Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-1-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2002/paper-2/6/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2002 Paper 2 6 Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
Compute the curl component by component from the given vector field:For example, and . Its divergence isas expected because the divergence of a curl is zero.
Take counterclockwise when viewed from positive , the disc upward oriented, and the hemisphere outward oriented. These choices give both surfaces the same positive boundary orientation. Parametrize by , . On it, and , so the line integral isOn , use polar coordinates and . Since there, the surface flux isOn the unit hemisphere, the outward unit normal vector is . Since , we have . In spherical polar coordinates, and , giving the explicit surface integralIndeed the inner integral is .
These equalities illustrate Stokes theorem twice: and either upward or outward spans the oriented circle , so each surface flux equals the same line integral. For the divergence theorem, close the upper half-ball by adjoining the downward oriented base, namely . Its outward surface flux isThe minus sign on the base is required because its outward normal vector points down. Reversing a specified orientation reverses that integral's sign.
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