Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-2-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2017/paper-1/1/c/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2017 Paper 1 1 c Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
Close the cone with the horizontal disk at height , and let be the enclosed solid. The divergence isThe term integrates to zero by reflection symmetry of each circular cross-section. Using the divergence theorem and cylindrical coordinates, the closed-surface flux isThe outward normal on is , so its flux is its area times :Subtracting this cap contribution gives the required lateral flux:This is conical flux by closing with a cap. The normal convention matters: on the lateral cone the outward normal points radially outwards and partly downwards, so the contribution to the lateral flux is negative. To justify applying the theorem at the vertex, truncate a small tip and take its size to zero; the extra flux vanishes because is regular there.
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