For a vector field of the form $\underline{v}(x,y) = (a(x), b(y)).$ How would you use Green's Theorem to prove that $\oint_C\underline{v}.d\underline{r} = 0$ for any simple closed curve $C\subset \mathbb{R}^2$? I know that when $\underline{v}$ is conservative you just use the FTC for vector fields but when $\underline{v}$ isn't conservative?
Greens theorem and closed curves
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vector-analysis
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0I would not try to prove that, cause it's not true. See, eg., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_vector_field (the section about path independence). – 2012-03-22
1 Answers
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Assume the domain of ${\bf v}$ is convex and let $x\mapsto A(x)$, $y\mapsto B(y)$ be primitives of the functions $x\mapsto a(x)$ and $y\mapsto b(y)$ respectively. Then ${\bf v}=\nabla F$ for the scalar function $F(x,y):=A(x)+B(y)$. It follows that ${\bf v}$ is conservative, whence $\int_C{\bf v}\cdot d{\bf r}$ is zero for any closed curve $C\subset{\rm dom}({\bf v})$.