Scribd
Upload
185 views2 pages

Divergence and Curl Notation - Math Insight

This document discusses the divergence and curl notation using the del (∇) operator. It explains that the divergence of a vector field F is represented by taking the dot product of F and ∇, which gives the formula ∇⋅F. The curl of a vector field F is represented by taking the cross product of F and ∇, which gives the formula ∇×F. It provides memory aids for remembering these formulas by thinking of ∇ as representing the partial derivatives and using dot and cross products.

Uploaded by

Matthew Vinodh Raj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
185 views2 pages

Divergence and Curl Notation - Math Insight

This document discusses the divergence and curl notation using the del (∇) operator. It explains that the divergence of a vector field F is represented by taking the dot product of F and ∇, which gives the formula ∇⋅F. The curl of a vector field F is represented by taking the cross product of F and ∇, which gives the formula ∇×F. It provides memory aids for remembering these formulas by thinking of ∇ as representing the partial derivatives and using dot and cross products.

Uploaded by

Matthew Vinodh Raj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Math Insight

Divergence and curl notation


, the formulas for the div ergence and curl are

(confused?)

3 F

2 F

+
1F

.)

2 F

3 F

1 F

3F

R : F

2 F

= F vid

1F

For

( = F lru c

These formulas are easy to memorize using a tool called the del operator, denoted by the nabla sy mbol
. Think of as a fake v ector composed of all the partial deriv ativ es that we use just to help us
remember the formulas:

.)

,
z

( =

Although it may not seem to make sense to just hav e the partial deriv ativ es without them acting on a
function, we won't worry about that. This is just notation.
v ector with

) 3 F , 2 F , 1 F( = F

) 3F , 2F , 1F ( )

,
z

( = F
x

Now, let's take the dot product of the

=
x

If we think of each multiplication in the dot product as instead being the deriv ativ e of the corresponding
, then we hav e the formula for the div ergence. So, if y ou can remember the del operator
and how to
take a dot product, y ou can easily remember the formula for the div ergence

3F

2F

+
z
F

1F

+
y

= F = F vid
x

This notation is also helpful because y ou will alway s know that


that the dot product is a scalar product).

is a scalar (since, of course, y ou know

The curl, on the other hand, is a v ector. We know one product that giv es a v ector: the cross product. And,
y es, it turns out that
is equal to
. To see this, let's take the cross product of the
v ector with
.

F lru c

,2

( )

( =

F , 2F ,

F( )

) 1F

2F

(k + ) 1 F

1 F

k)
y

x
3F

( + j)
x

z
F

2F

1F

x
1

3F

(i =
y

2F

( + i)
z

3F

( =
y

is the same

as taking the partial deriv ativ e with respect to


remember the curl formula by

2F

(j )

3F

( = F
x

k
3

This is ex actly the formula we gav e abov e. So if y ou can use the rule that multiplication by

(and similar for the other deriv ativ es), then y ou can

.F = F lru c

See also
The components of the curl
The idea of the div ergence of a v ector field
The idea of the curl of a v ector field

Cite this as
Ny kamp DQ, Div ergence and curl notation. From Math Insight. http://mathinsight.org
/div ergence_curl_notation
Key words: curl, div ergence

Div ergence and curl notation by Duane Q. Ny kamp is licensed under a Creativ e Commons AttributionNoncommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License. For permissions bey ond the scope of this license, please contact
us.

You might also like