Chapter 16: Problem 18
Although they are not defined on all of space \(R^{3},\) the fields associated with Exercises \(18-22\) are conservative. Find a potential function for each field and evaluate the integrals as in Example \(6 .\) $$\int_{(0,2,1)}^{(1, \pi / 2,2)} 2 \cos y d x+\left(\frac{1}{y}-2 x \sin y\right) d y+\frac{1}{z} d z$$
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Identify the vector field
Compute partial derivatives for potential function
Integrate with respect to x to find f(x,y,z)
Differentiate with respect to y and integrate
Differentiate with respect to z and integrate
Evaluate integral using potential function
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Conservative Field
- Conservativity implies a certain simplicity in computation, allowing integration from a field’s start to end points directly through potential differences.
- In mathematical terms, a vector field \( \vec{F} \) is conservative if it can be expressed as the gradient of some scalar potential function \( f(x, y, z) \), i.e., \( \vec{F} = abla f \).
Potential Function
- The process to find a potential function involves integration of the vector field components.
- This can be seen in the steps where individual components are integrated to get terms of \( f \), and leftover functions of the other variables are incorporated progressively.
Line Integral
- In conservative fields, the integral simplifies as path independence implies it equals the potential difference between endpoints.
- This offers elegant shortcuts: calculation need not traverse the whole path, only the start and end points’ function values are necessary.
Partial Derivatives
- The potential function \( f(x, y, z) \) is found by computing partial derivatives matching each vector field component.
- For example, \( \frac{\partial f}{\partial x} = F_x \) ties directly to integration steps to derive \( f \).