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02 Vector Calculus

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12 views

02 Vector Calculus

Uploaded by

Semih AYBASTI
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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VECTOR CALCULUS

Del Operator: 𝛁

The del operator is the vector differential operator. (aka gradient operator)

In cartesian coordinates: 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
∇= 𝜕𝑥 𝑎⃗𝑥 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑎⃗𝑦 + 𝜕𝑧 𝑎⃗𝑧

Del operator is not a vector itself, but when it operates on a scalar function, a vector emerges.

Gradient of a Scalar

The gradient of a scalar field 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is a vector that represents both the magnitude and the
direction of the maximum space rate of increase of 𝑓.

𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
∇𝑓 = grad𝑓 = 𝑎⃗𝑥 + 𝑎⃗𝑦 + 𝑎⃗
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑧

 The magnitude of ∇𝑓 equals the maximum rate of change in 𝑓 per unit distance.

 ∇𝑓 points in the direction of the maximum rate of change in 𝑓.

 ∇𝑓 at any point is perpendicular to the constant 𝑓 surface that passes through that point.

 The projection (or component of ∇𝑓 in the direction of a unit vector 𝑎⃗ is ∇𝑓 ∙ 𝑎⃗, and is
called the directional derivative of 𝑓 along 𝑎⃗. This is the rate of change of 𝑓 in the
direction of 𝑎⃗.

 If 𝐴⃗ = ∇𝑓, f is said to be the scalar potential of 𝐴⃗.

Divergence of a Vector

⃗⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) at a given point P is the outward flux per unit


The divergence of a vector field 𝑉
volume as the volume shrinks about P.
𝜕𝑉𝑥 𝜕𝑉𝑦 𝜕𝑉𝑧
⃗⃗ = div𝑉
∇∙𝑉 ⃗⃗ = + +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

 Divergence produces a scalar field. (Because scalar product is involved)

 The divergence of a scalar 𝑓, ∇ ∙ 𝑓 makes no sense.

 ∇ ∙ (𝐴⃗ + 𝐵
⃗⃗) = ∇ ∙ 𝐴⃗ + ∇ ∙ 𝐵
⃗⃗

 ∇ ∙ (𝑓𝐴⃗) = 𝑓∇ ∙ 𝐴⃗ + 𝐴⃗ ∙ ∇𝑓

Curl of a Vector (Rotational)

The curl of a vector field 𝑉


⃗⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is an axial (or rotational) vector whose magnitude is the

maximum circulation of 𝑉
⃗⃗ per unit area as the area tends to zero and whose direction is the
normal direction of the area when the area is oriented to make the circulation maximum.

𝑎⃗𝑥 𝑎⃗𝑦 𝑎⃗𝑧


𝜕𝑉𝑧 𝜕𝑉𝑦 𝜕𝑉𝑥 𝜕𝑉𝑧 𝜕𝑉𝑦 𝜕𝑉𝑥
⃗⃗ = 𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑉
∇×𝑉 ⃗⃗ = || 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕|
| = [ − ] 𝑎⃗𝑥 + [ − ] 𝑎⃗𝑦 + [ − ] 𝑎⃗
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑧
𝑉𝑥 𝑉𝑦 𝑉𝑧

 The curl of a vector field is another vector field.

 The curl of a scalar field 𝑓, ∇ × 𝑓 makes no sense.

 ∇ × (𝐴⃗ + 𝐵
⃗⃗) = ∇ × 𝐴⃗ + ∇ × 𝐵
⃗⃗

 ∇ × (𝐴⃗ × 𝐵
⃗⃗) = 𝐴⃗(∇ ∙ 𝐵 ⃗⃗(∇ ∙ 𝐴⃗) + (𝐵
⃗⃗) − 𝐵 ⃗⃗ ∙ ∇)𝐴⃗ − (𝐴⃗ ∙ ∇)𝐵
⃗⃗

 ∇ × (𝑓𝐴⃗) = 𝑓∇ × 𝐴⃗ + ∇𝑓 × 𝐴⃗
 The divergence of the curl of a vector field vanishes.

∇ ∙ (∇ × 𝐴⃗) = 0

 The curl of the gradient of a scalar field vanishes.

∇ × (∇𝑓) = 0

Laplacian of a Scalar

The Laplacian of a scalar field 𝑓, is the divergence of the gradient of 𝑓.

𝜕2𝑓 𝜕2𝑓 𝜕2𝑓


∇2 𝑓 = + +
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦 2 𝑑𝑧 2

 The Laplacian of a scalar field is another scalar field.

 ∇2 𝐴⃗ = ∇(∇ ∙ 𝐴⃗) − ∇ × (∇ × 𝐴⃗)

 The Laplacian of a vector field: ∇2 𝐴⃗ = ∇2 𝐴𝑥 𝑎⃗𝑥 + ∇2 𝐴𝑦 𝑎⃗𝑦 + ∇2 𝐴𝑧 𝑎⃗𝑧

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