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What is the value of the closed loop integral for the vortex field around the origin?

The value of the closed loop integral for the vortex field F⃗=(−yx2+y2,xx2+y2)\vec{F} = (\frac{-y}{x^2+y^2}, \frac{x}{x^2+y^2}) around any simple closed curve enclosing the origin once in the counterclockwise direction is 2π2\pi. This result is independent of the shape or size of the loop, depending only on the winding number around the singularity at the origin.

Conditions

  • The curve is simple, closed, and oriented counterclockwise.
  • The curve encloses the origin exactly once.
  • The field is the standard 2D vortex field.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Parameterize a circular path of radius RR around the origin: x=Rcos⁡t,y=Rsin⁡tx=R\cos t, y=R\sin t.
  2. Compute dx=−Rsin⁡tdtdx = -R\sin t dt and dy=Rcos⁡tdtdy = R\cos t dt.
  3. Substitute into the line integral ∮−ydx+xdyx2+y2\oint \frac{-y dx + x dy}{x^2+y^2}.
  4. Simplify the numerator: −Rsin⁡t(−Rsin⁡t)+Rcos⁡t(Rcos⁡t)=R2-R\sin t (-R\sin t) + R\cos t (R\cos t) = R^2.
  5. Simplify the denominator: x2+y2=R2x^2+y^2 = R^2.
  6. The integrand becomes R2R2dt=dt\frac{R^2}{R^2} dt = dt.
  7. Integrate from 00 to 2π2\pi: ∫02πdt=2π\int_0^{2\pi} dt = 2\pi.
  8. Generalize to any loop enclosing the origin using deformation arguments.

Example

For the unit circle, the integral is ∫02π1 dt=2π\int_0^{2\pi} 1 \, dt = 2\pi.

Common misconceptions

  • Believing the value depends on the radius of the circle.
  • Thinking the integral is zero because the curl is zero.
  • Confusing clockwise and counterclockwise orientations (sign change).

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