09/06/05
Example The Surface Integral.doc
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Example: The Surface
Integral
Consider the vector field:
A ( r ) = x ax
Say we wish to evaluate the surface integral:
S A (rs ) ds
where S is a cylinder whose axis is aligned with the z-axis and is
centered at the origin. This cylinder has a radius of 1 unit, and
extends 1 unit below the x-y plane and one unit above the x-y
plane. In other words, the cylinder has a height of 2 units.
z
1
1
y
1
x
Jim Stiles
The Univ. of Kansas
Dept. of EECS
09/06/05
Example The Surface Integral.doc
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This is a complex, closed surface. We will define the top of the
cylinder as surface S1, the side as S2, and the bottom as S3.
The surface integral will therefore be evaluated as:
S A (r ) ds = S A (r ) ds + S A (r ) ds + S A (r ) ds
s
Step 1: Determine ds for the surface S.
Lets define ds as pointing in the direction outward from the
closed surface.
S1 is a flat plane parallel to the x-y plane, defined as:
0 1
0 2
z =1
and whose outward pointing ds is:
ds1 = dsz = az p dp d
S2 is a circular cylinder centered on the z- axis, defined as:
=1
0 2
1 z 1
and whose outward pointing ds is:
ds2 = ds = a p dz d
Jim Stiles
The Univ. of Kansas
Dept. of EECS
09/06/05
Example The Surface Integral.doc
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S3 is a flat plane parallel to the x-y plane, defined as:
0 1
0 2
z = 1
and whose outward pointing ds is:
ds3 = dsz = az p dp d
Step 2: Evaluate the dot product A ( rs ) ds .
A ( rs ) ds1 = x ax az d d
= x (0) d d
=0
A ( rs ) ds2 = x ax ap dz d
= x ( cos ) dz d
A ( rs ) ds3 = x ax az d d
= x (0) d d
=0
Look! Vector field A ( r ) is tangential to surface S1 and S3 for all
points on surface S1 and S3 ! Therefore:
S A (rs ) ds = S A (rs ) ds + S A (rs ) ds + S A (rs ) ds
1
= 0 + A ( rs ) ds2 + 0
S2
= A ( rs ) ds2
S2
Jim Stiles
The Univ. of Kansas
Dept. of EECS
09/06/05
Example The Surface Integral.doc
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Step 3: Write the resulting scalar field using the same
coordinate system as ds .
The differential vector ds is expressed in cylindrical
coordinates, therefore we must write the scalar integrand using
cylindrical coordinates.
We know that:
x = cos
Therefore:
A ( rs ) ds2 = x ( cos ) dz d
= cos ( cos ) dz d
= 2cos2 dz d
Step 4: Evaluate the scalar field using the coordinate equality
that described surface S.
Every point on S2 has the coordinate value = 1. Therefore:
A ( rs ) ds2 = 2cos2 dz d
= 12 cos2 dz d
= cos2 dz d
Step 5: Determine the limits of integration from the
inequalities that describe surface S.
For S2 we know that
Jim Stiles
0 2
1 z 1.
The Univ. of Kansas
Dept. of EECS
09/06/05
Example The Surface Integral.doc
Therefore:
S A (rs ) ds = S A (rs ) ds
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2 1
cos dz d
2
0 1
Step 6: Integrate the remaining function of two coordinate
variables.
Using all the results determined above, the surface integral
becomes:
2 1
S A (rs ) ds = cos dz d
2
0 1
cos d dz
2
= ( 0 ) (1 (1) )
= 2
Jim Stiles
The Univ. of Kansas
Dept. of EECS