Question

Problem 4: Let F = (2z + 2)k be the flow field. Answer the following to verify the divergence theorem: a) Use definition to find the upward flux (normal vector pointing upward in z direction) along the hemisphere given in Problem 1(b). b) Use definition to find the downward flux on the circle x 2 + y 2 ≤ 3 on the xy-plane. c) Using the results from parts (a) and (b), what is the net flux over the closed northern hemisphere? d) Use the divergence theorem to verify that this answer agrees. [Hint: dV = rho 2 sin ϕ drho dθ dϕ.]

Answer 1

Given that you mention the divergence theorem, and that part (b) is asking you to find the downward flux through the disk $x^2+y^2\le3$, I think it's same to assume that the hemisphere referred to in part (a) is the upper half of the sphere $x^2+y^2+z^2=3$.

a. Let $C$ denote the hemispherical cap $z=\sqrt{3-x^2-y^2}$, parameterized by

$\vec r(u,v)=\sqrt3\cos u\sin v\,\vec\imath+\sqrt3\sin u\sin v\,\vec\jmath+\sqrt3\cos v\,\vec k$

with $0\le u\le2\pi$ and $0\le v\le\frac\pi2$. Take the normal vector to $C$ to be

$\vec r_v\times\vec r_u=3\cos u\sin^2v\,\vec\imath+3\sin u\sin^2v\,\vec\jmath+3\sin v\cos v\,\vec k$

Then the upward flux of $\vec F=(2z+2)\,\vec k$ through $C$ is

$\displaystyle\iint_C\vec F\cdot\mathrm d\vec S=\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\pi/2}((2\sqrt3\cos v+2)\,\vec k)\cdot(\vec r_v\times\vec r_u)\,\mathrm dv\,\mathrm du$

$\displaystyle=3\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\pi/2}\sin2v(\sqrt3\cos v+1)\,\mathrm dv\,\mathrm du$

$=\boxed{2(3+2\sqrt3)\pi}$

b. Let $D$ be the disk that closes off the hemisphere $C$, parameterized by

$\vec s(u,v)=u\cos v\,\vec\imath+u\sin v\,\vec\jmath$

with $0\le u\le\sqrt3$ and $0\le v\le2\pi$. Take the normal to $D$ to be

$\vec s_v\times\vec s_u=-u\,\vec k$

Then the downward flux of $\vec F$ through $D$ is

$\displaystyle\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\sqrt3}(2\,\vec k)\cdot(\vec s_v\times\vec s_u)\,\mathrm du\,\mathrm dv=-2\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\sqrt3}u\,\mathrm du\,\mathrm dv$

$=\boxed{-6\pi}$

c. The net flux is then $\boxed{4\sqrt3\pi}$.

d. By the divergence theorem, the flux of $\vec F$ across the closed hemisphere $H$ with boundary $C\cup D$ is equal to the integral of $\mathrm{div}\vec F$ over its interior:

$\displaystyle\iint_{C\cup D}\vec F\cdot\mathrm d\vec S=\iiint_H\mathrm{div}\vec F\,\mathrm dV$

We have

$\mathrm{div}\vec F=\dfrac{\partial(2z+2)}{\partial z}=2$

so the volume integral is

$2\displaystyle\iiint_H\mathrm dV$

which is 2 times the volume of the hemisphere $H$, so that the net flux is $\boxed{4\sqrt3\pi}$. Just to confirm, we could compute the integral in spherical coordinates:

$\displaystyle2\int_0^{\pi/2}\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{\sqrt3}\rho^2\sin\varphi\,\mathrm d\rho\,\mathrm d\theta\,\mathrm d\varphi=4\sqrt3\pi$