Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 iii Paper 115 2 a Solution 2026-09-28
Give the outward-normal-first boundary orientation. The Generalized Stokes theorem states that, for every compactly supported -form ,
Choose an oriented coordinate cover by charts into or the half-space , and choose a partition of unity subordinate to it. Since the family is locally finite and has compact support, only finitely many are nonzero. It is therefore legitimate to write both integrals as finite sums and prove the identity for a form supported in one chart.
In an interior chart the integral of an exact compactly supported top form is zero by the fundamental theorem of calculus. In a boundary chart writeIntegrating coordinate by coordinate kills every tangential derivative. The normal derivative leaves precisely the restriction to , with the sign selected by the outward-normal-first convention. This is , proving the theorem.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 iii Paper 115 2 c Solution 2026-09-28
On the Euclidean unit ball ,The outward unit normal along is the radial vector field , so part b givesLet on the ball and put . Direct use of the exterior derivative gives . Therefore the Generalized Stokes theorem yieldsThis proves the volume of a Euclidean unit sphere formula.
Volume of a Euclidean unit sphere 2026-09-28
The -dimensional volume of the Euclidean unit sphere equals times the -dimensional volume of its unit ball. If is the radial vector field and , then , and the Generalized Stokes theorem proves the formula.