Unit 1-Mathematical methods in physics

Circulation of vector field around a loop

V =V x ex V y ey

Consider a vector field

x0

x
y
, y 0

2
2

x0

x
y
, y 0

2
2

Y
4

x
y
x0
, y 0

2
2

x0

x
y
, y 0

2
2

c V. d r

circulation

Circulation of vector field around a loop

x0

x
y
, y 0
2
2

x0

x
y
, y 0
2
2

Y
4

x
y
x0 , y 0
2
2

x0

x
y
, y 0
2
2

Segment 1 of the path contributes to the integral

Segment 1
x 0

x
2

y0
V x x , y 0 2 dx
x
x
0

Segment 1
x0

x
2

x0

y0
x , y 0

x
2

x
2

dxV

y0
x x 0, y 0 2

Here we use the approximation. Replace the integrand with the

value of the vector function at the mid-point and, then, integrate.

Segment 2
y0

y
2

y
y0
2

V y x 2x , y dyV y x 2x , y y
0

Segment 3
x
x0
2

x
x0
2

V x x , y 2y dxV x x , y 2y x
0

Segment 4
y 0

y
2

y 0

y
2

V y x 2x , y dyV y x 2x , y y
0

c V. d r

= Line integral of [segment 1+segment 2+segment 3

+segment 4]

c V. d r = V x x

0, y 0

y0

x V y x 2x , y y
0

V x x , y 2y x V y x 2x , y y
0

c V. d r

= Line integral of [segment 1+segment 2+segment 3

+segment 4]

c V. d r = V x x

0, y 0

y0

x V y x 2x , y y
0

V x x , y 2y x V y x 2x , y y
0

x
x
V

, y ] y
V

,
y

[ y 2
y
2
0

[ V

x
,
y

x 0 0 2

V x x

0, y 0

y0

] x
7

x
x
V

, y ] y x
V

,
y

[ y 2
y
2
0

c V. d r =

x
[ V

y
x x0 , y0 2

y0
x x 0, y 0 2

] x y

y
[V

c V. d r
s

x
y x 0 2 , y 0

y x 0

x
, y0
2

[ V x x

Now take the limits: x 0

y0

, y0

x x 0, y 0

y0

]
8

In the limit

Limit s 0

Limit s 0

x 0

c V. d r
s

c V. d r
s

y 0

V y V x
= x y

s0

. ez
V

For the X-Y plane circulation per area = Z-component

Of the CURL of vector V
9

Generalizing this idea to an arbitrary rectangle on an arbitrary surface

Limit s 0

c V. d r
s

. n
=

Stokes theorem

V
. n ds
c V. d r =s
The circulation of a vector field over a closed path C is equal to the
Integral of the normal component of the curl of that field over a surface S
for which C is a boundary
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Image from A students guide to Maxwells Equation-Daniel Fleisch

For the adjacent squares in the interior regions,

circulations are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction and
cancel each other.

11

Each arrow represents the integration along that segment.

In the interior of rectangle where they share the sides the arrows are in
opposite direction. So they cancel each other.
As a result the line integral along the boundary of the surface only
survive.
12

Verify Stokes theorem for the square surface shown below for the field
2
2
v =2xz3y ey 4yz ez

13

Verify Stokes theorem for the field

2
2
v =2x y ex yz ey y z ez

where S is the upper half surface of the sphere

x y z =1

and C is its boundary. Let R be the projection of S on the xy-plane

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