I magine you have a whale flying in space.

Imagine this space contains a velocity field like a space storm of some sort, (solar flare? )
eaither way this whale is being pushed though this whale has decided to moove on a using its
telekinetic abilities to stay in its path.
The path it has chosen is from the center of the origin where the center is weekes following its spiral
motion upwards in a helical fashion. On down again to its starting position exatly in a mirror helix path.

To compute this we only need the field F(x,y,z) and the parameterized curve r(t)

The given vector field that is been examined is F(x,y,z ) = x+y, x-y, 2z

Lets see a 3d picture from Octave :)

this flying motion will also rewieel wheter the there is friction in the system, in other words if the field
is conservative.
In such case the work done on the whale will be 0, lets see it it so.

A crude guess by simply looking at the field from above (x-y plane ) would not suggest this. Intuitivly
I would think that if you made a track in a circle with center in the middle and you placed a whale
there it would get push around by it self. But the math suggest something different.

(When I made this calculation I accedently switced the minus and plus in F so I ended up with F2=
x+y, x-y, 2z It dosent really matter in this case the whale wont feel the difference if the field is not zero
its will simply get the opposite work.

so. lets see we need to

turen op:
(mistake now called F plus and minus swoped!! ) F = x-y, y+x,2z

parameterization around Z axis cc seen from above (helix is like a screw turns)
 b

F (r (t )) r ' (t ) dt
a

borderes : r (a) = 0, r (b) = 2 pi

r (t) = cos (t) , sin (t ) , t

r ' (t ) = (sin (t) , cos (t ) , 1)

F (r (t)) = cost sint , cost + sint , 2 t

F (r (t)) r ' (t) = 1 + 2 t

2 pi

1 + 2 t dt
0

[t + t 2 ] 2 pi = 2 pi + (2 pi)
0

Now if we go a different way back? Do we get 0 in total?

Helix is now going opsite a screw treads.

opposite helix screw

b

F (r (t )) r ' (t ) dt
a

borderes : r (a) = 2 pi , r ( b) = 0

r (t) = cos (t) , sin (t) , t (notice minus sine)

r ' (t ) = (sin (t) , cos (t) , 1)
F (r (t)) = sint + cost , sint cost , 2 t
F (r (t)) r ' (t) = 1 + 2 t

wau the same integral as before ... nearly ..

already now it will be the same result with a minus ..
0

1 + 2 t dt
2 pi

[t + t ] 0
2
= 2 pi (2 pi )
2 pi
thus total work = 0. .. therefore confirmed its , conservative .
FLUX Whale

Field
Vector field chosen by F (x , y , z ) = ( x y , x + y , 2 z)
to get the flux pasiing through an object
it is possible use the Gauss / Divergence therom to make it esier we devide the object into 4 segments or 4 volum

A , B , C , D
these voumes are calculated seperatly using the Gauss therom :

( F n) ds = ( F) dV
s R

To begin with we must find the divergence of bold F , which gives us a scalar,
which we use as the interand , (this is the same integrand for each volume ) calculated as F

d (x y ) d (x + y) d (2 z )
F = + + = 1+1+2= 4
dx dy dz

(the following equations a simplified an may not contain all necesary steps to follow the path of thought smoothly
FLUX Whale

Field
Vector field chosen by F (x , y , z ) = ( x y , x + y , 2 z)
to get the flux pasiing through an object
it is possible use the Gauss / Divergence therom to make it esier we devide the object into 4 segments or 4 volum

A , B , C , D
these voumes are calculated seperatly using the Gauss therom :

( F n) ds = ( F) dV
s R

To begin with we must find the divergence of bold F , which gives us a scalar which we use as the interand , (this i

d (x y ) d (x + y) d (2 z )
F = + + = 1+1+2= 4
dx dy dz

(the following equations a simplified an may not contain all necesary steps to follow the path of thought smoothly
A

For A the integral is defined as :

A borders :

0 y4z
0 z 1 x2
1 x 1

2
1 1 x 4 z

4 dy dz dx
1 0 0
2
1 1 x

[4 y ] 4 z dz dx
1 0 0
1 1 x2

4 4 z dz dx
1 0
1
z 1 x2
4 [4 z
2
]
0
dx
1
1

2 x 2 6 x 2 + 7 dx
1
x 6 x2
2 [ + 7 x] 1
3 2 1
96
thus A =
5
B

For B the integral is defined as :

B borders :

0 y z+4
x2 1 z 0
1 x 1
1 0 z+ 4

2
4 dy dz dx
1 x 1 0

The the volume of B is the exact same as that of A,

only mirrored in z=0.
Also the vector field F is symetric around the z axis.
Ffrom this One could argue that the 2 volume integrals should gives the same result
wich they do ; )
96
thus A = B =
5
The mathemathical deriviation of B is let out for now, though carried out to check

For C the integral is defined as :

C borders :

2 z 3 y 0
0 z 1 x2
1 x 1
1 02 z3

2
4 dy dz dx
1 1 x 0
1 0

[4 y ] 0 dz dx
1 1 x
2 2 z 3
1 0

2
8 z + 12 dz dx
1 1 x
1
8 z2 2
[ + 12 z ] 1 x dz dx
1 2 0
1
4 x 4 5 x + 4 dx
1
304
C =
15
D

Borders :

2 z 3 y 0
x2 1 z 0
1 x 1

For D, the integral is defined as :

1 0 0

2
4 dy dz dx
1 1 x 2 z 3
1 0

[4 y ] 0 dz dx
1 1 x
2 2 z 3
1 0

2
8 z + 12 dz dz dx
1 1 x
1
2 0
[ 4 z + 12 z ]
1 x2
dx
1
1
4 2
4 x + x 2 x dx
1
x5 x3
4 [ + 2 x] 1
5 3 1
D = 176

352
Total flux of A + B + C + D = = 70.4
5