surface integrals in different ways, I've see you've made a mistake in your calculations, which I will come back to. This does not affect your main question though. The answer is that you are just projecting the surface onto the xy plane, and it is on the surface that the integrating is actually happening. Here (on the surface), z is not zero in general. Remember that here z = sqrt(4 - x^2 - y^2).

Now to my first point. It has to do with you mixing two methods of calculating the unit normal vector. First you put the equation for the surface into the form: f(x,y,z) = C, and asserted that:

[tex] $\mathbf{ \hat{n}}$ = \frac{ \nabla f }{| \nabla f|} [/tex]

which is fine, but then the the square root factors do not quite cancel anymore, because:

[tex] \cos \theta =
$\mathbf{ \hat{n} \cdot k}$ = \frac{ \frac{ \partial f }{ \partial x } $\mathbf{i}$ + \frac{ \partial f }{ \partial y } $\mathbf{j}$ + \frac{ \partial f }{ \partial z } $\mathbf{k}$ }{ \sqrt{ \left( \frac{ \partial f }{ \partial x } \right)^2 + \left( \frac{ \partial f }{ \partial y} \right)^2 + \left( \frac{ \partial f }{ \partial y} \right)^2 }} $\mathbf{ \cdot k }$ [/tex]


[tex]
\Rightarrow \frac{1}{ $\mathbf{ \hat{n} \cdot k}$ } = \frac{ \sqrt{ \left( \frac{ \partial f }{ \partial x } \right)^2 + \left( \frac{ \partial f }{ \partial y} \right)^2 + \left( \frac{ \partial f }{ \partial y} \right)^2 }}{ \frac{ \partial f }{ \partial z }} [/tex]

The square roots only cancel when we keep the equation for the surface in the form z = f(x,y). So we have to divide the integrand by 2z, making it 1, and your surface integral is just the area of the circle below. Your line integral should show that.

P.S. Apologies for the latex which won't show ATM. It's late now, but I'll fix it ASAP. It just shows why the roots don't cancel.
 
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  • #3
Oh

oh oh, i see like [tex]dS = \sqrt{f_{x}^2+f_{y}^2+1}[/tex] is not...the normalizer of the f function, thanks much, thou i don't know if the 2z will drop because of that to 1, but that's good ill take a look and post if that worked
 

FAQ: Help Needed: Solving Stroke's Theorem Problem w/ z Surface

What is Stroke's Theorem?

Stroke's Theorem is a mathematical theorem that relates the line integral of a vector field over a closed curve to the double integral of the curl of the vector field over the surface bounded by the curve.

What is the problem with solving Stroke's Theorem with a z surface?

The problem with solving Stroke's Theorem with a z surface is that the z surface is not a simple, closed surface, which is required for the theorem to be applied. This means that the theorem cannot be directly used and alternative methods must be used to solve the problem.

How can I solve Stroke's Theorem problem with a z surface?

There are a few approaches that can be taken to solve Stroke's Theorem problem with a z surface. One method is to use Green's Theorem, which relates a line integral to a double integral over a region in the xy-plane. Another method is to use the Divergence Theorem, which relates a triple integral over a region in 3D space to a surface integral over the boundary of the region.

What are some examples of real-world applications of Stroke's Theorem?

Stroke's Theorem has many applications in physics and engineering, such as in fluid dynamics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics. For example, it can be used to calculate the work done by a force field on an object moving along a closed path, or the flow of a fluid through a surface.

Are there any limitations to Stroke's Theorem?

While Stroke's Theorem is a powerful tool in mathematics, it does have some limitations. One limitation is that it can only be applied to vector fields that are continuously differentiable, meaning that they have no sudden changes or breaks. Additionally, it can only be used on closed surfaces, so it cannot be applied to problems involving open surfaces or surfaces with holes.

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