Section 16.

3: The Fundamental Theorem for Line Integrals

Suppose 𝐹𝐹⃗ is a continuous vector field in some domain D.
• 𝐹𝐹⃗ is called a conservative vector field if there exists a function f such that 𝐹𝐹⃗ = ∇𝑓𝑓. In this
situation f is called a potential function for 𝐹𝐹⃗ .
• ∫𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹⃑ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑ is independent of path if ∫𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃗ = ∫𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃗ for any two piece-wise smooth
1 2
curves (paths) 𝐶𝐶1 and 𝐶𝐶2 in D that have the same initial and terminal points.
• A path C is closed if its initial and terminal points are one and the same.
• A path C is simple if it doesn’t cross itself.
• D is open if it doesn’t contain any of its boundary points.
• D is connected if any two points in D can be joined by a path that lies completely in D.
• D is simply-connected if it is connected and contains no holes.

Don’t get overwhelmed by the details!

The big idea of this section is that line integrals of conservative vector fields can be evaluated using a
different method than those we explored in Section 16.2. That alternative method is presented in the
theorem that follows. The key to using this theorem is to find a function f such that 𝐹𝐹⃗ = ∇𝑓𝑓.

The Fundamental Theorem for Line Integrals

Facts
1. ∫𝐶𝐶 ∇𝑓𝑓 ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑ is independent of path.

2. If 𝐹𝐹⃗ is a conservative vector field, then ∫𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹⃑ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑ is independent of path in domain D.
3. The gravitational field is a conservative vector field. As a result, the work done by gravity when an
object moves depends only on the starting and ending points and not the path between those points.
4. The work done by a conservative force field as it moves an object around a closed path C is 0.

5. ∫𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹⃑ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑ is independent of path in D if and only if ∫𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹⃑ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑ = 0 for every closed path C in D.

6. If ∫𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹⃑ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑ ≠ 0 for some closed path C in D, then ∫𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹⃑ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑ is not path independent in D.

7. If 𝐹𝐹⃗ is a continuous vector field on an open connected region D and if ∫𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹⃑ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑ is independent of
path in D, then 𝐹𝐹⃗ is a conservative vector field on D.
1
Conservative Vector Fields

Exercise 1: 𝐹𝐹⃑ (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) = (𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑦𝑦 2 )𝚤𝚤⃑ − 2𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝚥𝚥⃑ is a vector field on ℝ2 , which is an open and simply
connected region. Apply Theorem 6 to decide whether or not 𝐹𝐹⃑ is conservative. If it is, find a potential
function f.

2
 �⃗
Exercise 2: Consider the conservative vector field 𝐹𝐹⃑ (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧) = sin 𝑦𝑦 𝚤𝚤⃑ + (𝑥𝑥 cos 𝑦𝑦 + cos 𝑧𝑧) 𝚥𝚥⃑ − 𝑦𝑦 sin 𝑧𝑧 𝑘𝑘
�⃗ , 0 ≤ 𝑡𝑡 ≤ 𝜋𝜋/2. Use the Fundamental
and the parameterized curve C given by 𝑟𝑟⃗(𝑡𝑡) = sin 𝑡𝑡 𝚤𝚤⃗ + 𝑡𝑡𝚥𝚥⃗ + 2𝑡𝑡𝑘𝑘
Theorem for Line Integrals to evaluate ∫ 𝐹𝐹⃑ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑.
𝐶𝐶

3
Exercise 3: Consider the line integral ∫𝐶𝐶 sin 𝑦𝑦 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + (𝑥𝑥 cos 𝑦𝑦 − sin 𝑦𝑦)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑, where C is any path from
(2,0) to (1, 𝜋𝜋).
a. Show that the line integral is independent of path (𝐹𝐹⃗ is conservative).

b. Find a potential function 𝑓𝑓 such that 𝐹𝐹⃗ (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) =< sin 𝑦𝑦 , 𝑥𝑥 cos 𝑦𝑦 − sin 𝑦𝑦 >= ∇𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦).

c. Use your result from Part b along with the Fundamental Theorem for Line Integrals to evaluate
∫𝐶𝐶 sin 𝑦𝑦 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + (𝑥𝑥 cos 𝑦𝑦 − sin 𝑦𝑦)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑.

4
Exercise 4: Show that 𝐹𝐹⃑ (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) = (𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦)𝚤𝚤⃑ + (𝑦𝑦 2 − 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦)𝚥𝚥⃑ is NOT a conservative vector field,
therefore the Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals cannot be used to evaluate ∫ 𝐹𝐹⃑ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑.
𝐶𝐶

Exercise 5: A vector field 𝐹𝐹⃑ is pictured at right. Is ∫𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹⃑ ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑟⃑

independent of path in its domain D? Is 𝐹𝐹⃗ a conservative vector field?

Exercise 6: Find the work done by the force field 𝐹𝐹⃑ (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) = 𝑥𝑥 3 𝚤𝚤⃑ + y 3 𝚥𝚥⃑ in moving an object around a
circular path of radius 3 centered at the origin.