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Laplacian, Conservative Field (Lecture 7)

This document summarizes key concepts in vector differential calculus including: - The Laplacian operator and Laplace's equation for scalar point functions - Conservative vector fields that can be expressed as the gradient of a scalar potential function - Conditions for a vector field to be conservative including that its curl is equal to zero - Examples of calculating the Laplacian and checking if vector fields are conservative

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92 views4 pages

Laplacian, Conservative Field (Lecture 7)

This document summarizes key concepts in vector differential calculus including: - The Laplacian operator and Laplace's equation for scalar point functions - Conservative vector fields that can be expressed as the gradient of a scalar potential function - Conditions for a vector field to be conservative including that its curl is equal to zero - Examples of calculating the Laplacian and checking if vector fields are conservative

Uploaded by

Blessing
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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V Semester B.Sc.

Mathematics Paper 6 MT5218


Divina R. Lobo, Dept. of Mathematics, SJC
Vector Differential Calculus-Lecture 7(05-08-2020)
Topics: Laplacian of a scalar field, Conservative fields, Scalar and vector
potential

Laplacian of a point function


The Laplacian operator 𝛻 2 is defined as
𝟐 𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐
𝜵 = + +
𝝏𝒙𝟐 𝝏𝒚𝟐 𝝏𝒛𝟐

When F is a scalar point function


𝜕2 𝐹 𝜕2 𝐹 𝜕2 𝐹
𝛻 2 𝐹= 2 + 2+ is a scalar quantity
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 2

Laplace Equation
2 𝜕2 𝐹 𝜕2 𝐹 𝜕2 𝐹
The equation 𝛻 𝐹=0 𝑖. 𝑒., + + = 0 is called Laplace’s
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2
equation
A function satisfying Laplace’s equation is called a Harmonic function.

1. Show that ∅ = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 satisfies Laplace’s equation.


𝜕2 ∅ 𝜕2 ∅
Solution:Laplace’s Equation for ∅ is given by 2 + =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 2

𝜕∅ 𝜕2 ∅ 𝜕∅ 𝜕2 ∅
= 2𝑥 ⟹ =2 = −2𝑦 ⟹ = −2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2

𝜕2 ∅ 𝜕2 ∅
Therefore, + = 2 − 2 = 0,which is true.
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

Hence the point function is Harmonic.


Path independence
If A and B are two points in an open region R in space, then the work
𝐵
done∫𝐴 𝐹. 𝑑𝑟 in moving the particle from A to B by a field F defined on R
usually depends on the path taken.
For some special fields, the integral remains the same for all paths from A to B
𝐵
If this is true for any two points A and B in the region R, then ∫𝐴 𝐹. 𝑑𝑟 is said to
be path independent in the region R and F is conservative on R.
• A field F is Conservative if and only if F is the Gradient of some scalar
point function ∅, i.e. 𝐹 = 𝛻∅, for some ∅
• If F is defined on an open region R and 𝑭 = 𝜵∅, for some scalar point
function ∅ on R, then ∅ is called the scalar potential function for F.
For Example, an electric potential is a scalar function whose gradient is an
electric field. Thus electric potential is a scalar potential for an electric field.
Similarly, gravitational potential is a scalar potential for a gravitational field.
Analogous to scalar potential,
• If F is defined on an open region R and 𝑭 = 𝜵 × 𝑮, for some vector point
function 𝐺 on R ,
then 𝐺 is called the vector potential function for F.
For Example, Magnetic potential is a vector field.Also it is the vector potential
for Magnetic field.

Conservative field test


• Let 𝐹 = 𝐹1 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑖̂ + 𝐹2 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑗̂ + 𝐹3 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑘̂ be a field whose
component function have continuous first partial derivatives, then 𝐹 is
conservative if and only if
𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹1 𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹1
= , = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 =
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
Proof:
We know that 𝐹 is conservative if and only if 𝐹 = 𝛻∅ for some scalar function ∅.
𝜕∅ 𝜕∅ 𝜕∅
i.e. 𝐹 = 𝐹1 𝑖̂ + 𝐹2 𝑗̂ + 𝐹3 𝑘̂ = 𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝜕𝐹3 𝜕 𝜕∅ 𝜕2 ∅ 𝜕2 ∅ 𝜕 𝜕∅ 𝜕𝐹2
𝜕𝑦
= ( ) = 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧 = 𝜕𝑧𝜕𝑦 = 𝜕𝑧 (𝜕𝑦) =
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧

Similarly, we can prove for the other two equations.


Converse of the statement is proved as a consequence Stokes theorem which will
be discussed later.
Theorem: If F is a vector field then, the following statements are equivalent:
1.F is Conservative.
2. 𝐹 = 𝛻∅ for some scalar function ∅.
𝐵
3. The line integral ∫𝐴 𝐹. 𝑑𝑟 is path independent.

4. 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑙 (𝐹 ) = ⃗0

Solved Problems:
1. Show that 𝐹 = (𝑒 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧)𝑖̂ + (𝑥𝑧 − 𝑒 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦)𝑗̂ + (𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧)𝑘̂ is
conservative.
• Solution:
𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹1 𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹1
We have that 𝐹 is conservative iff = , = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 =
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Given 𝐹1 = (𝑒 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧), 𝐹2 = (𝑥𝑧 − 𝑒 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦), 𝐹3 = 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧


𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹1 𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹1
=𝑥= , =𝑦= 𝑎𝑛𝑑 = 𝑧 − 𝑒 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 =
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Hence 𝐹 is conservative.
OR
We have that 𝐹 is conservative iff 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒍(𝑭) = ⃗𝟎
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑙 (𝐹 ) = | |
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑒 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 𝑥𝑧 − 𝑒 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧
= 0𝑖̂ + 0𝑗̂ + 0𝑘̂
Hence 𝐹 is conservative .

Check whether the field 𝑭 is conservative for the following:


̂
2. 𝐅 = (𝒚𝒛)𝒊̂ + (𝒙𝒛)𝒋̂ + (𝒙𝒚)𝒌
Sol: Conservative
̂
3. 𝐅 = (𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒛)𝒊̂ + (𝒙𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒛)𝒋̂ + (𝒙𝒚𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒛)𝒌
Sol: Conservative.
̂
4. 𝐅 = 𝒚𝒊̂ + (𝒙 + 𝒛)𝒋̂ − 𝒚𝒌
𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹2
Sol: = −1, =1 , ≠ Not conservative.
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

5. 𝐅 = −𝒚𝒊̂ + 𝒙𝒋̂
𝜕𝑁 𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁 𝜕𝑀
Sol: = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 = −1 ⇒ ≠
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Not conservative.

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