Problems set 7 (Line Integrals)

Definition 0.1 (Line integral). Let F : Rn → Rn be a continuous vector field, and let
α : [a, b] → Rn be a piecewise smooth path. Then the line integral of F along α is
defined as:
Z Z b
F · dα = F(α(t)) · α0 (t) dt
a
Here:

• α(t) is the parameterization of the curve,

• α0 (t) is its derivative (tangent vector),

• F(α(t)) · α0 (t) is the dot product of the vector field with the tangent vector.

This integral represents the total work done by the vector field F along the path α.

Definition 0.2. A vector field F is said to be conservative if there exists a function φ

such that
F = ∇φ. (0.1)
In this case, φ is called a potential for F. Note that if φ is a potential for F and C ∈ R,
then φ + C is also a potential for F.

1. Show that the gravitational vector field

Mm
F(r) = −G r.
|r|3

is a conversative vector field. Here r = (x, y, z).

2. A radial or “central” force field F in the plane can be written in the form

F(x, y) = f (r)r,

where p
r = xi + yj and r = krk = x2 + y 2 .
Show that such a force field is conservative.

3. Compute the value of the given line integral:

Z
(x2 − 2xy) dx + (y 2 − 2xy) dy,
C

where C is the path from (−2, 4) to (1, 1) along the parabola y = x2 .

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4. Compute the line integral:
I
−(x + y) dx − (x − y) dy,
C

where C is the circle x2 + y 2 = r2 , traversed once in a counterclockwise direction.

5. Compute the line integral: I

dx + dy
,
C |x| + |y|
where C is the square with vertices (1, 0), (0, 1), (−1, 0), and (0, −1), traversed once
in a counterclockwise direction.

6. A two-dimensional force field f is given by the equation

f (x, y) = cxy i + x2 y j,

where c is a positive constant. This force acts on a particle which must move from
(0, 0) to the line x = 1 along a curve of the form

y = axb , where a > 0 and b > 0.

7. Find the work done by the force

F(x, y) = (3y 2 + 2) i + (16x) j

in moving a particle from (−1, 0) to (1, 0) along the upper half of the ellipse

b2 x 2 + y 2 = b2 .

Which ellipse (i.e., which value of b) makes the work a minimum?

8. Calculate the line integral with respect to arc length:

Z
y 2 ds,
C

where the curve C is given by the vector equation

r(t) = (t − sin t) i + (1 − cos t) j, 0 < t < 2π.

9. Consider a uniform semicircular wire of radius a and total mass M .

(a) Show that the centroid lies on the axis of symmetry at a distance
2a
π
from the center of the circle.

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 (b) Show that the moment of inertia about the diameter (i.e., the straight edge
through the endpoints of the wire) is
 
2 4
I = Ma 1 − 2 .
π

10. A wire has the shape of the circle

x 2 + y 2 = a2 ,

and the density at the point (x, y) is given by

ρ(x, y) = |x| + |y|.

(a) Determine the mass of the wire.

(b) Determine the moment of inertia of the wire about a diameter (e.g., the
x-axis).

11. Determine which of the following open sets S ⊂ R2 are connected. For each con-
nected set, choose two arbitrary distinct points in S and explain how you would
find a piecewise smooth curve in S connecting the two points.

(a) S = {(x, y) ∈ R2 | x2 + y 2 < 1}

(b) S = {(x, y) ∈ R2 | x2 + y 2 > 0}
(c) S = {(x, y) ∈ R2 | 1 < x2 + y 2 < 2}
(d) S = {(x, y) ∈ R2 | x2 + y 2 > 1} ∩ {(x, y) : (x − 3)2 + y 2 > 1}
(e) S = {(x, y) ∈ R2 | x2 + y 2 < 1} ∪ {(x, y) : (x − 3)2 + y 2 < 1}

12. Given a three-dimensional vector field

F(x, y, z) = P (x, y, z) i + Q(x, y, z) j + R(x, y, z) k,

where the partial derivatives

∂P ∂P ∂Q ∂Q ∂R ∂R
, , , , ,
∂y ∂z ∂x ∂z ∂x ∂y
are continuous on an open set S ⊂ R3 .
If F is the gradient of some scalar potential function φ, that is,

F = ∇φ,

prove that
∇×F=0
at each point of S.

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13. For each of the following vector fields prove that f is not a gradient. Then find a
closed path C such that I
f · dr 6= 0.
C

(a) f (x, y, z) = y i + x j + x k.
(b) f (x, y, z) = xy i + (x2 + 1) j + z 2 k.

14. In each case, determine whether or not f is the gradient of a scalar field. When f is
a gradient, find a corresponding potential function φ.

(a) Consider the vector field

f (x, y) = 2xey + y i + x2 ey + x − 2y j.

(b) Consider the vector field

f (x, y, z) = (x + z) i − (y + z) j + (x − y) k.

(c) Consider the vector field

f (x, y, z) = 4xy − 3x2 z 2 + 1 i + 2(x2 + 1)j − 2x3 + 3z 2 k.

15. If both ϕ and ψ are potential functions for a continuous vector field f on an open
connected set S ⊂ Rn , prove that
ϕ−ψ
is constant on S.