DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

MOTILAL NEHRU NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

ALLAHABAD

MATHEMATICS-I (MA-11101), SEMESTER-I

Tutorial Sheet-6

Unit IV- Vector Calculus

1. If the position vector r(t) of a point on a curve C is expressed in terms of the

arc length s, that is r = r(s), then prove that r0 (s) is a unit vector.

2. Find the equation of the (a) tangent plane and (b) normal line to the surface
x2 + y 2 = 4z at (2, −4, 5). (Ans. (a) x − 2y − z = 5 , (b) x−2
1
= y+4
−2
= z−5
−1
).

3. Let T denote the unit tangent to the curve x = 2t, y = 3t + 4, z = 3t . Show

that dT /dt = 0. Interpret the result.

4. The position vector of a moving particle is r(t) = (cost + sint)i + (sint −

cost)j + tk. Determine the velocity, speed and acceleration of the particle in
the direction of the motion.

5. If a particle moves with constant speed c, then show that its acceleration
vector a(t) is perpendicular to the velocity vector v(t).

6. If ~r = xi + yj + zk, |~r| = r and r̂ = ~r/r, then show that grad(1/r) = −r̂/r2 .

7. Find the gradient of the scalar field exy (x + y + z) at the point (2, 1, 1).

8. Find the directional derivative of the scalar function f (x, y, z) = xyz at the
(2, −2, 2) in the direction of the line from (1, 2, 3) to (1, −1, −3). (Ans.
point√
−11/ 5)
2 2 2
9. Find the directional derivative of the scalar function f (x,
√ y, z) = x + y + 2z
at the point (1, 1, 2) in the direction of grad f.(Ans. 2/ 18)

10. Find the directional derivative of the scalar function f (x, y, z) = 2x2 + y 2 + z 2
at the
√ point (1, 2, 3) in the direction of the line x/3 = y/4 = z/5. (Ans.
58/5 2)

11. (a)Find the directional derivative of F = 2xy − z 2 at (2, −1, 1) in a direc-

tion towards (3, 1, −1). (b) In which direction is the directional derivative
√ is
maximum? (c) What √ is the value of this maximum? (Ans. (a) 2/ 11 (b)
−2i + 4j − 2k, (c) 2 6)

12. Prove that the vector field ~v = (2x+3y)i+(x−y)j −(x+y +z)k is solenoidal.

13. Let F~ = (2xy + x)i + (x2 − y)j. Is F a gradient field? If so, find the potential
function. (Ans. F = grad f, f = x2 y − x2 /2 − y 2 /2 + C)

14. Show that the vector fields ~v = 9y 2 − x2 + y)i + x(2y + 1)j and ~v = exy (yi +
xj) + 2ez k are irrotational and find a potential function f (x, y, z) such that
~v = grad f .
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15. Find constants a, b and c such that ~v = (3x + ay + z)i + (2x − y + bz)j + (x +
cy + z)k is irrotational.
~ and H
16. If E ~ are irrotational vector field , show that E
~ ×H
~ is a solenoidal
vector field.

17. Let f (x, y, z) be a solution of the Laplace equation ∇2 f = 0. Then, show

that ∇f is a vector which is both irrotational and solenoidal.

18. Prove that ∇φ is a vector perpendicular to the surface φ(x, y, z) = c, where

c is a constant.

19. Show thatH the area of a region

H R enclosed
H by a simple closed curve C is given
by A = 12 C (xdy − ydx) = xdy = − ydx. Hence calculate the area of the
ellipse x = acos φ, y = bsin φ. (Ans. πab)
R
20. Evaluate the line integral c v.dr

(a) v = xi + yj + zk, C is the line segment from (1,2,2) to (3,6,6).

(b) v = xi + (siny)j + k, C is given by x = t2 , y = t, z = 2t, 0 ≤ t ≤ 1.
(c) v = yi + xj + xyz 2 k, C is the circle x2 + y 2 − 2y = 2, z = 1 going around
once in the anti-clockwise direction.
Ans. (a).36. (b).7/2 - cos 1. (c).0
R (1,2)
21. Evaluate (0,1) [(x2 − y)dx + (y 2 + x)dy] along (a) a straight line from (0,1) to
(1,2) (b) straight lines from (0,1) to (1,1) and then from (1,1) to (1,2) , (c)
the parabola x = t, y = t2 + 1. (Ans. (a). 5/3, (b) 8/3, (c) 2.)

22. Find the work done in moving a particle once around an ellipse C in xy-plane,
if the ellipse has center at the origin with semi-major and semi-minor exes 4
and 3 respectively, and if the force field is given by F = (3x − 4y + 2z)i +
(4x + 2y − 3z 2 )j + (2x − 4y 2 + z 3 )k. (Ans. 96π)

23. Find the work done by the force F = x2 i + yzj + zk in moving a particle in
the line segment from position (1,2,2) to (3,2,4). (Ans.62/3)
R √
24. Evaluate c yds along the curve C given by y = 2 x from x = 3 to x = 24.
(Ans. 156)
H
25. Verify the Green’s theorem in the plane for C [(2xy − x2 )dx + (x + y 2 )dy],
where C is the closed curve of the region bounded by y = x2 and y 2 = x.
(Ans. 1/30)
R (3,4)
26. (a) Prove that (1,2) [(6xy 2 − y 3 )dx + (6x2 y − 3xy 2 )dy] is independent of the
path joining (1,2) and (3,4). (b) find the potential function φ such that
(6xy 2 − y 3 )dx + (6x2 y − 3xy 2 )dy = dφ (c) evaluate the integral. (Ans.(b).
φ(x, y) = 3x2 y 2 − xy 3 + c, (c) 236)
H ∂u RR
27. Using the Green’s theorem, show that C ∂n ds = R ∇2 udxdy, where ∇2 is
∂2 ∂2
the Laplace operator ∂n + ∂y and n is the unit outward normal to C.
H ∂u
28. Evaluate c ∂n ds, where u = x2 +y 2 , C is the boundary of the region x2 +y 2 ≤
9, x ≥ 0, y ≥ 0. (Ans. 9π )
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RR
29. Evaluate the double integral R (y − x)dxdy, R is the region enclosed by the
circle x2 + y 2 = 4. (choose appropriate f or g or f and g). (Ans. 0)
H ∂f
30. Let f satisfy the Laplace equation in a region R. Then, show that f ∂n ds =
RR ∂f 2 ∂f 2
[( ) + ( ∂y ) ]dxdy.
R ∂x

31. If f and g are differentiable scalar fields, then show that f dg = R ∂f ∂g

H RR
∂x ∂y
−
∂f ∂g
∂y ∂x
)dxdy.

32. If F = gi −Hf j, T is the

RRunit tangent vector to C, then using Green’s theorem
show that F.T ds = R (∇ × F ).kdxdy.

33. If F = gi − f j, n is the outer

H unit RR
normal to the curveC, then using the
Green’s theorem sow that F.nds = R (∇.F )dxdy.
RR
34. Evaluate S F (x, y, z)dS where S is the surface of the paraboloid z = 2 −
(x2 + y 2 ) above the xy-plane and F (x, y, z) is equal to (a) 1 , (b) x2 + y 2 ,
(c) 3z. Give a physical interpretation in each case. (Ans. (a). 13π/3 (b).
149π/30 (c). 111π/10)
RR
35. Evaluate S A.ndS, where A = xyi − x2 j + (x + z)k, S is that portion of the
plane 2x + 2y + z = 6 included in the first octant, and n is a unit normal to
S.(Ans. 27/4)

36. Verify the divergence theorem for V = (2x − z)i + x2 yj − xz 2 k taken over the
region bounded by x = 0, x = 1, y = 0, y = 1, z = 0, z = 1.
RR
37. Evaluate S r.ndS where r = xi + yj + zk and S is a closed surface. (Ans.
3V)

38. Verify Stoke’s theorem for V = 3yk − xzj + yz 2 k , where S is the surface of
the paraboloid 2z = x2 + y 2 bounded by z = 2 and C is its boundary. (Ans.
20π)

39. Determine whether there is a function φ such that F = ∇φ, where (a) F =
(xz − y)i + (x2 y + z 3 )j + (3xz 2 − xy)k, (b) F = 2xe−y i + (cosz − x2 e−y )j −
(ysin z)k. If so find it.

40. Find the flux of F = zi + xj + yk outward through the portion of the cylinder
x2 + y 2 = a2 in the first octant and below the plane z = h. (Ans. ah(a + h)/2