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Vector Converted 2 29

The gradient of a scalar field is a vector whose magnitude represents the maximum rate of change of the scalar field at a point and whose direction is normal to the level surfaces of the scalar field at that point. The divergence of a vector field at a point represents the net outflow of the vector from that point per unit volume. The curl of a vector field at a point represents the maximum circulation of the vector around an infinitesimal area element at that point per unit area.

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Adarsh Sah
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36 views

Vector Converted 2 29

The gradient of a scalar field is a vector whose magnitude represents the maximum rate of change of the scalar field at a point and whose direction is normal to the level surfaces of the scalar field at that point. The divergence of a vector field at a point represents the net outflow of the vector from that point per unit volume. The curl of a vector field at a point represents the maximum circulation of the vector around an infinitesimal area element at that point per unit area.

Uploaded by

Adarsh Sah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GRADIENT of a Scalar field

Gradient
 The gradient of a scalar field S is a vector
whose magnitude at any point is equal to
the maximum rate of increase of S at that
point and whose direction is along the
normal to the level surface at that point.

 Grad S = ∂S/∂n n
 Gradientis a differential
operator by means of which
we can associate a vector field
with a scalar field.
Gradient
• Let S(x, y, z) be a scalar point function depending
on the three Cartesian coordinates in space.
• Suppose ∂S/ ∂x, ∂S/ ∂y and ∂S/ ∂z be the partial
derivatives along the three perpendicular axes
respectively.
• grad S = S = i (∂S/ ∂x) + j (∂S/ ∂y) + k( ∂S/ ∂z)
where = i (∂/ ∂x) + j (∂/ ∂y) + k( ∂/ ∂z)
 Gradient: is a vector; hence, we can
fully identify it using two pieces of
information:
 A-Direction: it points in the direction
of the biggest increase in the
function.
 B-Magnitude: its magnitude
determines the slope(the derivative)
of that direction.
Gradient tells you how much
something changes as you move
from one point to another (such
as the pressure in a stream).
The gradient always points in the
direction of the maximum rate of
change in a field.
 Intensity of electric field E,( a vector
quantity) is the gradient of potential V(a
scalar quantity) with negative sign i.e.,

 E = -grad V

 The negative sign indicates that the


direction of field intensity is opposite to
the direction of increase of potential
Divergence of a
Vector Field
 The divergence of a vector
field at any point is defined as
“ the amount of flux per unit
volume diverging from that
point.”
 Divergence of A =
div A = .A

= (i (∂/ ∂x) + j (∂/ ∂y) + k( ∂/ ∂z)) .


(iAx+jAy+kAz)

= (∂Ax/ ∂x) + (∂Ay/ ∂y) + ( ∂Az/ ∂z)


Divergence
PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANCE
 Divergence of vector quality indicates how
much the vector quality spreads out from
the certain point.
 Imagine a fluid, with the vector field
representing the velocity of the fluid at each
point in space. Divergence measures the net
flow of fluid out of (i.e., diverging from) a
given point. If fluid is instead flowing into
that point, the divergence will be negative.
Divergence
PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANCE
 A point or region with positive divergence
is often referred to as a "source" (of fluid,
or whatever the field is describing), while a
point or region with negative divergence is
a "sink".
 If div V = 0, then the fluid entering and
leaving is the same . i.e., the fluid is
incompressible and the vector is called
Solenoidal vector
Divergence
 The divergence of current density J gives the
amount of charge flowing per unit volume
per second from small element of closed
surface around that point.
 div J =0 , indicates medium is of free charges.
CURL OF A VECTOR FIELD
Curl
• The maximum line integral of the vector per
unit area.
• Curl A = X A
• (i (∂/ ∂x) + j (∂/ ∂y) + k( ∂/ ∂z)) X (iAx+jAy+kAz)
i j k
= ∂/ ∂x ∂/ ∂y ∂/ ∂z
Ax Ay Az
b
A B
a

c
D C
d
Curl
– PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANCE
• Curl of vector quality indicates that how
much the vector quality curls or twist
around.
• Example: Rotating water in a bucket has
curl. You can measure curl by putting a
piece of dust in the liquid and seeing if
it spins around its own axis.
Curl
EXAMPLES
 Curl of an electric field results the
rate of change of magnetic field in
perpendicular direction.
 Curl of magnetic field results the
flow of electricity.
 Curl V = 2 ω
Where V is the linear velocity and ω
is the angular velocity of a rigid
body.
S. Nature of divergence Fluid nature
No. & curl

1 div A = 0 Incompressible

2 div A ≠ 0 Compressible

3 curl A = 0 Irrotational

4 curl A ≠ 0 Rotational

5 div A = 0 & curl = 0 Irrotational flow of incompressible fluid

6 div A ≠ 0 & curl = 0 Irrotatioal flow of compressible fluid

7 div A = 0 & curl A≠0 Rotatioal flow of incompressible fluid

8 div A ≠ 0 & curl A≠0 Rotational flow of compressible fluid

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