1. Let $S$ be the portion of the plane $z = 3$ over the region $D = \{(x,y) : x^2 + y^2 \le 4\}$. Compute the scalar surface integral $\iint_S (x^2 + y^2)\, dS$.
- A.$4\pi$
- B.$8\pi$
- C.$16\pi$
- D.$12\pi$
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Answer: $8\pi$
Set up the integral: For the plane $z = 3$, we can parametrize as $\mathbf{r}(x,y) = \langle x, y, 3\rangle$. Then $\mathbf{r}_x \times \mathbf{r}_y = \langle 0,0,1\rangle$, so $|\mathbf{r}_x \times \mathbf{r}_y| = 1$ and $dS = dA$. Evaluate using polar coordinates: $$\iint_D (x^2+y^2)\,dA = \int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{2} r^2 \cdot r\,dr\,d\theta = 2\pi \int_0^2 r^3\,dr = 2\pi \cdot \frac{r^4}{4}\Big|_0^2 = 2\pi \cdot 4 = 8\pi.$$ Why distractors fail: Option A ($4\pi$) results from forgetting the extra $r$ in the polar area element. Option C ($16\pi$) comes from evaluating $\frac{r^4}{4}$ as $\frac{16}{1}$ instead of $4$. Option D ($12\pi$) is an arithmetic error.