# Calculation of Flux

Keywords: Small Group Activity, Vector Field, Coordinate Systems, Flux, Curvilinear Coordinates, Differential Elements

### Highlights of the activity

1. This small group activity is designed to help students learn how to calculate flux in curvilinear coordinates.
2. Students calculate the flux of a simple vector field ($\Vec{F}=C\, z\,\hat{k}$) through a cone.
3. The wrap-up discussion reinforces the concept that only the component of the vector field perpendicular to the surface contributes to the flux and how to find the differential area element on a surface that is not a “coordinate equals constant” surface.

### Reasons to spend class time on the activity

This is a relatively short, strictly computational small group activity that checks whether students understand the conceptual and computational definition of flux.

### Instructor's Guide

Authors: Corinne Manogue, Elizabeth Gire, and Tevian Dray
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