2.

Line Integrals

In physical problems, one often encounters integrals of the form

I A dr

(37)

where is a A vector field, dr is an infinitesimal displacement, and C is path along which the
integral is to be evaluated. Examples of such integrals are the total work done W in moving a
particle in a force field F
W F dr
C

and Amperes law:

C B dr oi
where B is the magnetic flux density, i is the current, o and is the permeability of free space.
In Cartesian coordinates we write equation (37) as

I A dr iAx jAy kAz idx jdy kdz

C

Ax dx Ay dy Az dz
C

(38)

To illustrate the evaluation of these line integrals, consider the line integral
I Px, y dx

(39)

The path C is specified by a functional relation y f x . Then if the limits of the integration
are points Ax1 , y1 and Bx2 , y2 we have
B

x2

x1

I Px, y dx Px, f x dx Px, f x dx

C

(40)

This is illustrated below

y

Bx2 , y2
y f x

Ax1 , y1
x

The line integral may also be written as

B

I Px, y dx Pg y , y
C

dx
dy
dy

y2

Pg y , y dy dy
dx

(41)

y1

where g y f 1 is the inverse function of f x .

Line integrals have the following important properties:
(i) A line integral changes sign on interchanging the lower and upper limits of integration
B

Px, y dx Px, y dx

(42)

(ii) For any point E which lies between the lower and upper limits of integration A and B
we have
B

Px, y dx Px, y dx Px, y dx

(43)

y
B

E
A

(iii) If y is not a single-valued function of x as illustrated below

y
B

y f 2 x

y f1 x

Then
B

Px, y dx Px, f1x dx Px, f 2 x dx

A

(44)

Line integrals are often taken along a closed path. This is indicated as
I Px, y dx
C

An arrow is used to indicate the direction of integration as clockwise or anti-clockwise.

2.8 Greens Theorem in a Plane

Suppose the functions Px, y , Qx, y , and their derivatives are single-valued, finite and
continuous inside and on the boundary C of some region R in the xy-plane. Greens theorem
in a plane relates the line integral around the closed curve C to a double integral over the
enclosed region R
Q

Pdx Qdy x

P
dxdy
y

(45)

where the line integral is taken in the anti-clockwise direction. Greens theorem in a plane is
useful in deriving the area of geometrical shapes such the circle, ellipse and triangle. It is also
used in interpretation of the curl of a vector field.