Past exam of the topics in applied mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2009 / B / 4 / b / ii

Use $x=r\cos \theta$, $y=r\sin \theta$ with $r>0$. Dotting the vector field with the radial direction and taking its angular cross-product givesThe angular factor ranges from one to three. Hence every radial component is outward for $0<r<1/\sqrt{3}$, and every radial component is inward for $r>1$. The limiting radii areThere is a minor strictness point in the wording. At $r_1$ the outward inequality is non-strict, with tangencies where ${\sin }^2\theta =1$; at $r_2$ the inward inequality is non-strict, with tangencies where $\sin \theta =0$. Thus these are the supremum and infimum for strict crossing at all angles. The weak inequalities at the endpoints are exactly what is needed for the closed trapping annulus in the next part.