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Active Calculus - Multivariable

Section 12.3 Using Parametrizations to Calculate Line Integrals

We begin this section by taking a look at how to calculate a line integral of a vector field along different line segments. We will use this calculation as inspiration to see how treating oriented curves as vector-valued functions will allow us to quickly turn a line integral of a vector field into a single variable integral.

Preview Activity 12.3.1.

Let F=xy,y2, let C1 be the line segment from (1,1) to (4,1), let C2 be the line segment from (4,1) to (4,3), and let C3 be the line segment from (1,1) to (4,3). Also let C=C1+C2. This vector field and the curves are shown in Figure 12.3.1.
described in detail following the image
The vector field F=xy,y2 plotted for 0x5 and 0y4. This vector field radiates from the origin with vector length increasing as distance from the origin increases. The graph includes the line segment C1 from (1,1) to (4,1), the line segment C2 from (4,1) to (4,3), and the line segment C3 from (1,1) to (4,3).
Figure 12.3.1. A vector field F and three oriented curves

(a)

Every point along C1 has y=1. Therefore, along C1, the vector field F can be viewed purely as a function of x. In particular, along C1, we have F(x,1)=x,1. Since every point along C2 has the same x-value, write F as a function of y only (for the points on C2).

(b)

Recall that drΔr, and along C1, we have that Δr=Δxidxi. Thus, dr=dx,0. We know that along C1, F=x,1.
(i)
Write Fdr along C1 without using a dot product.
(ii)
What interval of x-values describes C1?
(iii)
Write C1Fdr as an integral of the form abf(x)dx and evaluate the integral.

(c)

Use an analogous approach to write C2Fdr as an integral of the form cdg(y)dy and evaluate the integral.

(d)

Use the previous parts and a property of line integrals to calculate CFdr without having to evaluate any additional integrals.

Subsection 12.3.1 Parametrizations in the Definition of CFdr

In Preview Activity 12.3.1, you saw how line integrals along vertical and horizontal line segments can be done as integrals of a single variable. Before moving on to the general case, let us consider in the next example how we might tackle C3Fdr in Figure 12.3.1.

Example 12.3.2.

Since C3 is from (1,1) to (4,3), we can determine that the line segment has slope 2/3, so we can write an equation for the line as y1=(2/3)(x1) or y=23x+13. Thus, along the curve C3, we can write
F=23x2+13x,(23x+13)2.
Thinking of the slope of C3 as Δy/Δx, we can write Δy/Δx=2/3, which can be rearranged to Δy=23Δx. We may view Δr as Δx,Δy. Since Δxdx and Δydy, we use the fact that Δy=23Δx to write dr=dx,23dx=1,23dx. Along C3, we have 1x4, so having rewritten F in terms of x and r in terms of dx, we can now write
C3Fdr=1423x2+13x,(23x+13)21,23dx=1423x2+13x+23(23x+13)2dx=1516.
Notice that this result is different than what you obtained for CFdr in Preview Activity 12.3.1, even though C and C3 both start at (1,1) and end at (4,3).
A recurring theme in this chapter will be the consideration of whether or not a vector field is a gradient vector field. Before moving on to generalize Example 12.3.2 to curves that are not line segments, it is worth examining this question for the vector field we have been investigating.

Activity 12.3.2.

Is F=xy,y2 a gradient vector field? Why or why not?
Hint.
What would Clairaut’s Theorem tell you about a potential function f such that F=f?
Preview Activity 12.3.1 and Example 12.3.2 have shown us that it is possible to evaluate line integrals without needing to work with Riemann sums directly. However, the approaches taken there seem rather cumbersome to use for oriented curves that are not line segments. It was not critical that the paths in Figure 12.3.1 were straight lines, but rather that the paths had a description where both x and y could be expressed in terms of one variable. Fortunately, parametrizing the oriented curve along which a line integral is calculated provides exactly the tool we are looking for. Namely a parameterization gives a way to express the points (x,y,z) of the oriented curve in terms of a single variable (the parameter). Note that given a parameterization, we can also translate the vector field component equations into functions of the parameter as well.

Example 12.3.3.

In this example, we will look at the particulars of applying a parameterization of C (given by r(t)=f(t),g(t) with t[a,b]) to Definition 12.2.9. In particular, we will use this parameterization and a set of points along C that are equally spaced in terms of parameter values. To make this discussion a bit easier to read, we will work with a curve in two dimensions. However, all the ideas here generalize directly to curves in R3.
Suppose that C is an oriented curve traced out by the vector-valued function r(t) for atb, and let F be a continuous vector field defined on a region containing C. We can divide the interval [a,b] into n sub-intervals, each of length Δt=(ba)/n, by letting ti=a+iΔt for i=0,1,,n. Dividing the interval [a,b] into n pieces using ti then can be used to break C up into n pieces by letting Ci be the part of the curve from r(ti) to r(ti1) for i=1,,n.
described in detail following the image
An oriented curve from a point P to a point Q broken into n pieces
Figure 12.3.4. A curve C oriented from the point P to the point Q broken into n pieces evenly spaced in terms of the paramter t
We can approximate the path Ci with the displacement vector Δri=r(ti)r(ti1) as we did in Figure 12.2.6. Now notice that
Δri=r(ti)r(ti1)=r(ti)r(tiΔt)=(r(ti)r(tiΔt)Δt)Δt.
described in detail following the image
An oriented curve from a point P to a point Q along with vectors Δri that approximate the curve
Figure 12.3.5. A curve C oriented from the point P to the point Q broken into n pieces evenly spaced in terms of the paramter t with displacement vectors Δri
Our vector field for CFdr can also be transformed into a function of t by substituting the x and y inputs with the corresponding components of the parameterization. If F=F1(x,y),F2(x,y), then the parameterization given by r(t)=f(t),g(t) means we can rewrite F as a function of t:
F(t)=F(r(t))=F1(f(t),g(t)),F2(f(t),g(t))
We can now substitute these pieces into Definition 12.2.9 to obtain the following
CFdr=lim|Δri|0i=1nF(ri)Δri=limΔt0i=1nF(r(ti))(r(ti)r(tiΔt)Δt)Δt
When evaluating the limit as Δt0, the expression in the parentheses will be r(ti). We then have a Riemann sum that changes the evaluation of a line integral of a vector field along an oriented curve to a definite integral of a function of one variable. In particular,
CFdr=abF(r(t))r(t)dt
Note that after evaluating the dot product, F(r(t))r(t) is (scalar) function of t.
We now state the general form of the preceding example as a theorem that will allow us to evaluate line integrals of vector fields in many contexts.
To illustrate how useful Theorem 12.3.6 is for evaluating line integrals, consider the following example.

Example 12.3.7.

Let F(x,y)=xi+y2j and let C be the quarter of the circle of radius 3 from (0,3) to (3,0). This vector field and curve are shown in Figure 12.3.8. By properties of line integrals, we know that CFdr=CFdr, and we will use this property since C is the usual clockwise orientation of a circle, meaning we can parametrize C by r(t)=3cos(t),3sin(t) for 0tπ/2.
described in detail following the image
The region in the xy-plane with 0x4 and 0y4. The quarter circle of radius 3 centered at the origin and oriented clockwise is shown along with the vector field xi+y2j, which contains vectors whose magnitudes increase more as y increases than as x increases. Also vectors farther from the x-axis have steeper positive slope than those close to the x-axis, which are close to horiznotal.
Figure 12.3.8. The vector field F=xi+y2j and an oriented curve C
To evaluate CFdr using this parametrization, we need to note that
F(r(t))=3cos(t),9sin2(t) and r(t)=3sin(t),3cos(t)
Thus, we have
CFdr=CFdr=0π/23cos(t),9sin2(t)3sin(t),3cos(t)dt=0π/2(9sin(t)cos(t)+27sin2(t)cos(t))dt=01(9u+27u2)du=[92u2+9u3]01=(92+9)=92.
Note that we have used the substitution u=sin(t) in evaluating the definite integral here.
As Example 12.3.7 shows, Theorem 12.3.6 allows us to reduce the problem of calculating a line integral of a vector-valued function along an oriented curve to one of finding a suitable parametrization for the curve. Once we have such a parametrization, evaluating the line integral becomes evaluating a single-variable integral, which is something you have done many times before. The example also illustrates that using the properties of line integrals can allow us to use a more “natural” parametrization. You may find it interesting to use the parametrization 3sin(t),3cos(t) for 0tπ/2 to evaluate the line integral. Do you get the same result?

Activity 12.3.3.

(a)
Find the work done by the vector field F(x,y,z)=6x2zi+3y2j+xk on a particle that moves from the point (3,0,0) to the point (3,0,6π) along the helix given by r(t)=3cos(t),3sin(t),t.
(b)
Let F(x,y)=0,x. Let C be the closed curve consisting of the top half of the circle of radius 2 centered at the origin and the portion of the x-axis from (2,0) to (2,0), oriented clockwise. Find the circulation of F around C.
Activity 12.3.4 will have you look at line integrals of the same vector field over several different types of curves. This will be an important, recurring theme as we study a variety of different integrals and vector fields in this chapter. In particular, we will use this approach of varying the region of integration for a fixed function several times in later activities.

Activity 12.3.4.

Let F(x,y)=y2,2xy+3.
(a)
Let C1 be the portion of the graph of y=2x3+3x212x15 from (2,5) to (3,30). Calculate C1Fdr.
(b)
Let C2 be the line segment from (2,5) to (3,30). Calculate C2Fdr.
(c)
Let C3 be the circle of radius 3 centered at the origin, oriented counterclockwise. Calculate C3Fdr.
(d)
To connect the previous parts of this activity, use a graphing utility to plot the curves C1 and C2 on the same axes.
(i)
What type of curve is C1C2?
(ii)
What is the value of C1C2Fdr?
(iii)
What does your answer to part c allow you to say about the value of the line integral of F along the top half of C3 compared to the line integral of F from (3,0) to (3,0) along the bottom half of the circle of radius 3 centered at the origin?

Subsection 12.3.2 Alternative Notation for Line Integrals

In contexts where the fact that the quantity we are measuring via a line integral is best measured via a dot product (such as calculating work), the notation we have used thus far for line integrals is fairly common. However, sometimes the vector field is such that the units on x, y, and z are not distances. In this case, a dot product may not have quite the same physical meaning, and an alternative notation using differentials can be common. Specifically, if F(x,y,z)=F1(x,y,z)i+F2(x,y,z)j+F3(x,y,z)k, then
CFdr=CF1,F2,F3dx,dy,dz=CF1dx+F2dy+F3dz.
A line integral in the form of CF1dx+F2dy+F3dz is called the differential form of a line integral. (If F is a vector field in R2, the F3dz term is omitted.) For example, if F(x,y,z)=x2y,z3,xcos(z) and C is some oriented curve in R3, then
CFdr=Cx2ydx+z3dy+xcos(z)dz
It is important to recognize that the integral on the right-hand side is still a line integral and must be evaluated using techniques for evaluating line integrals. We cannot simply try to treat the line integral of the form CF1dx+F2dy+F3dz as if it were a definite integral of a function of one variable. Because the notation CFdr provides a reminder that this is a line integral and not a definite integral of the types calculated earlier in your study of calculus, we will only use the vector notation for line integrals in the body of the text. However, some exercises may require the use of the differential form, and you may see the differential form used frequently in fields such as physics and engineering.

Subsection 12.3.3 Independence of Parametrization for a Fixed Curve

Up to this point, we have chosen whatever parametrization of an oriented curve C was most convienent, and our argument for how we can use parametrizations to calculate line integrals did not depend on the specific choice of parametrization. However, it is not immediately obvious that different parametrizations don’t result in different values of the line integral. Our next example explores this question.

Example 12.3.9.

Let F=xi. We consider two different oriented curves from (0,1) to (3,3). The first oriented curve C travels horizontally to (3,1) and then proceeds vertically to (3,3). The second oriented curve C3 is the line segment from (0,1) to (3,3). Notice that, as depicted in Figure 12.3.10, we can break C up into two oriented curves C1 (the horizontal portion) and C2 (the vertical portion) so that C=C1+C2.
described in detail following the image
The vector field xi, which consists of horiznotal vectors that increase in length as distance from the y-axis increases. Three oriented line segments are also depicted. The line segment C1 is from (0,1) to (3,1). The line segment C2 is from (3,1) to (3,3). The line segment C3 is from (0,1) to (3,3).
Figure 12.3.10. The vector field F=xi and some oriented curves.
We first note that since F is orthogonal to C2, C2Fdr=0; therefore CFdr=C1Fdr. We can parametrize C1 as ti+j for 0t3 (t is treated like the coordinate x), which leads to
C1Fdr=03t,01,0dt=03tdt=92.
Thus, CFdr=9/2.
Now we look at C3Fdr, but we parametrize C3 in a nonstandard way by letting r(t)=3sin(t),1+2sin(t) for 0tπ2. (You should use a graphing utility to plot this parametrization to help convince yourself that it really does give C3.) This gives r(t)=3cos(t),2cos(t), and
C3Fdr=0π/23sin(t),03cos(t),2cos(t)dt=0π/29sin(t)cos(t)dt=92.
In the next activity, you are asked to consider the more typical parametrization of C3 and verify that using it gives the same value for the line integral.
It’s also worth observing here that CFdr=C3Fdr, so at least two (very different) paths from (0,1) to (3,3) give the same value of the line integral here. The next section will further investigate when line integrals over different paths (with the same initial point and final point) will evaluate to the same value.
As promised, the final activity of this section (Activity 12.3.5) asks you to look at another parametrization of the curve C3 from the previous example. It also asks you to look at two different oriented curves between a pair of points, similarly to what you did in Activity 12.3.4.

Activity 12.3.5.

(a)
The typical parametrization of the line segment from (0,1) to (3,3) (the oriented curve C3 in Example 12.3.9) is r(t)=3t,1+2t where 0t1. Use this parametrization to calculate C3Fdr for the vector field F=xi and compare your answer to the result of Example 12.3.9.
(b)
Calculate C(3xy+ez),x2,(4z+xez)dr where C is the oriented curve consisting of the line segment from the origin to (1,1,1) followed by the line segment from (1,1,1) to (0,0,2).
(c)
Calculate C3xy+ez,x2,4z+xezdr where C3 is the line segment from (0,0,0) to (0,0,2).
(d)
Is the vector field you considered in the previous two parts a gradient vector field? Why or why not? How does this compare to the vector field F of Activity 12.3.4?
Although we have not given a proof or even an intuitive argument, the phenomenon you observed in part a of Activity 12.3.5 is not particular to this curve or this vector field. The value of CFdr does not depend on the parametrization of C used to calculate the line integral when using Theorem 12.3.6.

Subsection 12.3.4 Summary

  • Line integrals of vector fields along oriented curves can be evaluated by parametrizing the curve in terms of t and then calculating the integral of F(r(t))r(t) on the interval [a,b].
  • The parametrization chosen for an oriented curve C when calculating the line integral CFdr using the formula abF(r(t))r(t)dt does not impact the value of the line integral.
  • If C1 and C2 are different paths from P to Q, it is possible for C1Fdr to have a different value to C2Fdr.

Exercises 12.3.5 Exercises

1.

Suppose F(x,y)=ex,ey and C is the portion of the ellipse centered at the origin from the point (0,1) to the point (6,0) centered at the origin oriented clockwise.
(a) Find a vector parametric equation r(t) for the portion of the ellipse described above for 0tπ/2.
r(t)=
(b) Using your parametrization in part (a), set up an integral for calculating the circulation of F around C.
CFdr=abF(r(t))r(t)dt=ab dt
with limits of integration a= and b=
(c) Find the circulation of F around C.
Circulation =

2.

Evaluate the line integral CFdr, where F(x,y,z)=2xi+2yj+5zk and C is given by the vector function r(t)=sint,cost,t, 0t3π/2.

3.

Evaluate the line integral CFd r where F=4sinx,3cosy,xz and C is the path given by r(t)=(2t3,t2,2t) for 0t1
CFd r=

4.

(a)
Compute C1Fdr when F=x2,xy and C1 is the line segment from (0,0) to (2,2).
(b)
Compute C2Fdr when F=x2,xy and C2 is the line segment from (2,2) to (0,0).

5.

If the wind in a region of space is given by F=y+z,zx,z and a helicopter flies along the path given by r(t)=10sin(t),10cos(t),(10t)2 as 0t4π. Calculate the work done by the wind on the helicopter.
Hint.
Set up your integral carefully and then use either integration by parts or an algebraic solver to compute the definite integral.

6.

Let C3 be the circle of radius 7 centered at the origin traveled counterclockwise. Compute C3M,Ndr when:

7.

Let C4 be the curve given by traveling along the path given by y=x3x on the surface given by z=xy as x goes from 1 to 2. What is the work done by x,z,x+y?
Hint.
Parametrize y in terms of x first, then use that relationship to give z as a function x.

Subsection 12.3.6 Notes to Instructors and Dependencies

This section relies heavily on the idea of line integrals developed in Section 12.2, understanding curves in space (from Section 9.6), and the work interpretation of the dot product from Section 9.3.
Preview Activity 12.4.1 compares its result with the first two parts of Activity 12.3.4, so prioritize getting those done in class.
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