INDEPENDENCE OF
PATH; CONSERVATIVE
VECTOR FIELDS
Dr . Imam Jauhari Maknun, S.T. M.T., MSc.
WORK INTEGRALS
2
We saw in the last section that if F is a force field in 2-space or 3-space,
Then the work performed by the field on a particle moving along a
parametric curve C from an initial point P to a final point Q is given by the
integral
Accordingly, we call an integral of this type a work integral
WORK INTEGRALS
3
Recall that a work integral can also be expressed in scalar form as
INDEPENDENCE OF PATH
4
The parametric curve C in a work integral is called the path of integration
If the force field F is conservative (i.e., is the gradient of some potential
function ϕ ), then the work that the field performs on a particle that moves
from P to Q does not depend on the particular path C that the particle follows.
INDEPENDENCE OF PATH
5
EXAMPLE
The force field F (x, y) = y i + x j is conservative since it is the gradient of ϕ(x, y) = xy
(verify). Confirm that the value of the work integral
is the same along the following paths
(a) The line segment y = x from (0, 0) to (1, 1).
(b) The parabola y = x2 from (0, 0) to (1, 1).
(c) The cubic y = x3 from (0, 0) to (1, 1).
INDEPENDENCE OF PATH
6
a. With x = t as the parameter, the path of integration is given by
b. With x = t as the parameter, the path of integration is given by
c. With x = t as the parameter, the path of integration is given by
THE FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF LINE INTEGRALS
7
THE FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF LINE INTEGRALS
8
EXAMPLE
(a) Confirm that the force field F(x, y) = y i + x j is conservative by showing that
F(x, y) is the gradient of ϕ (x , y) = xy.
(b) Use the Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals to evaluate
Solution (a).
Solution (b).
A TEST FOR CONSERVATIVE VECTOR FIELDS
9
A TEST FOR CONSERVATIVE VECTOR FIELDS
10
EXAMPLE
Determine whether the vector field F (x, y) = (y + x) i + (y − x) j
is conservative on some open set.
SOLUTION
Let f (x, y) = y + x and g(x, y) = y − x. Then
hence F is not conservative on any open set.
A TEST FOR CONSERVATIVE VECTOR FIELDS
11
EXAMPLE
Let F (x, y) = 2xy3 i + (1 + 3x2y2) j.
(a) Show that F is a conservative vector field on the entire xy-plane.
(b) Find ϕ by first integrating ∂ ϕ/∂x.
(c) Find ϕ by first integrating ∂ ϕ/∂y.
Solution
(a). Since f (x, y) = 2xy3 and g (x, y) = 1 + 3x2y2, we have
A TEST FOR CONSERVATIVE VECTOR FIELDS
12
(b). Since the field F is conservative, there is a potential function φ such that
Integrating the first of these equations with respect to x (and treating y as a constant) yields
from which it follows that k’(y) = 1
A TEST FOR CONSERVATIVE VECTOR FIELDS
13
(c). Since the field F is conservative, there is a potential function φ such that
Integrating the first of these equations with respect to y (and treating x as a
constant) yields
from which it follows that k’(y) = 0, and consequently that k(x) = K
CONSERVATIVE VECTOR FIELDS IN 3-SPACE
14
In 3-space, we have
If F(x, y, z) = f (x, y, z)i + g (x, y, z)j + h(x, y, z)k is a
conservative field, then
that is, curl F = 0.
EXERCISE 3
15
) y i + x j conservative?
1. Apakah F ( x, y=
2. Apakah F ( x, y ) = (x 2
− 2 y3 ) i + ( x + 5 y ) j conservative?
3. Apakah F ( x, y=
) ( 4x y
3 3
+ 3) i + ( 3 x 4 y 2 + 1) j conservative?
4. Apakah F ( x, y ) = (x 3
+ y ) i + ( x + y3 ) j conservative?
EXERCISE 3
17
5. Apakah F ( x, y ) = ( y 2 − 6 xy + 6 ) i + ( 2 xy − 3x 2 − 2 y ) j
conservative? Jika iya hitung f (potential function of F) dan
hitung :
( 3,4 )
∫ F.dr
( −1,0 )
6. Apakah ∫ ( y + yz ) (
dx + x + 3 z 3
+ xz ) ( + xy − 1) dz
dy + 9 yz 2
independent pada path C antara (1,1,1) dan ( 2,1,4)? hitung :
( 2,1,4 )
∫ F.dr
(1,1,1)
EXERCISE 3
19 Tunjukkan bahwa line integral berikut adalah independent of the path,
serta hitung hasilnya
( 3,2 )
7.
∫ ( x + 2 y ) dx + ( 2 x − y ) dy
(1,0 )
( 2,8)
∫ (y + 3 x 2 y ) dx + ( x3 + 3 y 2 x + 1) dy
3
8.
( )
0,0
( 3,6 )
∫ ( 2 y x − 3) dx + ( 2 yx + 4 ) dy
2 2
9.
( )
1,2
( 2,4,8)
10. ∫ yz dx + xz dy + xy dz
(1,1,1)
