(a) For F to be conservative, it must pass
the screening test
0=∇×F=det^∂x∂(x−a)yex^∂y∂xex+z3k^∂z∂byz2=(bz2−3z2)^−(0−0)^+(ex+xex−(x−a)ex)k^
This is the case if and only if b=3 and a=−1
(b) Set a=−1 and b=3. For f to be a potential for F,
it must obey
∂x∂f(x,y,z)∂y∂f(x,y,z)∂z∂f(x,y,z)=(x+1)yex=xex+z3=3yz2
Integrating the second of these equations gives
f(x,y,z)=xyex+yz3+g(x,z)
Substituting this into the last equation gives
3yz2+∂z∂g(x,z)=3yz2or∂z∂g(x,z)=0
which forces
g(x,z)=h(x)
Finally, substituting f(x,y,z)=xyex+yz3+h(x)
into the first equation gives
xyex+yex+h′(x)=(x+1)yexorh′(x)=0
So h(x)=C and hence f(x,y,z)=xyex+yz3+C
works for any constant C.
(c) Since F=∇f,
∫CF⋅dr=∫C∇f⋅dr=f(r(π))−f((r(0))=f(π,1,−1)−f(0,1,1)=[πeπ−1]−[1]=πeπ−2
(d) Since
∫CF⋅dr=∫C(x+1)yexdx+(xex+z3)dy+3yz2dz
we have
I=∫CF⋅dr+∫Cyz2dz=πeπ−2+∫0π(cos2t)ycos2tz2(−sint)dtdz=πeπ−2+∫0π(2cos2t−1)cos2t(−sint)dt=πeπ−2+∫1−1(2u2−1)u2duwith u=cost, du=−sintdt=πeπ−2+[52u5−3u3]1−1=πeπ−2+[−54+32]=πeπ−1532