MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Department of Physics

Problem Solving 1: Line Integrals and Surface Integrals

A. Line Integrals

The line integral of a scalar function f ( x, y, z) along a path C is defined as

∫
C
f ( x, y, z ) ds = lim
N →∞
∑ f ( x , y , z )∆s
i i i i
∆si →0 i=1

where C has been subdivided into N segments, each with a length ∆si . To evaluate the line
integral, it is convenient to parameterize C in terms of the arc length parameter s. With x = x( s ) ,
y = y ( s) and z = z ( s) , the above line integral can be rewritten as an ordinary definite integral:

s2
∫ C
f (x, y, z ) ds = ∫ f [ x( s ), y ( s), z ( s)] ds
s1

Example 1:

As an example, let us consider the following integral

in two dimensions:

I = ∫ (x + y ) ds
C

where C is a straight line from the origin to (1,1) , as

shown in the figure. Let s be the arc length measured
from the origin. We then have

s
x = s cos θ =
2
s
y = s sin θ =
2

The endpoint (1,1) corresponds to s = 2 . Thus, the line integral becomes

2⎛ s s ⎞ 2 s2 2
I =∫ ⎜ + ⎟ ds = 2 ∫0 s ds = 2 ⋅ = 2
0
⎝ 2 2⎠ 2 0

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PROBLEM 1: (Answer on the tear-sheet at the end!)

In this problem, we would like to integrate the same

function x + y as in Example 1, but along a different
curve C ′ = C1 + C2 , as shown in the figure. The integral
can be divided into two parts:

I ′ = ∫ (x + y ) ds = ∫ (x + y ) ds + ∫ (x + y ) ds
C′ C1 C2

(a) Evaluate I1 = ∫ (x + y ) ds .
C1

(b) Evaluate I 2 = ∫ (x + y ) ds .
C2

(c) Now add up I1 and I 2 to obtain I ′ . Is the value of I ′ equal to I = 2 in Example 1 above?
What can you conclude about the value of a line integral? That is, is the integral independent of
the path you take to get from the beginning point to the end point?

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B. Line Integrals involving Vector Functions
For a vector function
G
F = Fx î + Fy ĵ + Fz k̂

the line integral along a path C is given by

G G
∫
C C
( )( )
F ⋅ d s = ∫ Fx î + Fy ˆj + Fz kˆ ⋅ dx ˆi + dy ˆj + dz kˆ = ∫ Fx dx + Fy dy + Fz dz
C

where
G
d s = dx î + dy ĵ + dz k̂
G
is the differential line element along C. If F represents a
force vector, then this line integral is the work done by the
force to move an object along the path.

PROBLEM 2: (Answer on the tear-sheet at the end!)

Let us evaluate the line integral of

G
F( x, y) = y î − x ĵ

along the closed triangular path shown in the figure.

Again, we divide the path into three segments C1 , C2 and
C3 , and evaluate the contributions separately. We will do the integral along C1 for you, as
G
follows. Along C1 , the value of y is fixed at y = 0 . With d s = dx î , we have

G G
( )( )
F( x, 0) ⋅ d s = − x ˆj ⋅ dx ˆi = 0

So the integral along C1 is zero. Now you will evaluate the integral along C3 . The value of x is
G G G
fixed at x = 0 , d s = dy ĵ , and F(0, y ) ⋅ d s = ?
G G
(a) Evaluate ∫ C3
F⋅d s .

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Finally we calculate the contribution to the line integral from C2 . To evaluate the integral, we
again parameterize x and y in terms of the arc length s, which we take to be the distance between

a point along C2 and (1, 0) . From the figure shown on the right,

we have

1− x 1 y 1
= cos 45° = , = sin 45° =

s 2 s 2

s s
x = 1− , y=
2 2

ds ds
and dx = − and dy = ,

2 2

G G
(b) With the information given above, evaluate ∫
C2
F⋅d s .
Fx dx + Fy dy = ?

G G
∫C
F ⋅ d s = ∫ Fx dx + Fy dy = ?
C2

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C. Surface Integrals
Double Integrals

A function F ( x, y ) of two variables can be integrated over a surface S, and the result is a double
integral:

∫∫ S
F ( x, y ) dA = ∫∫ F ( x, y ) dx dy
S

where dA = dx dy is a (Cartesian) differential area element on S. In particular, when F ( x, y ) = 1 ,

we obtain the area of the surface S:

A = ∫∫ dA = ∫∫ dx dy
S S

For example, the area of a rectangle of length a and

width b (see figure) is simply given by

A=∫
b

0 ∫
0
a
dx dy = ∫
0
b
( ∫ dx ) dy
a

b b
= ∫ a dy = a ∫ dy = ab
0 0

Now suppose F ( x, y ) = σ ( x, y ) , where σ is the charge density (Coulomb/m2). Then the double
integral represents the total charge on the surface:

Q = ∫∫ σ ( x, y ) dA = ∫∫ σ ( x, y )dx dy
S S

On the other hand, if the surface is a circle, it would be more convenient to work in polar
coordinates.

The differential area element is given by (see figure above)

Friday 2/4/2005 Solving1-5

 dA = rdrdθ

Integrating over r and θ , the area of a circle of radius R is

A=∫
0
R
∫
0
2π
rdθ dr = ∫
0
R
(∫
0
2π
)
dθ rdr = ∫
0
R
2π rdr = 2π ⋅
R2
2
= π R2

as expected. If σ (r , θ ) is the charge distribution on a circular plate, then the total charge on the
plate would be

Q = ∫∫ σ (r , θ ) dA = ∫∫ σ (r, θ )rdθ dr
S S

Closed Surface

The surfaces we have discussed so far (rectangle and circle) are open surfaces. A closed surface
is a surface which completely encloses a volume. An example of a closed surface is a sphere. To
calculate the surface area of a sphere of radius R, it is convenient to use spherical coordinates.
The differential surface area element on the sphere is given by

dA = R 2 sin θ dθ dφ

Integrating over the polar angle ( 0 ≤ θ ≤ π ) and the

azimuthal angle ( 0 ≤ φ ≤ 2π ) , we obtain

∫∫ dA = w
A=w ∫∫ R sin θ dθ dφ
2

S S
π 2π
=R ∫ sin θ dθ ∫ dφ
2
0 0

= 4π R 2

Suppose charge is uniformly distributed on the surface of the sphere of radius R, then the total
charge on the surface is

∫∫ σ dA = 4π R σ
Q=w 2

where σ is the charge density.

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PROBLEM 3: (Answer on the tear-sheet at the end!)

(a) Find the total charge Q on the rectangular surface of length a (x direction from x = 0 to x = a)
and width b (y direction from y = 0 to y = b), if the charge density is σ ( x, y ) = k x y , where k is a
constant.

(b) Find the total charge on a circular plate of radius R

if the charge distribution is
σ (r ,θ ) = kr (1 − sin θ ) .

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D. Surface Integrals involving Vector Functions
G
For a vector function F
( x, y, z ) , the integral over a surface S is is given by
G G G
∫∫S
F ⋅ dA = ∫∫ F ⋅ nˆ dA = ∫∫ Fn dA
S S

where dA = dA n̂ and n̂ is a unit vector pointing in the normal direction of the surface. The dot
G G
product Fn = F ⋅ nˆ is the component of F parallel to n̂ . The above quantity is called “flux.” For
G
an electric field E , the electric flux through a surface is
G
Φ E = ∫∫ E ⋅ nˆ dA = ∫∫ En dA
S S

As an example, consider a uniform electric field E

= a î + b ĵ which intersects a surface of area A.
What is the electric flux through this area if the surface lies in the yz plane with normal in the
positive x direction? In this case, the normal vector is nˆ = ˆi , pointing in the +x direction. The
electric flux through this surface is
G
G

( )
Φ E = E ⋅ A = aî + bˆj ⋅ Aˆi = aA

PROBLEM 4: (Answer on the tear-sheet at the end!)

G

(a) Consider a uniform electric field E = a î + b ĵ which intersects a surface of area A. What is the
electric flux through this area if the surface lies (i) in the xz plane with normal in the positive y
direction? (ii) in the xy plane with the normal in the positive z direction?

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(b) A cylinder has base radius R and height h with its axis along the z-direction. A uniform field
G
E = Eo ĵ penetrates the cylinder. Determine the
G
electric flux ∫∫ E ⋅ nˆ dA for the side of the
S
cylinder with y > 0, where the area normal
points away from the interior of the cylinder.

Hints: If θ is the angle in the xy plane

measured from the x-axis toward the positive y-
axis, what is the differential area of the side of
the cylinder in term of R, dz, and dθ ?

What is the vector formula for the normal n̂ to the side of the cylinder with y > 0, in terms of
G
θ, î and ĵ ? What is E ⋅ nˆ ?

G
∫∫ E ⋅ nˆ dA = ?
S

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 MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Department of Physics

Tear off this page and turn it in at the end of class !!!!
Note: Writing in the name of a student who is not present is a Committee on
Discipline offense.

Names ____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

PROBLEM 1:

(a) I1 = ∫ (x + y ) ds =
C1

(b) I 2 = ∫ (x + y ) ds =
C2

(c) I ′ = I1 + I 2 =
Is the value of I ′ equal to I = 2 in Example 1 above? What can you conclude about the value
of a line integral? That is, is the integral independent of the path you take to get from the
beginning point to the end point?

PROBLEM 2:

G G
(a) ∫ C3
F⋅d s =

G G
(b) ∫C2
F⋅d s =

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PROBLEM 3:

(a) Total charge Q =

(b) Total charge Q =

PROBLEM 4:
G
(a) Consider a uniform electric field E = a î + b ĵ which intersects a surface of area A. What is the
electric flux through this area if the surface lies

(i) in the xz plane?

(ii) in the xy plane?

G
(b) Determine the electric flux ∫∫ E ⋅ nˆ dA for the side of the cylinder with y > 0.
S

Friday 2/4/2005 Solving1-12