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How do you calculate the line integral of the vortex field along a semicircular path?

To calculate the line integral of F⃗=(−yx2+y2,xx2+y2)\vec{F} = (\frac{-y}{x^2+y^2}, \frac{x}{x^2+y^2}) along a semicircle of radius RR centered at the origin, parameterize the path using polar coordinates. For the upper semicircle from (−R,0)(-R, 0) to (R,0)(R, 0), use x=Rcos⁡t,y=Rsin⁡tx = R\cos t, y = R\sin t with tt going from π\pi to 00. The dot product F⃗⋅dr⃗\vec{F} \cdot d\vec{r} simplifies to dtdt. Integrating dtdt from π\pi to 00 yields −π-\pi. Similarly, for the lower semicircle, tt goes from −π-\pi to 00 (or π\pi to 2π2\pi), yielding +π+\pi.

Conditions

  • The path is a semicircle centered at the origin.
  • The radius RR is constant.
  • The field is the standard vortex field.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Parameterize the semicircular path using x(t)x(t) and y(t)y(t).
  2. Compute the differential vector dr⃗=(dx,dy)d\vec{r} = (dx, dy).
  3. Substitute the parameterization into the vector field F⃗\vec{F}.
  4. Calculate the dot product F⃗⋅dr⃗\vec{F} \cdot d\vec{r}.
  5. Simplify the expression (it reduces to dtdt).
  6. Integrate with respect to tt over the appropriate limits.
  7. Compare the results for upper and lower paths.

Example

Upper path: t:π→0  ⟹  ∫π0dt=−πt: \pi \to 0 \implies \int_{\pi}^{0} dt = -\pi. Lower path: t:−π→0  ⟹  ∫−π0dt=πt: -\pi \to 0 \implies \int_{-\pi}^{0} dt = \pi.

Common misconceptions

  • Forgetting to adjust the limits of integration for direction.
  • Assuming the integral is zero because the curl is zero.
  • Incorrectly parameterizing the angle tt.

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