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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

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