Divergence Theorem & Flux - Calculus 3

  1. Let SS be the closed surface consisting of the hemisphere x2+y2+z2=4x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 4 with z≥0z \geq 0 together with its circular base in the xyxy-plane. Consider the vector field F=⟨x3+yz,y3−xz,z3+xy⟩\mathbf{F} = \langle x^3 + yz, y^3 - xz, z^3 + xy \rangle. If the flux through just the hemispherical portion of SS is 24π24\pi, what is the flux through the circular base?
    Answer: −8π-8\pi Using the Divergence Theorem, the total flux through the closed surface equals the triple integral of ∇⋅F\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} over the solid hemisphere. We have ∇⋅F=3x2+3y2+3z2=3(x2+y2+z2)\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} = 3x^2 + 3y^2 + 3z^2 = 3(x^2 + y^2 + z^2). The integral becomes ∭V3(x2+y2+z2) dV=3∭Vρ2 dV\iiint_V 3(x^2 + y^2 + z^2) \, dV = 3\iiint_V \rho^2 \, dV in spherical coordinates. This evaluates to 3⋅45⋅4π3⋅25=32π3 \cdot \frac{4}{5} \cdot \frac{4\pi}{3} \cdot 2^5 = 32\pi. Since total flux = flux through hemisphere + flux through base, we have 32π=24π+flux through base32\pi = 24\pi + \text{flux through base}, so the flux through the base is 8π8\pi. However, the outward normal to the base points downward (−k-\mathbf{k}), so the flux is −8π-8\pi.
  2. Let F=⟨f(x,y,z),g(x,y,z),h(x,y,z)⟩\mathbf{F} = \langle f(x,y,z), g(x,y,z), h(x,y,z) \rangle be a C2C^2 vector field defined in a region containing the solid ellipsoid x24+y29+z216≤1\frac{x^2}{4} + \frac{y^2}{9} + \frac{z^2}{16} \leq 1. If ∇⋅F=xyz\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} = xyz throughout this region, what is the flux of F\mathbf{F} through the ellipsoid surface (with outward orientation)?
    Answer: 00 By the Divergence Theorem, the flux equals ∭Vxyz dV\iiint_V xyz \, dV where VV is the solid ellipsoid. To evaluate this integral, we use the transformation u=x2u = \frac{x}{2}, v=y3v = \frac{y}{3}, w=z4w = \frac{z}{4}, which maps the ellipsoid to the unit ball u2+v2+w2≤1u^2 + v^2 + w^2 \leq 1. The Jacobian is ∂(x,y,z)∂(u,v,w)=2⋅3⋅4=24\frac{\partial(x,y,z)}{\partial(u,v,w)} = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 4 = 24, and xyz=(2u)(3v)(4w)=24uvwxyz = (2u)(3v)(4w) = 24uvw. The integral becomes: ∭Vxyz dV=∫∫∫24uvw⋅24 du dv dw=576∭u2+v2+w2≤1uvw du dv dw\iiint_V xyz \, dV = \int\int\int 24uvw \cdot 24 \, du \, dv \, dw = 576 \iiint_{u^2+v^2+w^2 \leq 1} uvw \, du \, dv \, dw. In the unit ball, by symmetry, ∭uvw du dv dw=0\iiint uvw \, du \, dv \, dw = 0 because the integrand is an odd function in each variable and the domain is symmetric about each coordinate plane. Therefore, the flux is 00. The other choices would result from errors like forgetting the symmetry argument, miscalculating the Jacobian, or confusing this with integration of ∣xyz∣|xyz|.
  3. A vector field G\mathbf{G} has the property that for any closed surface SS enclosing volume VV, the outward flux satisfies ∬SG⋅n dS=3⋅Volume(V)\iint_S \mathbf{G} \cdot \mathbf{n} \, dS = 3 \cdot \text{Volume}(V). Consider the region RR between two concentric spheres of radii r=1r = 1 and r=2r = 2. If the outward flux of G\mathbf{G} through the outer sphere is Φout\Phi_{\text{out}} and the flux through the inner sphere (with normal pointing toward the center) is Φin\Phi_{\text{in}}, what is Φout+Φin\Phi_{\text{out}} + \Phi_{\text{in}}?
    Answer: 28π28\pi From the given property, ∇⋅G=3\nabla \cdot \mathbf{G} = 3 throughout space (by the Divergence Theorem). The volume of the region RR between the spheres is 4π3(23−13)=4π3(8−1)=28π3\frac{4\pi}{3}(2^3 - 1^3) = \frac{4\pi}{3}(8 - 1) = \frac{28\pi}{3}. Applying the Divergence Theorem to region RR with the boundary consisting of the outer sphere (outward normal) and inner sphere (inward normal): ∬outerG⋅n dS+∬innerG⋅(−n) dS=∭R3 dV=3⋅28π3=28π\iint_{\text{outer}} \mathbf{G} \cdot \mathbf{n} \, dS + \iint_{\text{inner}} \mathbf{G} \cdot (-\mathbf{n}) \, dS = \iiint_R 3 \, dV = 3 \cdot \frac{28\pi}{3} = 28\pi. The flux through the inner sphere with inward normal is ∬innerG⋅(−n) dS=−∬innerG⋅n dS=−Φin\iint_{\text{inner}} \mathbf{G} \cdot (-\mathbf{n}) \, dS = -\iint_{\text{inner}} \mathbf{G} \cdot \mathbf{n} \, dS = -\Phi_{\text{in}} (since Φin\Phi_{\text{in}} is defined with normal pointing toward center, which is −n-\mathbf{n}). Therefore: Φout−Φin=28π\Phi_{\text{out}} - \Phi_{\text{in}} = 28\pi. But wait, we want Φout+Φin\Phi_{\text{out}} + \Phi_{\text{in}}. Let me reconsider the problem setup. If Φin\Phi_{\text{in}} is the flux through the inner sphere with normal pointing toward the center, then in the Divergence Theorem application, this contributes as +Φin+\Phi_{\text{in}}. So we have Φout+Φin=28π\Phi_{\text{out}} + \Phi_{\text{in}} = 28\pi.
  4. Let SS be the surface of the solid region bounded by z=x2+y2z = x^2 + y^2 and z=4z = 4, oriented with outward normal. If F\mathbf{F} is a vector field such that ∇⋅F=3\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} = 3 throughout the region, what additional information is needed to determine the flux of F\mathbf{F} through just the paraboloid portion z=x2+y2z = x^2 + y^2 (not including the disk at z=4z = 4)?
    Answer: The flux through the disk at z=4z = 4 is needed, since the flux through the paraboloid equals the total flux minus the flux through the disk When you encounter flux problems involving closed surfaces and the Divergence Theorem, think strategically about how to break down the surface into manageable pieces. The Divergence Theorem tells us that ∬SF⋅dS=∭V∇⋅F dV\iint_S \mathbf{F} \cdot d\mathbf{S} = \iiint_V \nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} \, dV for the entire closed surface SS. Since ∇⋅F=3\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} = 3 is constant, we can compute the total flux through the closed surface as 3×Volume3 \times \text{Volume}. The volume of the region between the paraboloid z=x2+y2z = x^2 + y^2 and the plane z=4z = 4 is 8π8\pi (found using cylindrical coordinates), so the total flux is 24π24\pi. However, the closed surface SS consists of two parts: the paraboloid portion and the disk at z=4z = 4. Since flux through the entire surface equals flux through the paraboloid plus flux through the disk, we need the flux through the disk to find the flux through just the paraboloid portion. Choice A is incorrect because knowing only the total flux still leaves us with two unknowns (paraboloid flux and disk flux). Choice B misses that while we can compute total flux, we can't directly compute flux through just part of the surface without knowing the vector field explicitly. Choice C incorrectly suggests we need both pieces of information when just the disk flux suffices (we can already calculate the volume and total flux). Study tip: In Divergence Theorem problems, remember that the theorem gives you the total flux through a closed surface. To find flux through one piece, you need information about the flux through all other pieces.
  5. Consider a closed surface SS enclosing volume VV, and let F=⟨P,Q,R⟩\mathbf{F} = \langle P, Q, R \rangle where PP, QQ, and RR are twice continuously differentiable. If ∬SF⋅n dS=0\iint_S \mathbf{F} \cdot \mathbf{n} \, dS = 0 and ∭V∣∇⋅F∣2 dV=5\iiint_V |\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F}|^2 \, dV = 5, what can be concluded about ∇⋅F\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} in the region VV?
    Answer: ∇⋅F\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} changes sign within VV such that its integral over VV is zero When you encounter problems involving surface integrals and divergence, think about the relationship between local and global properties of vector fields. The key insight here is connecting the Divergence Theorem with properties of integrals. By the Divergence Theorem, ∬SF⋅n dS=∭V∇⋅F dV\iint_S \mathbf{F} \cdot \mathbf{n} \, dS = \iiint_V \nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} \, dV. Since the surface integral equals zero, we know that ∭V∇⋅F dV=0\iiint_V \nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} \, dV = 0. This means the total "sources" and "sinks" within VV balance out perfectly. However, we're also given that ∭V∣∇⋅F∣2 dV=5>0\iiint_V |\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F}|^2 \, dV = 5 > 0. Since ∣∇⋅F∣2≥0|\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F}|^2 \geq 0 everywhere, this integral can only be positive if ∇⋅F≠0\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} \neq 0 somewhere in VV. The correct answer is C: ∇⋅F\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} changes sign within VV such that its integral is zero. Option A is wrong because if ∇⋅F=0\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} = 0 everywhere, then ∭V∣∇⋅F∣2 dV\iiint_V |\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F}|^2 \, dV would equal zero, not 5. Option B incorrectly assumes ∇⋅F\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} is constant—if it were constant and nonzero, the flux couldn't be zero. Option D is too weak; we know more than just that ∇⋅F=0\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} = 0 at some point—we know it must have both positive and negative values to satisfy both given conditions simultaneously. Remember: when flux is zero but the divergence is clearly nonzero somewhere, look for regions where positive and negative divergence cancel out globally.

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