Checking the Orientation of an Integral on a Surface Bounded by a Sphere

In summary, the conversation involves calculating a double integral over a surface described by a spherical coordinate system, with the orientation of the surface being away from the origin. The conversation also includes a discussion about the use of spherical coordinates and the signs of the partial derivatives involved in the calculation.
  • #1
mathmari
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Hey! :eek:

I want to calculate $$\iint_{\Sigma}\left (ydy\land dz+zdz\land dx+zdx\land dy\right )$$ where $\Sigma$ is the surface that is described by $x^2+y^2+z^2=1$ and $y\geq 0$ and has such an orientation that the perpendicular vectors that implies have a direction away from the point $(0,0,0)$.

Do we use here spherical coordinates?
$$x=\cos\theta\sin\phi , \ y=\sin\theta\sin\phi, \ z=\cos \phi$$ Since $y\geq 0$ we get that $\theta, \phi\in [0,\pi]$, right?

We have that $$\iint_{\Sigma}(P dy\land dz+Q dz\land dx + Rdx\land dy)=\iint_D\left (P(x(\theta, \phi), y(\theta, \phi), z(\theta, \phi))\frac{\partial{(y,z)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}+Q(x(\theta, \phi), y(\theta, \phi), z(\theta, \phi))\frac{\partial{(z,x)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}+R(x(\theta, \phi), y(\theta, \phi), z(\theta, \phi))\frac{\partial{(x,y)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}\right )d\theta d\phi$$

where $$\frac{\partial{(y,z)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}=-\cos\theta\sin^2\phi, \ \frac{\partial{(z,x)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}=-\sin\theta\sin^2\phi, \ \frac{\partial{(x,y)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}=-\sin\phi\cos\phi$$

Therefore, we get \begin{align*}\iint_{\Sigma}\left (ydy\land dz+zdz\land dx+zdx\land dy\right )&=\iint_D\left (-\sin\theta\sin\phi\cos\theta\sin^2\phi-\cos \phi\sin\theta\sin^2\phi-\cos \phi\sin\phi\cos\phi\right )d\theta d\phi \\ & =\iint_D\left (-\sin\theta\sin\phi\cos\theta\sin^2\phi-\cos \phi\sin\theta\sin^2\phi-\sin\phi\cos^2\phi\right )d\theta d\phi\end{align*}

Is everything correct so far? How do we use the given information about the orientation? (Wondering)
 
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  • #2
Re: Integral - Oriantation

Just a suggestion, you can always check using a gradient vector field to see what happens at that point. Check for the normal vector. What signs and which direction do they point?

mathmari said:
Hey! :eek:

I want to calculate $$\iint_{\Sigma}\left (ydy\land dz+zdz\land dx+zdx\land dy\right )$$ where $\Sigma$ is the surface that is described by $x^2+y^2+z^2=1$ and $y\geq 0$ and has such an orientation that the perpendicular vectors that implies have a direction away from the point $(0,0,0)$.

Do we use here spherical coordinates?
$$x=\cos\theta\sin\phi , \ y=\sin\theta\sin\phi, \ z=\cos \phi$$ Since $y\geq 0$ we get that $\theta, \phi\in [0,\pi]$, right?

We have that $$\iint_{\Sigma}(P dy\land dz+Q dz\land dx + Rdx\land dy)=\iint_D\left (P(x(\theta, \phi), y(\theta, \phi), z(\theta, \phi))\frac{\partial{(y,z)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}+Q(x(\theta, \phi), y(\theta, \phi), z(\theta, \phi))\frac{\partial{(z,x)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}+R(x(\theta, \phi), y(\theta, \phi), z(\theta, \phi))\frac{\partial{(x,y)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}\right )d\theta d\phi$$

where $$\frac{\partial{(y,z)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}=-\cos\theta\sin^2\phi, \ \frac{\partial{(z,x)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}=-\sin\theta\sin^2\phi, \ \frac{\partial{(x,y)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}=-\sin\phi\cos\phi$$

Therefore, we get \begin{align*}\iint_{\Sigma}\left (ydy\land dz+zdz\land dx+zdx\land dy\right )&=\iint_D\left (-\sin\theta\sin\phi\cos\theta\sin^2\phi-\cos \phi\sin\theta\sin^2\phi-\cos \phi\sin\phi\cos\phi\right )d\theta d\phi \\ & =\iint_D\left (-\sin\theta\sin\phi\cos\theta\sin^2\phi-\cos \phi\sin\theta\sin^2\phi-\sin\phi\cos^2\phi\right )d\theta d\phi\end{align*}

Is everything correct so far? How do we use the given information about the orientation? (Wondering)
 
  • #3
mathmari said:
$$\frac{\partial{(z,x)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}=-\sin\theta\sin^2\phi$$

Shouldn't that be $\frac{\partial{(z,x)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}=+\sin\theta\sin^2\phi$? (Wondering)

mathmari said:
How do we use the given information about the orientation? (Wondering)

We have the coordinates $(\theta,\phi)$, with $\theta$ first.
The normal vector at some point $\mathbf r$ on the sphere is $\pd {\mathbf r}\theta \times \pd {\mathbf r}\phi$.
Is it away from the origin? (Wondering)
 
  • #4
I like Serena said:
Shouldn't that be $\frac{\partial{(z,x)}}{\partial{(\theta, \phi)}}=+\sin\theta\sin^2\phi$? (Wondering)

We have the following: \begin{align*}\frac{\partial{(z,x)}}{\partial{(\theta,\phi)}}&=\begin{vmatrix}
\frac{\partial z}{\partial \theta} & \frac{\partial z}{\partial \phi}\\
\frac{\partial x}{\partial \theta} & \frac{\partial x}{\partial \phi}
\end{vmatrix} =\begin{vmatrix}
0 & -\sin \phi \\
-\sin\theta\sin\phi & \cos\theta\cos\phi
\end{vmatrix} \\ & =0\cdot \cos\theta\cos\phi-(-\sin \phi)\cdot (-\sin\theta\sin\phi) \\ & =-\sin \phi\cdot \sin\theta\sin\phi \\ & =-\sin\theta\sin\phi^2\end{align*}
or not? (Wondering)
I like Serena said:
We have the coordinates $(\theta,\phi)$, with $\theta$ first.
The normal vector at some point $\mathbf r$ on the sphere is $\pd {\mathbf r}\theta \times \pd {\mathbf r}\phi$.
Is it away from the origin? (Wondering)

Do you mean that $\mathbf r=(\cos\theta\sin\phi, \sin\theta\sin\phi, \cos\phi )$ ?

Do we check this with the sign of $\pd {\mathbf r}\theta \times \pd {\mathbf r}\phi$?

We have that $\pd {\mathbf r}\theta \times \pd {\mathbf r}\phi=\sin\phi (x,y,z)$, which has the same sign as $(x,y,z)$, since $\sin\phi>0$ for $\phi\in[0,\pi]$, right?

(Wondering)
 
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  • #5
mathmari said:
We have the following: \begin{align*}\frac{\partial{(z,x)}}{\partial{(\theta,\phi)}}&=\begin{vmatrix}
\frac{\partial z}{\partial \theta} & \frac{\partial z}{\partial \phi}\\
\frac{\partial x}{\partial \theta} & \frac{\partial x}{\partial \phi}
\end{vmatrix} =\begin{vmatrix}
0 & -\sin \phi \\
-\sin\theta\sin\phi & \cos\theta\cos\phi
\end{vmatrix} \\ & =0\cdot \cos\theta\cos\phi-(-\sin \phi)\cdot (-\sin\theta\sin\phi) \\ & =-\sin \phi\cdot \sin\theta\sin\phi \\ & =-\sin\theta\sin\phi^2\end{align*}
or not? (Wondering)

Oh yes. (Blush)

mathmari said:
Do you mean that $\mathbf r=(\cos\theta\sin\phi, \sin\theta\sin\phi, \cos\phi )$ ?

Do we check this with the sign of $\pd {\mathbf r}\theta \times \pd {\mathbf r}\phi$?

We have that $\pd {\mathbf r}\theta \times \pd {\mathbf r}\phi=\sin\phi (x,y,z)$, which has the same sign as $(x,y,z)$, since $\sin\phi>0$ for $\phi\in[0,\pi]$, right? (Wondering)

Yep. (Nod)
 
  • #6
I like Serena said:
Yep. (Nod)

Since $\pd {\mathbf r}\theta \times \pd {\mathbf r}\phi=\sin\phi (x,y,z)$ has the same sign as $(x,y,z)$, since $\sin\phi>0$ for $\phi\in[0,\pi]$, this means that we have an orientation such that the perpendicular vectors that implies have a direction away from the point $(0,0,0)$,right?

Therefore, we get the following:
\begin{align*}\iint_{\Sigma}\left (ydy\land dz+zdz\land dx+zdx\land dy\right ) & =\iint_D\left (-\sin\phi\cos\theta\sin^3\phi-\cos \phi\sin\theta\sin^2\phi-\sin\phi\cos^2\phi\right )d\theta d\phi \\ & = \int_0^{\pi}\int_0^{\pi}\left (-\sin\phi\cos\theta\sin^3\phi-\cos \phi\sin\theta\sin^2\phi-\sin\phi\cos^2\phi\right )d\theta d\phi\end{align*}
At an other exercise we have:
$\Sigma$ is the surface that is described by $\frac{x^2}{4}+\frac{y^2}{9}=1$ and $0\leq z\leq 1$ and has such an orientation that the perpendicular vectors that implies have a direction away from the $z$-axis.

Using cylindrical coordinates we have $\Sigma (\theta , z)=(2\cos\theta , \ 3\sin\theta, \ z)$ and so $\Sigma_{\theta}\times\Sigma_z=(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)$.
What should hold here so that we have an orientation so that the perpendicular vectors that implies have a direction away from the $z$-axis?
 
  • #7
The perpendicular vector needs to be in the same general direction as the vector to the point, or rather, it needs to be in the same half space.
We can check by taking their dot product, which must be positive then. (Thinking)
 
  • #8
mathmari said:
At an other exercise we have:
$\Sigma$ is the surface that is described by $\frac{x^2}{4}+\frac{y^2}{9}=1$ and $0\leq z\leq 1$ and has such an orientation that the perpendicular vectors that implies have a direction away from the $z$-axis.
Using cylindrical coordinates we have $\Sigma (\theta , z)=(2\cos\theta , \ 3\sin\theta, \ z)$ and so $\Sigma_{\theta}\times\Sigma_z=(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)$.
What should hold here so that we have an orientation so that the perpendicular vectors that implies have a direction away from the $z$-axis?
I like Serena said:
The perpendicular vector needs to be in the same general direction as the vector to the point, or rather, it needs to be in the same half space.
We can check by taking their dot product, which must be positive then. (Thinking)
So, we have to take the interval for $\theta$ in such a way so that $\Sigma_{\theta}\times\Sigma_z=(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)>0$ ? So, we take $\theta\in\left [0, \frac{\pi}{2}\right ]$, or not? (Wondering)
 
  • #9
mathmari said:
So, we have to take the interval for $\theta$ in such a way so that $\Sigma_{\theta}\times\Sigma_z=(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)>0$ ? So, we take $\theta\in\left [0, \frac{\pi}{2}\right ]$, or not? (Wondering)

We should take $\theta$ such that $(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)\cdot (\cos\theta,\sin\theta,z)>0$. (Thinking)
 
  • #10
I like Serena said:
We should take $\theta$ such that $(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)\cdot (\cos\theta,\sin\theta,z)>0$. (Thinking)

Do you maybe mean $(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)\cdot (2\cos\theta,3\sin\theta,z)>0$ ?

If yes, we have the following:
$$(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)\cdot (2\cos\theta,3\sin\theta,z)>0 \Rightarrow 6\cos^2\theta+3\sin^2\theta>0 \Rightarrow 6>0$$ Which holds for every vlue of $\theta$, so $\theta\in [0, 2\pi]$, right? (Wondering)
 
  • #11
Nope. I meant the dot product of the perpendicular vector with the vector to the point (x, y, z) where we have the perpendicular vector.
 
  • #12
I like Serena said:
Nope. I meant the dot product of the perpendicular vector with the vector to the point (x, y, z) where we have the perpendicular vector.

Although we have defined $x=2\cos\theta, \ y=3\sin\theta, \ z=z$ ?

We have the following:
$$(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)\cdot (\cos\theta,\sin\theta,z)>0\Rightarrow 3\cos^2\theta+2\sin^2\theta>0\Rightarrow \cos^2\theta+2>0$$ This holds for every $\theta\in [0, 2\pi]$, right?
 
  • #13
mathmari said:
Although we have defined $x=2\cos\theta, \ y=3\sin\theta, \ z=z$ ?
Didn't we have $\Sigma_\theta\times \Sigma_z=(2\cos\theta, 3\sin\theta, z)$ instead? (Wondering)

The idea is that we calculate $(\Sigma_\theta\times \Sigma_z)\cdot \mathbf r$, where $\mathbf r$ is the vector to the point where we calculate the perpendicular vector $\Sigma_\theta\times \Sigma_z$.

mathmari said:
We have the following:
$$(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)\cdot (\cos\theta,\sin\theta,z)>0\Rightarrow 3\cos^2\theta+2\sin^2\theta>0\Rightarrow \cos^2\theta+2>0$$ This holds for every $\theta\in [0, 2\pi]$, right?

Yep. (Nod)
 
  • #14
I like Serena said:
Didn't we have $\Sigma_\theta\times \Sigma_z=(2\cos\theta, 3\sin\theta, z)$ instead? (Wondering)

We have the following:

mathmari said:
$\Sigma$ is the surface that is described by $\frac{x^2}{4}+\frac{y^2}{9}=1$ and $0\leq z\leq 1$ and has such an orientation that the perpendicular vectors that implies have a direction away from the $z$-axis.

Using cylindrical coordinates we have $\Sigma (\theta , z)=(2\cos\theta , \ 3\sin\theta, \ z)$ and so $\Sigma_{\theta}\times\Sigma_z=(3\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta, 0)$.
 
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  • #15
mathmari said:
We have the following:

Oh yes. You were right all along. :eek:
 
  • #16
I like Serena said:
Oh yes. You were right all along. :eek:

Great!

So, always the dot product must be positive, or not? To check if I understood it well:
We consider $\Sigma$ to be the boundary of the bounded space $D$ that is defined by $0\leq z\leq 1-x^2-y^2$ and has such an orientation that the perpendicular vectors have direction to the outside of the space $D$.

We use here cylindrical coordinates, or not?
So, $\Sigma (\theta , z)=(R\cos\theta , \ R\sin\theta, \ z)$. Then we have that $0\leq z\leq 1-R^2$.
The perpendicular vector is $\Sigma_{\theta}\times\Sigma_z=(R\cos\theta, \ R\sin\theta, \ 0)$. Then the dot product is equal to $$(\Sigma_{\theta}\times\Sigma_z)\cdot \Sigma=(R\cos\theta, \ R\sin\theta, \ 0)\cdot (R\cos\theta , \ R\sin\theta, \ z)=R^2>0, \ \forall \theta\in [0,2\pi]$$ So, $\theta\in [0,2\pi]$.

Is everything correct? (Wondering)
 
  • #17
mathmari said:
So, always the dot product must be positive, or not?

That depends on what we want to check.
We are currently assuming a convex region around the origin respectively the z-axis.
This is the case for a sphere around the origin respectively for an elliptic cylinder around the z-axis.
In such cases the dot product must be positive everywhere on the surface.
Moreover, we should not limit the range of e.g. $\theta$ because of it. Instead we should verify that it is satisfied for every $\theta$. (Nerd)

If these assumptions are not satisfied (not convex or not around the origin or an axis), we need a different way to check. (Worried)

mathmari said:
To check if I understood it well:
We consider $\Sigma$ to be the boundary of the bounded space $D$ that is defined by $0\leq z\leq 1-x^2-y^2$ and has such an orientation that the perpendicular vectors have direction to the outside of the space $D$.

We use here cylindrical coordinates, or not?

I would recommend spherical since z is bounded by a sphere.

mathmari said:
So, $\Sigma (\theta , z)=(R\cos\theta , \ R\sin\theta, \ z)$. Then we have that $0\leq z\leq 1-R^2$.
The perpendicular vector is $\Sigma_{\theta}\times\Sigma_z=(R\cos\theta, \ R\sin\theta, \ 0)$. Then the dot product is equal to $$(\Sigma_{\theta}\times\Sigma_z)\cdot \Sigma=(R\cos\theta, \ R\sin\theta, \ 0)\cdot (R\cos\theta , \ R\sin\theta, \ z)=R^2>0, \ \forall \theta\in [0,2\pi]$$ So, $\theta\in [0,2\pi]$.

Is everything correct? (Wondering)

Shouldn't that be $D=\{(R\cos\theta , \ R\sin\theta, \ z) : 0\le R\le 1, 0\leq z\leq 1-R^2\}$ and $\Sigma (\theta , z)=(\sqrt{1-z^2}\cos\theta , \ \sqrt{1-z^2}\sin\theta, \ z)$? (Wondering)

Then we'll get a different perpendicular vector and dot product.
 

FAQ: Checking the Orientation of an Integral on a Surface Bounded by a Sphere

What is an integral?

An integral is a mathematical concept that represents the area under a curve in a graph. It is used to find the total value of a function over a certain interval.

What is the purpose of finding an integral?

The purpose of finding an integral is to calculate the total value of a function over a specific interval. This can be useful in many applications, such as finding the distance traveled by an object or the total amount of a substance produced in a chemical reaction.

What is the difference between definite and indefinite integrals?

A definite integral has specific limits of integration, meaning that it calculates the area under a curve between two specific points. An indefinite integral does not have limits of integration and instead gives a general solution to an integration problem.

What is the relationship between integrals and derivatives?

Integrals and derivatives are inverse operations of each other. This means that the integral of a function is the inverse of its derivative, and vice versa. The derivative of a function gives its rate of change, while the integral of a function gives its accumulated value.

How is the concept of "orientation" related to integrals?

In the context of integrals, orientation refers to the direction in which the area under a curve is calculated. This can be positive or negative, depending on the direction of the curve. Orientation is important in integrals because it affects the final value of the integral.

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