15 Vector Analysis

15.6 Surface Integrals

Consider a smooth surface 𝒮 that represents a thin sheet of metal. How could we find the mass of this metallic object?

If the density of this object is constant, then we can find mass via “mass= density × surface area,” and we could compute the surface area using the techniques of the previous section.

What if the density were not constant, but variable, described by a function δ(x,y,z)? We can describe the mass using our general integration techniques as

mass=𝒮dm,

where dm represents “a little bit of mass.” That is, to find the total mass of the object, sum up lots of little masses over the surface.

How do we find the “little bit of mass” dm? On a small portion of the surface with surface area ΔS, the density is approximately constant, hence dmδ(x,y,z)ΔS. As we use limits to shrink the size of ΔS to 0, we see that dm=δ(x,y,z)dS; that is, a little bit of mass is equal to a density times a small amount of surface area. Thus the total mass of the thin sheet is

mass=𝒮δ(x,y,z)dS. (15.6.1)

To evaluate the above integral, we would seek r(u,v), a smooth parameterization of 𝒮 over a region R of the u-v plane. The density would become a function of u and v, and we would integrate Rδ(u,v)ru×rvdA.

The integral in Equation (15.6.1) is a specific example of a more general construction defined below.

Definition 15.6.1 Surface Integral

Let G(x,y,z) be a continuous function defined on a surface 𝒮. The surface integral of G on 𝒮 is

𝒮G(x,y,z)dS.

Surface integrals can be used to measure a variety of quantities beyond mass. If G(x,y,z) measures the static charge density at a point, then the surface integral will compute the total static charge of the sheet. If G measures the amount of fluid passing through a screen (represented by 𝒮) at a point, then the surface integral gives the total amount of fluid going through the screen.

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Figure 15.6.1: The surface whose mass is computed in Example 15.6.1. Λ
Example 15.6.1 Finding the mass of a thin sheet

Find the mass of a thin sheet modeled by the plane 2x+y+z=3 over the triangular region of the x-y plane bounded by the coordinate axes and the line y=2-2x, as shown in Figure 15.6.1, with density function δ(x,y,z)=x2+5y+z, where all distances are measured in cm and the density is given as gm/cm2.

SolutionWe begin by parameterizing the planar surface 𝒮. Using the techniques of the previous section, we can let x=u and y=v(2-2u), where 0u1 and 0v1. Solving for z in the equation of the plane, we have z=3-2x-y, hence z=3-2u-v(2-2u), giving the parameterization r(u,v)=u,v(2-2u),3-2u-v(2-2u).

We need dS=ru×rvdA, so we need to compute ru, rv and the norm of their cross product. We leave it to the reader to confirm the following:

ru=1,-2v,2v-2,rv=0,2-2u,2u-2,
ru×rv=4-4u,2-2u,2-2uandru×rv=26(u-1)2.

We need to be careful to not “simplify” ru×rv=26(u-1)2 as 26(u-1); rather, it is 26|u-1|. In this example, u is bounded by 0u1, and on this interval |u-1|=1-u. Thus dS=26(1-u)dA.

The density is given as a function of x, y and z, for which we’ll substitute the corresponding components of r (with the slight abuse of notation that we used in previous sections):

δ(x,y,z) =δ(r(u,v))
=u2+5v(2-2u)+3-2u-v(2-2u)
=u2-8uv-2u+8v+3.

Thus the mass of the sheet is:

M =𝒮dm
=Rδ(r(u,v))ru×rvdA
=0101(u2-8uv-2u+8v+3)(26(1-u))dudv
=31612.66 gm.

Flux

Let a surface 𝒮 lie within a vector field F. One is often interested in measuring the flux of F across 𝒮; that is, measuring “how much of the vector field passes across 𝒮.” For instance, if F represents the velocity field of moving air and 𝒮 represents the shape of an air filter, the flux will measure how much air is passing through the filter per unit time.

As flux measures the amount of F passing across 𝒮, we need to find the “amount of F orthogonal to 𝒮.” Similar to our measure of flux in the plane, this is equal to Fn, where n is a unit vector normal to 𝒮 at a point. We now consider how to find n.

Given a smooth parameterization r(u,v) of 𝒮, the work in the previous section showing the development of our method of computing surface area also shows that ru(u,v) and rv(u,v) are tangent to 𝒮 at r(u,v). Thus ru×rv is orthogonal to 𝒮, and we let

n=ru×rvru×rv,

which is a unit vector normal to 𝒮 at r(u,v).

The measurement of flux across a surface is a surface integral; that is, to measure total flux we sum the product of Fn times a small amount of surface area: FndS.

A nice thing happens with the actual computation of flux: the ru×rv terms go away. Consider:

Flux =𝒮FndS
=RFru×rvru×rvru×rvdA
=RF(ru×rv)dA.

The above only makes sense if 𝒮 is orientable; the normal vectors n must vary continuously across 𝒮. We assume that n does vary continuously. (If the parameterization r of 𝒮 is smooth, then our above definition of n will vary continuously.)

Definition 15.6.2 Flux over a surface

Let F be a vector field with continuous components defined on an orientable surface 𝒮 with normal vector n. The flux of F across 𝒮 is

Flux=𝒮FndS.

If 𝒮 is parameterized by r(u,v), which is smooth on its domain R, then

Flux=RF(r(u,v))(ru×rv)dA.

Since 𝒮 is orientable, we adopt the convention of saying one passes from the “back” side of 𝒮 to the “front” side when moving across the surface parallel to the direction of n. Also, when 𝒮 is closed, it is natural to speak of the regions of space “inside” and “outside” 𝒮. We also adopt the convention that when 𝒮 is a closed surface, n should point to the outside of 𝒮. If n=ru×rv points inside 𝒮, use n=rv×ru instead.

When the computation of flux is positive, it means that the field is moving from the back side of 𝒮 to the front side; when flux is negative, it means the field is moving opposite the direction of n, and is moving from the front of 𝒮 to the back. When 𝒮 is not closed, there is not a “right” and “wrong” direction in which n should point, but one should be mindful of its direction to make full sense of the flux computation.

We demonstrate the computation of flux, and its interpretation, in the following examples.

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Figure 15.6.2: The surface and vector field used in Example 15.6.2. Λ
Example 15.6.2 Finding flux across a surface

Let 𝒮 be the surface from Example 15.6.1, which we parameterize by r(u,v)=u,v(2-2u),3-2u-v(2-2u) on 0u1, 0v1, and let F=1,x,-y, as shown in Figure 15.6.2. Find the flux of F across 𝒮.

SolutionUsing our work from the previous example, we have n=ru×rv=4-4u,2-2u,2-2u. Also, F(r(u,v))=1,u,-v(2-2u).

Thus the flux of F across 𝒮 is:

Flux =𝒮FndS
=R1,u,-v(2-2u)4-4u,2-2u,2-2udA
=0101(-4u2v-2u2+8uv-2u-4v+4)dudv
=5/3.

To make full use of this numeric answer, we need to know the direction in which the field is passing across 𝒮. The graph in Figure 15.6.2 helps, but we need a method that is not dependent on a graph.

Pick a point (u,v) in the interior of R and consider n(u,v). For instance, choose (1/2,1/2) and look at n(1/2,1/2)=2,1,1/6. This vector has positive x, y and z components. Generally speaking, one has some idea of what the surface 𝒮 looks like, as that surface is for some reason important. In our case, we know 𝒮 is a plane with z-intercept of z=3. Knowing n and the flux measurement of positive 5/3, we know that the field must be passing from “behind” 𝒮, i.e., the side the origin is on, to the “front” of 𝒮.

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Figure 15.6.3: The surfaces used in Example 15.6.3. Λ
Example 15.6.3 Flux across surfaces with shared boundaries

Let 𝒮1 be the unit disk in the x-y plane, and let 𝒮2 be the paraboloid z=1-x2-y2, for z0, as graphed in Figure 15.6.3. Note how these two surfaces each have the unit circle as a boundary.

Let F1=0,0,1 and F2=0,0,z. Using normal vectors for each surface that point “upward,” i.e., with a positive z-component, find the flux of each field across each surface.

SolutionWe begin by parameterizing each surface.

The boundary of the unit disk in the x-y plane is the unit circle, which can be described with cosu,sinu,0, 0u2π. To obtain the interior of the circle as well, we can scale by v, giving

r1(u,v)=vcosu,vsinu,0,0u2π0v1.

As the boundary of 𝒮2 is also the unit circle, the x and y components of r2 will be the same as those of r1; we just need a different z component. With z=1-x2-y2, we have

r2(u,v)=vcosu,vsinu,1-v2cos2u-v2sin2u=vcosu,vsinu,1-v2,

where 0u2π and 0v1.

We now compute the normal vectors n1 and n2.

For n1: r1u=-vsinu,vcosu,0, r1v=cosu,sinu,0, so

n1=r1u×r1v=0,0,-v.

As this vector has a negative z-component, we instead use

n1=r1v×r1u=0,0,v.

Similarly, n2: r2u=-vsinu,vcosu,0, r2v=cosu,sinu,-2v, so

n2=r2u×r2v=-2v2cosu,-2v2sinu,-v.

Again, this normal vector has a negative z-component so we use

n2=r2v×r2u=2v2cosu,2v2sinu,v.

We are now set to compute flux. Over field F1=0,0,1:

Flux across 𝒮1 =𝒮1F1n1dS
=R0,0,10,0,vdA
=0102π(v)dudv
=π.
Flux across 𝒮2 =𝒮2F1n2dS
=R0,0,12v2cosu,2v2sinu,vdA
=0102π(v)dudv
=π.

These two results are equal and positive. Each are positive because both normal vectors are pointing in the positive z-directions, as does F1. As the field passes through each surface in the direction of their normal vectors, the flux is measured as positive.

We can also intuitively understand why the results are equal. Consider F1 to represent the flow of air, and let each surface represent a filter. Since F1 is constant, and moving “straight up,” it makes sense that all air passing through 𝒮1 also passes through 𝒮2, and vice-versa.

If we treated the surfaces as creating one piecewise-smooth surface 𝒮, we would find the total flux across 𝒮 by finding the flux across each piece, being sure that each normal vector pointed to the outside of the closed surface. Above, n1 does not point outside the surface, though n2 does. We would instead want to use -n1 in our computation. We would then find that the flux across 𝒮1 is -π, and hence the total flux across 𝒮 is -π+π=0. (As 0 is a special number, we should wonder if this answer has special significance. It does, which is briefly discussed following this example and will be more fully developed in the next section.)

We now compute the flux across each surface with F2=0,0,z:

Flux across 𝒮1 =𝒮1F2n1dS.
Over 𝒮1, F2=F2(r2(u,v))=0,0,0. Therefore,
=R0,0,00,0,vdA
=0102π(0)dudv
=0.
Flux across 𝒮2 =𝒮2F2n2dS.
Over 𝒮2, F2=F2(r2(u,v))=0,0,1-v2. Therefore,
=R0,0,1-v22v2cosu,2v2sinu,vdA
=0102π(v3-v)dudv
=π/2.

This time the measurements of flux differ. Over 𝒮1, the field F2 is just 0, hence there is no flux. Over 𝒮2, the flux is again positive as F2 points in the positive z direction over 𝒮2, as does n2.

In the previous example, the surfaces 𝒮1 and 𝒮2 form a closed surface that is piecewise smooth. That the measurement of flux across each surface was the same for some fields (and not for others) is reminiscent of a result from Section 15.4, where we measured flux across curves. The quick answer to why the flux was the same when considering F1 is that divF1=0. In the next section, we’ll see the second part of the Divergence Theorem which will more fully explain this occurrence. We will also explore Stokes’ Theorem, the spatial analogue to Green’s Theorem.

In this chapter, we’ve introduced four new types of integrals, which we gather in Key Idea 15.6.1.

Key Idea 15.6.1 Integrating Parameterized Curves and Surfaces

c:3

parameterizes a curve C

r:23

parameterizes a surface 𝒮

f:3

scalar line integral:

c(D)fds=Df(c(t))c(t)dt

scalar surface integral:

r(D)fdS=Df(r(u,v))ru×rvdA

F:33

vector line integral:

c(D)Fdr=DF(c(t))c(t)dt

vector surface integral:

r(D)FndS=DF(r(u,v))(ru×rv)dA

Exercises 15.6

 

Terms and Concepts

  1. 1.

    In the plane, flux is a measurement of how much of the vector field passes across a             ; in space, flux is a measurement of how much of the vector field passes across a             .

  2. 2.

    When computing flux, what does it mean when the result is a negative number?

  3. 3.

    When 𝒮 is a closed surface, we choose the normal vector so that it points to the              of the surface.

  4. 4.

    If 𝒮 is a plane, and F is always parallel to 𝒮, then the flux of F across 𝒮 will be             .

Problems

In Exercises 5–6., a surface 𝒮 that represents a thin sheet of material with density δ is given. Find the mass of each thin sheet.

  1. 5.

    𝒮 is the plane f(x,y)=x+y on -2x2, -3y3, with δ(x,y,z)=z+10.

  2. 6.

    𝒮 is the unit sphere, with δ(x,y,z)=x+y+z+10.

In Exercises 7–16., a surface 𝒮 and a vector field F are given. Compute the flux of F across 𝒮. (If 𝒮 is not a closed surface, choose n so that it has a positive z-component, unless otherwise indicated.)

  1. 7.

    𝒮 is the plane f(x,y)=3x+y on 0x1, 1y4; F=x2,-z,2y.

  2. 8.

    𝒮 is the plane f(x,y)=8-x-y over the triangle with vertices at (0,0), (1,0) and (1,5); F=3,1,2.

  3. 9.

    𝒮 is the paraboloid f(x,y)=x2+y2 over the unit disk; F=1,0,0.

  4. 10.

    𝒮 is the unit sphere; F=y-z,z-x,x-y.

  5. 11.

    𝒮 is the square in space with corners at (0,0,0), (1,0,0), (1,0,1) and (0,0,1) (choose n such that it has a positive y-component); F=0,-z,y.

  6. 12.

    𝒮 is the disk in the y-z plane with radius 1, centered at (0,1,1) (choose n such that it has a positive x-component); F=y,z,x.

  7. 13.

    𝒮 is the closed surface composed of 𝒮1, whose boundary is the ellipse in the x-y plane described by x225+y29=1 and 𝒮2, part of the elliptical paraboloid f(x,y)=1-x225-y29 (see graph); F=5,2,3.

  8. 14.

    𝒮 is the closed surface composed of 𝒮1, part of the unit sphere and 𝒮2, part of the plane z=1/2 (see graph); F=x,-y,z.

  9. 15.

    𝒮 is boundary of the solid cube S={(x,y,z):0x,y,z1}; F=x,y,z. Note that there will be a different outward unit normal vector to each of the six faces of the cube.

  10. 16.

    𝒮 is the part of the plane 6x+3y+2z=6 with x0, y0, and z0, with the outward unit normal n pointing in the positive z direction; F=x2ı+xyȷ+zk.

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