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W e Are Getting Less and Less Rigorous !

This document discusses vector fields and some of their properties. It defines a vector field as assigning a vector to each point in a domain. Physical examples include electric, gravity, and fluid flow fields. The gradient of a scalar function creates a vector field. Divergence and curl are introduced to describe vector fields. Divergence measures how a field spreads out from a point, with sources having positive divergence and sinks having negative divergence. Curl measures rotation in a field. Some examples of calculating divergence and curl are given.

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Oloyede Ridwan
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47 views5 pages

W e Are Getting Less and Less Rigorous !

This document discusses vector fields and some of their properties. It defines a vector field as assigning a vector to each point in a domain. Physical examples include electric, gravity, and fluid flow fields. The gradient of a scalar function creates a vector field. Divergence and curl are introduced to describe vector fields. Divergence measures how a field spreads out from a point, with sources having positive divergence and sinks having negative divergence. Curl measures rotation in a field. Some examples of calculating divergence and curl are given.

Uploaded by

Oloyede Ridwan
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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PART III: VECTOR FIELDS

W e are getting less and less rigorous!

Definition A vector field F ~ consists of two parts: a


collection D of points in space, called the
domain, and a rule, which assigns to each
point (x, y, z) in D one and only one vector
F~ (x, y, z).

Physical examples: electric field, gravity field,


fluid flows (water, air)
Plot examples including source & sink, vortex.

The Gradient of a Scaler Function Creates

a Vector Field

~ = fx~i + fy~j + fz ~k
grad f = ∇f

~ is equal to ∇f
Definition If a vector field F ~ for some
differentiable function f (of several
variables), then F~ is called a conservative
vector field, and f is a potential function of
F~ .

1
Note In physics, −f is used as the potential of a force
field.

Example Electric field of a point charge q.


~ = q r̂
E
r2
−q −q
f= = 2
r (x + y 2 + z 2 )1/2
r̂ denotes the unit vector pointing along ~r.

Divergence and Curl

Definition Let F~ = F1~i + F2~j + F3~k be a vector field


such that ∂F1 /∂x, ∂F2 /∂y, ∂F3 /∂z exist.
Then the divergence of F ~ , denoted
~ or ∇·
div F ~ F~ , is the scalar function defined
by
~ F~ = ∂F1 + ∂F2 + ∂F3
∇·
∂x ∂y ∂z

~ F~ = 0, then F~ is said to be divergence-free.


If ∇·

2
Source and Sink

Let F~ (x, y, z) be a vector field in space (example: a flow


field), then
~ F~ > 0
A point (x, y, z) is a source if ∇·
~ F~ < 0
A point (x, y, z) is a sink if ∇·

Example Consider the divergence of the field


F~ = ax ~i
for cases with a >, =, and < 0.

Example Consider the field of a uniformly charged


sphere

 rr̂ for r≤a
~ =
E 3
a
 r̂ for r>a
r2



 3 for r < a
~ E
∇· ~ = undefined for r = a

0 for r > a

Note The divergence of a radial inverse square field is


zero everywhere, except at the center.

3
Definition Let F~ = F1~i + F2~j + F3~k be a vector field
such that the first derivatives of F1 , F2 , F3
all exist. Then the curl of F , denoted
curl F~ or ∇~ ×F~ , is defined by

 
∂~ ∂ ∂
∇ i + ~j + ~k × F
~ × F~ (x, y, z) = ~
∂x ∂y ∂z
     
∂F3 ∂F2 ~ ∂F1 ∂F3 ~ ∂F2 ∂F1 ~
= − i+ − j+ − k.
∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y

~ (x, y, z) = xz~i + xy 2 z~j − e2y~k. Find


Example Let F
~ × F~
∇
−(2e2y +xy 2 )~ j+y 2 z~
i+x~ k

~ ×F
Definition If ∇ ~ = 0, F~ is said to be irrotational.

Example Consider the flow

~ = +Ωrθ̂
V

where Ω is a constant (angular velocity).


a. Plot the flow.
b. Find ∇~ ×V ~ and ∇·
~ V~.
Note that since θ̂ = − sin θ~i + cos θ~j,
~ = Ω(−y~i + x~j).
V

4
~
Formulas Involving ∇
~ + g) = ∇f
1. ∇(f ~ + ∇g
~
~ (F~ + G)
∇· ~ = ∇·
~ F~ + ∇·
~ G~
~ × (F~ + G)
∇ ~ =∇
~ × F~ + ∇
~ ×G
~

~ g) = f ∇g + (∇f )g
2. ∇(f
~ (f G)
∇· ~ = f ∇·
~ G~ + (∇f
~ )· G
~
~ × (f G)
∇ ~ = f∇
~ ×G
~ + (∇f
~ )×G
~

Special cases: f = a constant c


~ × (∇f
3. Theorem: ∇ ~ ) = ~0 (curl grad = 0)
~ (∇
∇· ~ × F~ ) = 0 (div curl = 0)

Example For r 6= 0 the curl of the electric field


~ q
E = 2 r̂ is ~0.
r
~ × (∇
Note ∇ ~ ×F
~ ) may not be ~0.

Example Show that the field of the example in the


previous subsection is the curl of another
vector field:
 2 
r
~ = Ωrθ̂ = Ω(−y~i + x~j) = Ω∇×
V ~ − ~k
2

—– Problem Set 10 —–

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