The University of Sydney

School of Mathematics and Statistics

Tutorial 8 (Week 9)
MATH2061: Vector Calculus Semester 1

Preparatory questions (attempt before the tutorial)

1. Find grad f if f (x, y) = x2 cos xy.

2. Find grad φ if φ(x, y, z) = 3x + 4y − 8z.

3. Find ∇φ if φ(x, y, z) = ex y + 3xyz.

4. Calculate curl F if F = (sinh x) i + (cosh y) j − xyz k.

5. Let S be the surface defined by z = xy.

(a) Find a normal to this surface at the point P : (2, 3, 6).
(b) Find the equation of the tangent plane to S at P .
√
6. Find a unit vector normal to the sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 4 at the point (1, 1, 2).
Sketch the surface, and the normal you have found.

7. (a) Given that F = 3x2 i + 4yz j + (2y 2 − 5) k is conservative, find a scalar

function φ such that F = ∇φ.
(b) Find the work done by F along any path C from the point P (0, 0, 0) to the
point Q (2, 1, 1).

Tutorial questions

8. Let F be the vector field F = (2x + sin yz)i + (2y + xz cos yz)j + (2z + xy cos yz)k.

(a) Show that F is conservative and find a potential function for F.

Z
(b) Evaluate F · dr where C is the curve x = t, y = t2 , z = t4 from t = 0 to
C
t = 1.

9. Determine whether or not the vector field F is conservative.

x y z
F= p i+ p j+ p k.
x2 + y 2 + z 2 x2 + y 2 + z 2 x2 + y 2 + z 2

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 Some answers to preparatory questions

1.
∂f ∂f
grad f = ∇f = i+ j = 2x cos xy − x2 y sin xy) i − x3 sin xy j.
∂x ∂y

2.
∂φ ∂φ ∂φ
grad φ = ∇φ = i+ j+ k = 3 i + 4 j − 8 k.
∂x ∂y ∂z

3.
∂φ ∂φ ∂φ
∇φ = grad φ = i+ j+ k = (ex y + 3yz) i + (ex + 3xz) j + 3xy k.
∂x ∂y ∂z

4.  
 i j k 

 ∂ ∂ ∂ 
∇ × F =  = −xz i + yz j.
 ∂x ∂y ∂z 
sinh x cosh y −xyz