Module 16 :  Line Integrals, Conservative fields Green's Theorem and applications
Lecture 47 :  Fundamental Theorems of Calculus for Line integrals [Section 47.1]
47.1.1 Theorem (Fundamental theorem for line integrals):
(i)

Let be an open set in and be a continuously differentiable scalar field. Let

 

and let , be any smooth curve in such that initial point of is and final point of is . Then

(ii)

Let be a continuously differentiable vector-field such that is conservative, i.e.,

 

for some continuously differentiable scalar field on . Then, for and for any smooth curve

  We have

  Proof
(i)

Consider the function

(ii)

Then is a continuously differentiable function with

 

Hence, by fundamental theorem of calculus for a single variable,


(ii) This follows from (i).

We give next some applications of this theorem.

 

Back

   
   
3