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A path-dependent vector field with zero curl An introduction to conservative
vector fields
How to determine if a vector field
is conservative

Our goal is to determine if the vector field

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F(x, y) = (
−y
,
x
)
Multivariable calculus
Previous: A conservative vector
2 2 2 2
x +y x +y

field has no circulation

is conservative (also called path-independent).
Next: Testing if three-
dimensional vector fields are
One condition for path independence is the following. For a simply connected domain, a continuously differentiable vector field F
conservative
is path-independent if and only if its curl is zero.
Math 2374
Since F(x, y) is two dimensional, we need to check the scalar curl Previous: A conservative vector
field has no circulation
∂ F2 ∂ F1
− . Next: Testing if three-
∂x ∂y
dimensional vector fields are
We calculate conservative

2 2
∂ F2 1 x(2x) y −x
= − =
∂x x
2
+y
2
(x
2
+y )
2 2
(x
2
+y )
2 2
Notation systems
2 2
∂ F1 1 y(2y) y −x
= − + = .
∂y x
2
+y
2
(x
2
+y )
2 2
(x
2
+y )
2 2 Select a notation system:
default Submit
Since these partial derivatives are equal, the curl is zero.
More information on notation
Can we conclude F is conservative? The problem is that F is not defined at the origin (0, 0). Its domain of definition has a hole in
systems
it, which for two-dimensional regions, is enough to prevent it from being simply connected. The test does not apply, and we still
don't know whether or not F is conservative.
Similar pages
A conservative vector field has no
Let's try another test, this time a test for path-dependence. If we can find a closed curve along which the integral of F is nonzero,
circulation
then we can conclude that F is path-dependent. If the curve does not go around the origin, then we can use Green's theorem to
Subtleties about curl
show the integral of F zero,
The idea behind Green's theorem
∂ F2 ∂ F1
Calculating the formula for
∫ F ⋅ ds = ∫ ( − ) dA = ∫ 0dA = 0,
∂x ∂y
circulation per unit area
B D D

The gradient theorem for line

as the vector field is defined everywhere in the region D inside the closed curve B . integrals
How to determine if a vector field is
We must try a closed curve where Green's theorem does not apply, i.e., one that goes around the point at the origin where F is not conservative
defined. We'll use the unit circle. Finding a potential function for
conservative vector fields
A counterclockwise parametrization of the unit circle is c(t) = (cos t, sin t) for 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π. On the unit circle, F takes a simple Finding a potential function for
form, three-dimensional conservative
vector fields
− sin t cos t
F(c(t)) = F(cos t, sin t) = (
2
,
2
) A simple example of using the
2 2
cos t + sin t cos t + sin t
gradient theorem
= (− sin t, cos t).
Testing if three-dimensional vector
Therefore, fields are conservative
More similar pages
b

′
∫ F ⋅ ds = ∫ F(c(t)) ⋅ c (t)dt
C a

2π

= ∫ (− sin t, cos t) ⋅ (− sin t, cos t)dt

0

2π 2π

2 2
= ∫ (sin t + cos t)dt = ∫ 1 dt = 2π.
0 0

The hole in the domain at the origin did end up causing trouble. We found a curve C where the circulation around C is not zero.
The vector field F is path-dependent.

This vector field is the two-dimensional analogue of one we used to illustrate the subtleties of curl, as it had curl-free macroscopic
circulation. The circulation can be clearly seen by plotting the vector field F. It's difficult to plot, because the vector field blows up
at the origin.

Further insight into F can be obtained from the fact that F has a potential function if, for example, you restrict yourself to the right
half-plane with x > 0. In this case, you can write F(x, y) = ∇f (x, y) , where f (x, y) = arctan(y/x). Of course, this potential
function cannot be extended to the whole plane, or we'd run into a contradiction with the fact that ∫ C
F ⋅ ds ≠ 0 when C is the
unit circle. Besides not being defined along the line x = 0, it is also discontinuous across that line. But, the existence of this
potential function explains why the curl should be zero away from the line x = 0. (The whole line x = 0 isn't special for F, as the
origin is the only point that causes problems. You could, for example, use f (x, y) = − arctan(x/y) for a potential function away
from the line y = 0.)

See also Go deeper

How to determine if a vector field is conservative The idea behind Green's theorem
Testing if three-dimensional vector fields are The idea behind Stokes' theorem
conservative
A conservative vector field has no circulation
Finding a potential function for conservative vector
fields
The idea of the curl of a vector field

Cite this as
Nykamp DQ, “A path-dependent vector field with zero curl.” From Math Insight. http://mathinsight.org/path_dependent_zero_curl

Keywords: circulation, conservative, counterexamples, curl, gradient theorem, Green's theorem, path independent

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A path-dependent vector field with zero curl by Duane Q. Nykamp is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License. For permissions
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