Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2005/ia/paper-3/10a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 ia Paper 3 10A Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
For an oriented piecewise smooth surface and a continuously differentiable vector field, Stokes theorem stateswhere the boundary orientation is induced by through the right-hand rule. Choose the upward orientation of the elliptic paraboloid. Its band has cylindrical radius , and a parametrization isIts oriented surface element and scalar area element areThe requested sketch shows the open band, not a capped solid.
Upward-oriented annular paraboloid band, with counterclockwise outer boundary and clockwise inner boundary
. Details. For the specified vector field, direct differentiation gives . HenceTo check this by Stokes theorem, parametrize a counterclockwise circle of radius at height by . Along it , andUsing gives . The induced outer circle is counterclockwise as viewed from above, and the inner circle is clockwise. ThereforeThis verifies the direct surface integral and the Stokes flux through an annular paraboloid. Reversing the chosen surface orientation reverses the final sign.
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