Mathematics-I (MAC01) Problem Set

Vector Calculus

1. Find the unit tangent vector to the curve r(t) = 4 sin ti + 4 cos tj + 3tk.
2. If φ = x2 y 2 z 2 and f = 2xi + 3yj + 4zk then find (i) f · ∇φ (ii) f × ∇φ (iii) ∇|f|2 .
3. Find the directional derivative of f (x, y, z) = xy 2 + yz 3 at the point (2, 1, 1) in the direction of
the vector i + 2j + 2k.
4. If φ = x2xz +y 2 then find the directional derivative of φ at (1, −1, 1) in the direction of (i) the
vector a = i − 2j + k (ii) the vector a makes equal angles with the positive axes.
5. Find the direction from the point P (3, 1, −2) along which the directional derivative of φ =
x2 y 2 z 4 is maximum. Find also the magnitude of this maximum.
6. Find the angle between the surfaces x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 9 and z = x2 + y 2 − 3 at the point (2, 1, 2).
7. Find the angles between the normal to the surface xy = z 2 at the points (4, 1, 2) and (3, 3, 3).
8. Find the constants a and b so that the surface ax2 − byz = (a + 2)x is orthogonal to the surface
4x2 y + z 3 = 4 at the point (1, 1, 2).

9. Let r = xi+yj+zk, r = |r| and b r = r/r. If φ = φ(r) then show that div(φ(r)r) = 3φ(r)+rφ0 (r).
Using this to prove the following
1 d 2 1
(i) div (φ(r)b
r) = 2
r 2 dr (r φ(r)) (ii) div (b
r) = r (iii) div ( rr2 ) = r2

(iv) div (rn r) = (n + 3)rn .

10. Find the constant a so that f = y(ax2 + z)i + x(y 2 − z 2 )j + 2xy(z − xy)k is solenoidal.
11. Let f = (x + y + 1)i + j − (x + y)k. Find curl curl f = 0 and show that f · curl f = 0.
12. If v = w × r, where w is a constant vector, show that w = 21 curl v.
13. Show that the vector rn r is irrotational for any constant n, but is solenoidal only for n = −3.
14. Find the constant a and b such that f = (axy + z 3 )i + (3x2 − z)j + (bxz 2 − y)k is irrotational.
Then find the scalar potential of f.
15. Find the values of λ, µ, ν, so that the vector F~ = î(x + λy + 4z) + ĵ(2x − 3y + µz) + k̂(νx − y + 2z)
is irrotational. Find also the scalar function φ such that ∇φ = F~ .
16. If φ = xn + y n + z n , where n is a non-zero real constant, show that ∇φ.~r = nφ.
17. Prove the following identities:
(i) ∇ · (f × g) = g · (∇ × f) − f · (∇ × g).
(ii) ∇ × (∇ × f) = ∇(∇ · f) − ∇2 f.

18. If f = (5xy − 6x2 )i + (2y − 4x)j evaluate C f · dr, where C is the curve y = x3 from the point
R

(1, 1) to the point (2, 8).

2 2 2
R
19. If f = 3xyi − yj + 2zk evaluate C f · dr, where R C is the curve x + y = a .
20. If f = (2y + 3)i + xzj + (yz − x)k evaluate C f · dr, where C is the curve x = 2t2 , y = t, z = t2
from the point (0, 0, 0) to the point R (2, 1, 1).
21. If f = 2xyi − 4zj + 5xk evaluate C f · dr, where C is the curve x = t2 , y = 2t + 1, z = t3 from
the point t = 1 to the point t = 2.
22. Find the total work done by the force f = (2y − x2 )i + 6yzj − 8xz 2 k from the point (0, 0, 0) to
the point (1, 1, 1) along the straight line joining these points.
23. Let F~ (x, y, z) = x2 î − xy ĵ + k̂. Evaluate the line integral of F~ along the following paths.
(a) The straight line joining (0, 0, 0) to (1, 1, 1).
(b) The circle of radius 1, with center at the origin and lying in the yz plane, traversed
counterclockwise as viewed from the positive x axis.
(c) The parabola z = x2 , y = 0, between (−1, 0, 1) and (1, 0, 1).
(d) The straight line between (−1, 0, 1) and (1, 0, 1).

24. Using Green’s theorem find the area

Z enclosed between the parabolas y 2 = 4ax and x2 = 4ay.
25. Using Green’s theorem evaluate (x2 + xy) dx + (x2 + y 2 ) dy where C is the square formed by
C
the lines x = ±1, y = ±1. Z
26. Using Green’s theorem evaluate (2x2 − y 2 ) dx + (x2 + y 2 ) dy where C is the boundary of the
C
region in the xy-plane enclosed by the x-axis and the upper half of the circle x2 + y 2 = a2 .

1
 Z
27. Verify Green’s theorem for (3x2 − 8y 2 ) dx + (4y − 6xy) dy where C is the boundary of the
C
region enclosed by the lines Zx = 0, y = 0, x + y = 1.
28. Verify Green’s theorem for y 2 dx − x2 dy where C is the triangle with vertices (1, 0), (0, 1)
C
and (−1, 0). Z
29. Verify Green’s theorem for f · dr where f = (x2 + y 2 )i − 2xyj and C is the rectangle formed
C
by the lines x = ±a, y = 0, y = b.

30. Evaluate S f~ · ~n dS ,where f~ = 18z î − 12ĵ + 3y k̂ and S is the surface 2x + 3y + 6z = 12 in the

RR

first octant
RR .
31. Evaluate S f~ ·~n dS, where f~ = z î+xĵ −3y 2 z k̂ and S is the surface of the cylinder x2 +y 2 = 16
in the firstRRoctant between z = 0 to z = 5.
32. Evaluate S f~ · ~n dS, where f~ = 4xz î − y 2 ĵ − yz k̂ where S is the surface of the cube bounded
by x = 0, RRx = 1, y = 0, y = 1, z = 0, and z = 1.
33. Evaluate S f~ · ~n dS, where f~ = y î + 2xĵ − z k̂ and S is the surface of the plane 2x + y = 6, in
the first octant cut off by the plane z = 4.
34. Evaluate S φ n̂ dS, where φ = 83 xyz and S is the surface of the cylinder x2 + y 2 = 16, included
RR

in the first octant between z = 0 to z = 5.

35. If f~ = (2x2 − 3z)î − 2xy ĵ − 4xk̂, evaluate ∇ × f~ dV , where V is the region bounded by
RRR
V
RRR planes and the plane 2x + 2y + z = 4.
the coordinate
36. Evaluate V
(2x + y) dV where V is the closed region bounded by the cylinder z = 4 − x2 and
the planesRRx = 0, y = 0, y = 2andz = 0.
37. Evaluate S φ dV where φ = 45x2 y and V is the region bounded by the planes 4x + 2y2z = 8,
x = 0, y =RRR
0 and z = 0.
38. Evaluate V
∇·f~ dV if f~ = 4xy î+y ĵ−xy k̂ and V is bounded by x = 0, x = 2, y = 0, y = 2z = 0
and z = 2.