Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-2-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2021/paper-1/1/e/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2021 Paper 1 1 e Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
For a nondegenerate surface take , and abbreviate , . Close the upper oblate spheroid by its equatorial disk , obtaining a half-ellipsoid . The divergence isThe integral of vanishes by reflection symmetry. At height , the cross-section is a disk of radius . Using planar polar coordinates,ConsequentlyThe outward unit normal vector on is , so its flux is . Applying the divergence theorem to the closed surface and subtracting this disk contribution givesThis is a special case of polynomial flux through a half-ellipsoid. Including the closing disk is essential: the constant vertical component has zero divergence but nonzero flux through the open curved surface.
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