Line Integrals via Green's Theorem - Calculus 3
- Consider the line integral where is the boundary of the triangular region with vertices at , , and , oriented counterclockwise. Which of the following correctly represents the application of Green's Theorem to evaluate this integral? Answer: Green's Theorem states that . Here and . We compute: and . Therefore: . Choice B has the wrong sign for the constant term. Choice C incorrectly adds the partial derivatives instead of subtracting. Choice D uses instead of in the partial derivative calculation.
- Let and let be a simple closed curve oriented counterclockwise. If the area enclosed by is , what is in terms of ? Answer: Using Green's Theorem: . Here and . We compute: and . Therefore: . This means , regardless of the area . The vector field is conservative. Choice A would result if . Choice B would result if the curl were 1. Choice D would result if the curl were -1.
- A parametric curve encloses a region with area 12. If Green's Theorem is applied to evaluate , and the result is 36, what is the value of ? Answer: Using Green's Theorem: . Here and . We compute: and . Therefore: . The double integral becomes: . Since we're given that this equals 36: , which gives us . Choice B would result from . Choice C would result from . Choice D would result from .
- Consider the vector field . If is the square with vertices at and is the circle , both oriented counterclockwise, which statement about and is correct? Answer: Both integrals are zero because everywhere in both regions Let's check if the vector field is conservative by computing the curl. We have and . Computing the partial derivatives: and . Since , the curl is: . By Green's Theorem: for any simple closed curve . This means both and . Choice A is correct in conclusion but uses imprecise language ('conservative throughout the plane' vs. zero curl). Choice B is incorrect because the integrals are zero, not nonzero. Choice C misunderstands that line integrals of conservative fields are path-independent. Choice D correctly identifies the key condition and the resulting zero curl.
- A region is bounded by the curves , , and . Using Green's Theorem to evaluate (where is oriented counterclockwise), the double integral that must be computed is . What is , and what is the value of this double integral? Answer: and the integral equals Using Green's Theorem with and : and . Therefore: . The region is bounded by , , and , giving . The integral becomes: .
- Consider the line integral around the ellipse oriented counterclockwise. To apply Green's Theorem most efficiently, which approach should be used? Answer: Apply Green's Theorem since , then integrate over the elliptical region Let's check if the vector field is conservative by computing the partial derivatives. We have and . Computing: and . Since , the field is not conservative. The curl is: . Therefore, Green's Theorem gives . Choice A suggests avoiding Green's Theorem, which is inefficient. Choice C incorrectly claims the field is conservative. Choice D has the wrong expression for the curl.