Vector Algebra and Calculus

1. Revision of vector algebra, scalar product, vector product

2. Triple products, multiple products, applications to geometry
3. Differentiation of vector functions, applications to mechanics
4. Scalar and vector fields. Line, surface and volume integrals, curvilinear co-ordinates
5. Vector operators grad, div and curl
6. Vector Identities, curvilinear co-ordinate systems
7. Gauss and Stokes Theorems and extensions
8. Engineering Applications

6. Vector Operators: Grad, Div and Curl

We introduce three field operators which reveal interesting collective field properties, viz.
the gradient of a scalar field,
the divergence of a vector field, and
the curl of a vector field.
There are two points to get over about each:
The mechanics of taking the grad, div or curl, for which you will need to brush up your calculus of several
variables.
The underlying physical meaning that is, why they are worth bothering about.

The gradient of a scalar field

6.2

Recall the discussion of temperature distribution, where we wondered how a scalar would vary as we moved off in
an arbitrary direction ...
If U(r) is a scalar field, its gradient is defined in Cartesians coords by
gradU =

U
U
U
k.
+
+
x
y
z

It is usual to define the vector operator




+
+ k
=
x
y
z
which is called del or nabla. We can write gradU U
NB: gradU or U is a vector field!
Without thinking too hard, notice that gradU tends to point in the direction of greatest change of the scalar field U

The gradient of a scalar field

6.3

0.1

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
4
4

2
2

0
0
2

2
4

 Examples of gradient evaluation

1. U =hx 2

U = x
+ y
+k
Only /x exists so

6.4

x2
U = 2x .

2. U = r 2 = x 2 + y 2 + z 2, so



U =
+
+k
(x 2 + y 2 + z 2)
x
y
z

= 2x + 2y + 2z k
= 2r
.

3. U = c r, where c is constant.



U =
+
+ k
(c1x + c2y + c3 z )
x
y
z
=c .
= c1 + c2 + c3k

 Another Example ...

6.5

p
4. U = f (r ), where r = (x 2 + y 2 + z 2 )
U is a function of r alone so df /dr exists. As U = f (x, y , z ) also,
f
df r
=
x
dr x

f
df r
=
y
dr y

f
f
f
U = + + k
x
y
z

df
=
dr

p
But r = x 2 + y 2 + z 2, so r /x = x/r and similarly for y , z .
df
U =
dr

f
df r
=
.
z
dr z

x + y + z k
r


r
r
r
+ + k
x
y
z

df  r 
=
.
dr r

Note that f (r ) is spherically symmetrical and the resultant vector field is radial out of a sphere.

The significance of grad

6.6

We know that the total dierential and grad are defined as

dU =

U
U
U
U
U
U
k
dx +
dy +
dz & U =
+
+
x
y
z
x
y
z

So, we can rewrite the change in U as

= U dr
dU = U (dx + dy + dz k)
Conclude that
U dr is the small change in U when we move by dr

Significance /ctd

6.7

We also know (Lecture 3) that dr has magnitude ds.

r

So divide by ds
 
dr
dU
= U

ds
ds

gradU
U(r)
dr
U(r + dr)

But dr/ds is a unit vector in the direction of dr.

Conclude that
is the projection of
gradU has the property that the rate of change of U wrt distance in any direction d
gradU onto that direction
d

Directional derivatives
That is

dU
= U d

(in direction of d)
ds
The quantity dU/ds is called a directional derivative.
In general, a directional derivative
had a different value for each direction,
has no meaning until you specify the direction.
We could also say that
At any point P, gradU
* points in the direction of greatest rate of change of U wrt distance at P, and
* has magnitude equal to the rate of change of U wrt distance in that direction.

6.8

Grad perpendicular to U constant surface

6.9

Think of a surface of constant U the locus (x, y , z ) for U(x, y , z ) = const

If we move a tiny amount within the surface, that is in any tangential direction, there is no change in U, so
dU/ds = 0. So for any dr/ds in the surface
U

dr
= 0.
ds

gradU

Conclusion is that:
gradU is NORMAL to a surface
of constant U

Surface of constant U
Surface of constant U
These are called Level Surfaces

The divergence of a vector field

6.10

Let a be a vector field:

a(x, y , z ) = a1 + a2 + a3k
The divergence of a at any point is defined in Cartesian co-ordinates by
div a =

a1 a2 a3
+
+
x
y
z

The divergence of a vector field is a scalar field.

We can write div as a scalar product with the vector differential operator:



+
+ k
aa
div a
x
y
z

 Worked examples of divergence evaluation

6.11

diva
1
3
0
(r c)/r where c is constant

a
x

r(= x + y + z k)
r/r 3
rc
Eg 3: div (r/r 3) = 0
The x component of r/r 3 is x.(x 2 + y 2 + z 2 )3/2
We need to find /x of it ...

3
3
5
3 2

x.(x 2 + y 2 + z 2 ) 2 = 1.(x 2 + y 2 + z 2) 2 + x
(x + y 2 + z 2) 2 .2x
x
2


3
2 2
= r
1 3x r

Adding this to similar terms for y and z gives

r

3 3(x + y + z )r

= r 3 (3 3) = 0

The significance of div

6.12

z
Consider vector field f(r) (eg water flow).
This vector has magnitude equal to the mass of
water crossing a unit area perpendicular to the
direction of f per unit time.

dz
dS =
+dxdz j

dS =
dxdzj

Take volume element dV and compute balance of

the flow of f in and out of dV .

y
dx
dy
x

Look at the shaded face on the left

The contribution to OUTWARD flux from surface is
(dx dz ) = fy (y )dxdz .
f(y ) dS = [fx (y ) + fy (y ) + fz (y )k]

Look at the shaded face on the right ...

6.13

A similar contribution, but of opposite sign, will arise from the

opposite face ...
BUT! we must remember that we have moved along y by an
amount dy .

dz
dS =
+dxdz j

dS =
dxdzj

So that this OUTWARD amount is

f(y + dy ) dS = fy (y + dy )dxdz


fy
= fy +
dy dxdz
y

y
dx
dy
x

Hence the total outward amount from these two faces is



fy
fy
fy
fy dxdz + fy +
dy dxdz =
dy dxdz =
dV
y
y
y

The significance of div, ctd

6.14

z
Repeat: Total efflux from these faces is
fy
fy
dy dxdz =
dV
y
y

dz
dS =
+dxdz j

dS =
dxdzj

Summing the other faces gives a total outward flux



fx fy fz
f) dV
+
+
dV = (
x
y
z

y
dx
dy
x

Conclusion:
The divergence of a vector field represents the flux generation per unit volume at each point of the field.
* Divergence because it is an efflux not an influx.
* We also saw that the total efflux from the infinitesimal volume was equal to the flux integrated over the surface
of the volume.

The Laplacian: div(gradU) of a scalar field

6.15

gradU of any scalar field U is a vector field. We can take the div of any vector field. we can certainly compute
div(gradU)
 
 


U) = +
+k

+
+k
U
(
x
y
z
x
y
z
 



+
U
+k
+k
=
+
x
y
z
x
y
z
 2

2
2
U U U
=
+
+ 2
x 2
y 2
z
The operator 2 (del-squared) is called the Laplacian

 2
2
2

+
+
U
2 U =
x 2 y 2 z 2
and often appears in engineering in Laplaces equation and Poissons equation
2 U = 0

and

2 U =

 Examples of 2U evaluation

6.16

U
r 2(= x 2 + y 2 + z 2 )
xy 2z 3
1/r

2 U
6
2xz 3 + 6xy 2z
0

Lets prove the last example

1
1/r = (x 2 + y 2 + z 2) 2 and so
2 2

2
2 12
2
2
2 3/2
(x
+
y
+
z
)

x.(x
+
y
+
z
)
=
x 2
x
= (x 2 + y 2 + z 2)3/2 + 3x.x.(x 2 + y 2 + z 2 )5/2


x2
1
= 3 1 + 3 2
r
r
Adding up similar terms for y and z
1
1
2 = 3
r
r

(x 2 + y 2 + x 2)
3 + 3
r2

=0

The curl of a vector field

6.17

So far we have seen the operator ...

(i) Applied to a scalar field U; and (ii) Dotted with a vector field a.
You are now overwhelmed by irrestible urge to ...
(iii) cross it with a vector field:

This gives the curl of a vector eld

a curl(a)
We can follow the pseudo-determinant recipe for vector products, so that


 k
 






a
a
a
a
a
a
 
z
y
x
z
y
x

=
a =  x

k

y
z


y
z
z
y
x
y
 ax ay az 

 Examples of curl evaluation

6.18

a
y + x

x 2y 2k

2k
2x 2y 2xy 2

2nd example:


k

=  /x /y /z
(x 2 y 2k)

 0
0
x 2y 2
= x 22y 2xy 2
= 2x 2y 2xy 2

The signficance of curl

6.19

First example gives a clue ... the field a = y + x is sketched below.

which is in the r-h screw direction out of the page.
This field has a curl of 2k,
You can also see that a field like this must give a finite value to the line integral around the complete loop

a dr.

The signficance of curl

6.20

In fact curl is closely related to the line integral around a loop.

The circulation of a vector field a round any closed curve C is defined to be
I
a dr
C

The curl of the vector field a represents the

* the vorticity, or
* the circulation per unit area in the direction of the areas normal

The signficance of curl, ctd

6.21

The signficance of curl, ctd

6.22

a(x, y + dy , z)

a(x + dx, y + dy , z)

y + dy

a(x + dx, y , z)
a(x, y , z)

x + dx

The signficance of curl, ctd

6.23

y
y + dy
dr = [0, dy , 0]

dr = [dx, 0, 0]

dr = [0, dy , 0]

dr = [dx, 0, 0] x + dx
Consider the circulation round the perimeter of a rectangle dx by dy ...

The signficance of curl, ctd

6.24

y
y + dy

a(x, y + dy , z )
[dx, 0, 0]

[0, dy , 0]

[0, dy , 0]
a(x + dx, y , z )

a(x, y , z )
I

[dx, 0, 0]

x + dx





a dr = a(x, y , z ). dx 0 0 + a(x + dx, y , z ). 0 dy 0
C




+a(x, y + dy , z ). dx 0 0 + a(x, y , z ). 0 dy 0

The signficance of curl, ctd

I





a dr = a(x, y , z ). dx 0 0 + a(x + dx, y , z ). 0 dy 0
C




+a(x, y + dy , z ). dx 0 0 + a(x, y , z ). 0 dy 0
= ax (x, y , z )dx + ay (x + dx, y , z )
ax (x, y + dy , z )dx ay (x, y , z )dy
ay
= ax dx + ay dy +
dxdy
x
ax
ax dx
dy dx ay dy
y


ay ax
=

dxdy
x
y

a) dxdy k
= (
a) dS
= (

6.25

The signficance of curl, ctd

6.26

Rceapping: consider circulation round the perimeter of a rectangle dx by dy

y
y+dy

ax (y+dy)

ax
dy
y

The fields in the y -direction at left and right are

ay (x) and ay (x + dx) = ay (x) +

ay
dx
x

Summing around from the bottom in anticlockwise order

dy
ay (x)

ax (y ) and ax (y + dy ) = ax (y ) +

ay (x+dx)

The fields in the x-direction at bottom and top are

dx
x+dx

x
ax (y)

dC = + [ax (y ) dx] + [ay (x + dx) dy ] [ax (y + dy ) dx] [ay (x) dy ]



ay ax
= (
a) dxdy k
a) dS
=

dx dy = (
x
y

Some definitions involving div, curl and grad

6.27

A vector field with zero divergence is said to be

solenoidal.
A vector field with zero curl is said to be
irrotational.
A scalar field with zero gradient is said to be
constant.

Summary

6.28

Today weve introduced ...

The gradient of a scalar field
The divergence of a vector field
The Laplacian
The curl of a vector field
Weve described the grunt of working these out in Cartesian coordinates ...
If your partial differentiation is flaky, sort it.
Weve given some insight into what physical aspects of fields they relate too.
Worth spending time thinking about these. Vector calculus is the natural language of engineering in 3 vector spaces..