Let \(S\) be an oriented surface in space that is planar; that is, \(S\) lies in a
plane. With \(S\) one can associate the vector \(\mathbf{S}\), which has the
direction of the normal chosen on \(S\) and has a length equal to the area of
\(S\).
a) Show that if \(S_{1}, S_{2}, S_{3}, S_{4}\) are the faces of a tetrahedron,
oriented so that the normal is the exterior normal, then
$$
\mathbf{S}_{1}+\mathbf{S}_{2}+\mathbf{S}_{3}+\mathbf{S}_{4}=\mathbf{0} \text
{. }
$$
[Hint: Let \(\mathbf{S}_{i}=A_{i} \mathbf{n}_{i}\left(A_{i}>0\right)\) for \(i=1,
\ldots, 4\) and let \(\mathbf{S}_{1}+\cdots+\mathbf{S}_{4}=\mathbf{b}\). Let
\(p_{1}\) be the foot of the altitude on face \(S_{1}\) and join \(p_{1}\) to the
vertices of \(S_{1}\) to form three triangles of areas \(A_{12}, \ldots, A_{14}\).
Show that, for proper numbering, \(A_{1 j}=\pm A_{j} \mathbf{n}_{j} \cdot
\mathbf{n}_{1}\), with \(+\) or - according as \(\mathbf{n}_{j} \cdot
\mathbf{n}_{1}>0\) or \(<0\), and \(A_{1 j}=0\) if \(\mathbf{n}_{j} \cdot
\mathbf{n}_{1}=0(j=2,3,4)\). Hence deduce that \(\mathbf{b} \cdot
\mathbf{n}_{j}=0\) for \(j=2,3,4\) and thus \(\mathbf{b} \cdot \mathbf{b}=0\).]
b) Show that the result of (a) extends to an arbitrary convex polyhedron with
faces \(S_{1}, \ldots, S_{n}\), that is, that
$$
\mathbf{S}_{1}+\mathbf{S}_{2}+\cdots+\mathbf{S}_{n}=\mathbf{0},
$$
when the orientation is that of the exterior normal.
c) Using the result of (b), indicate a reasoning to justify the relation
$$
\iint_{S} \mathbf{v} \cdot d \boldsymbol{\sigma}=0
$$
for any convex closed surface \(S\) (such as the surface of a sphere or
ellipsoid), provided that \(\mathbf{v}\) is a constant vector.
d) Apply the result of (b) to a triangular prism whose edges represent the
vectors \(\mathbf{a}, \mathbf{b}\), \(\mathbf{a}+\mathbf{b}\), c to prove the
distributive law (Equation (1.19)
$$
\mathbf{c} \times(\mathbf{a}+\mathbf{b})=\mathbf{c} \times
\mathbf{a}+\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{b}
$$
for the vector product. This is the method used by Gibbs (cf. the book by
Gibbs listed at the end of this chapter).