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Electric Field Flux and Theorems Assignment

The document outlines Assignment V for MATH 209, due on December 5, 2025, consisting of three problems related to electric fields, circulation, and theorems in vector calculus. Problem 1 involves calculating the flux of an electric field through a sphere and using the divergence theorem, while Problem 2 focuses on the circulation of a vector field using direct integration and Stokes' theorem. Problem 3 requires proving properties related to Stokes' and divergence theorems for scalar functions and vector fields across oriented surfaces.

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3 views3 pages

Electric Field Flux and Theorems Assignment

The document outlines Assignment V for MATH 209, due on December 5, 2025, consisting of three problems related to electric fields, circulation, and theorems in vector calculus. Problem 1 involves calculating the flux of an electric field through a sphere and using the divergence theorem, while Problem 2 focuses on the circulation of a vector field using direct integration and Stokes' theorem. Problem 3 requires proving properties related to Stokes' and divergence theorems for scalar functions and vector fields across oriented surfaces.

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Võ hữu khuê Chào
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© All Rights Reserved
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MATH 209 — Assignment V

Due: December 5, 2025

Problem 1 (Flux of an Electric Field and the Divergence Theorem). This problem explores
the relationship between flux, a fundamental concept in engineering, and the divergence of a
vector field. As discussed in our lectures, the electric field E generated by a point charge
q located at (x0 , y0 , z0 ) plays a crucial role in many engineering applications. At any point
(x, y, z) ̸= (x0 , y0 , z0 ), the electric field is given by

q x − x 0 y − y0 z − z 0
  q
E(x, y, z) = , , , |r| = (x − x0 )2 + (y − y0 )2 + (z − z0 )2 .
4πε0 |r|3 |r|3 |r|3

For this problem, assume the point charge q is located at the origin.

(a) Show that the total flux of E through the sphere

x2 + y 2 + z 2 = a2 , a > 0,

is
q
Φ= .
ε0
Thus the flux is independent of the radius a.
Hint. At a point (x, y, z) on the sphere, the outward unit normal vector is

1
b=
n ⟨x, y, z⟩.
a

(b) Let S be an arbitrary closed smooth surface that encloses the origin. Determine the total
flux of E through S. Justify your answer using the divergence of E and the divergence
theorem.

1
Problem 2 (Circulation and Stokes’ Theorem). This problem focuses on understanding the
circulation of a vector field around a space curve using both a direct line integral and Stokes’
theorem.
Let the vector field F be given by

F(x, y, z) = ⟨−y, x, z⟩.

Let C be the closed space curve formed by the intersection of the two cylinders

x2 + z 2 = 2,
 y ∈ (−∞, ∞),
x2 + y 2 = 1,

z ∈ (−∞, ∞),

with the additional condition z > 0. The curve C is oriented in the standard (counterclockwise)
direction as viewed from the positive z–axis.
Compute the circulation of F along C, that is,
I
F · dr,
C

in two ways:

(a) By direct calculation of the line integral;

(b) By applying Stokes’ theorem.

Hint. Begin by constructing a suitable parametrization of the curve C.

2
Problem 3 (Stokes’ and Divergence Theorems). (a) Let C be a positively oriented closed
curve in R3 , and let f (x, y, z) be a smooth scalar function. Prove that for any integer
n ≥ 0, I
(1 + f n ) ∇f · dr = 0.
C

(b) Suppose S1 and S2 are two smooth oriented surfaces that share the same positively oriented
boundary curve C. Let F be a smooth vector field. Without using Stokes’ theorem, show
that ZZ ZZ
(∇ × F) · n
b dS = (∇ × F) · n
b dS,
S1 S2

b denotes the unit normal vector consistent with the orientation of C.


where n

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