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Math Meth-Lec04

This document discusses vector calculus and various operations involving scalar and vector fields. It covers topics like gradient, divergence, curl, line integrals, surface integrals, and volume integrals. Various examples from physics are provided to illustrate concepts like electric and magnetic fields. Integral forms of differential operations are defined and geometrical meanings are discussed. Integral theorems relating these operations are also presented.

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alvinmashigo
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14 views41 pages

Math Meth-Lec04

This document discusses vector calculus and various operations involving scalar and vector fields. It covers topics like gradient, divergence, curl, line integrals, surface integrals, and volume integrals. Various examples from physics are provided to illustrate concepts like electric and magnetic fields. Integral forms of differential operations are defined and geometrical meanings are discussed. Integral theorems relating these operations are also presented.

Uploaded by

alvinmashigo
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
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PHY701

Mathematical Methods

Lecture 04

Vector analysis (part 2)

1
Vector calculus

function example For all such functions,


Vector function of a scalar Velocity we can define various
operations of differentiation
Scalar function of a vector Electric potential and integration. This is the
subject of the so called
Vector function of a vector Electric field
vector calculus.

Previous lecture was devoted to vector functions of scalar variables. We also


discussed curves and surfaces in 3-D space and their relation to such functions.

Today we will consider the other two types of functions, namely, scalar and
vector functions of vectors.

2
Scalar and vector fields
So far we have considered vector functions of one and several scalar
arguments. There are many other possibilities, among which the most important
are scalar functions of a vector and vector functions of a vector .
We restrict our consideration to continuous, smooth, and differentiable functions
of this type. They are called scalar and vector fields.
fields

Although our consideration will be as general as possible, in most cases you


may tacitly assume that the argument of the functions is the three-
dimensional position vector labelling different points in space. You can always
think of the scalar field as being the electric potential and vector field being the
electric or magnetic field. Each point in space around us has its electric
potential (scalar) and electric field (vector). 3
The differential operator that is used with such fields is called nabla (or del).
del)
In the Cartesian coordinates its components are just partial derivatives along
all three axes

4
Gradient of a scalar field

Each partial derivative tells us how fast


the scalar field φ increases or decreases
in the particular direction (x, y, or z). It is
clear that vector points in the
direction of the fastest increase of the
field.

Two-dimensional potential field Φ in terms of the equipotentials

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Divergence of a vector field

9
Curl of a vector field

10
From this example, it is clear why this differential
operation is called curl or rotor.

A vector field with a non-zero rotor should look like a


whirl

An example from physics is the


magnetic field generated by a
current flowing in a straight
wire. This is seen from the
Maxwell equation

11
Vector-differentiation
formulae

12
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Since the curl of a gradient is zero, we can add
to the unobservable potential the gradient of
an arbitrary scalar function, without affecting
anything

14
Laplacian

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Line, surface, and volume integrals

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Vector integration along a curve Examples:
Total momentum
of a flying string of
water

Work of a
force

Magnetic
force

In each case, we subdivide


the curve in small segments,
calculate the expression,
which is under the integral,
on each segment, and sum
up the results. Making the
segments smaller and
smaller, we finally obtain the
limit value, which is the
integral.
21
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When we deal with a closed loop (contour)
integral, the sign is also dependent on the
direction in which we go along the curve. It is a
convention that the symbol means that we
go along the contour in such a way that the
enclosed area is at the left hand side, i.e. in the
anti-clockwise direction.

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Vector integration over a surface

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Evaluating surface integrals

27
A surface can be described
by the equation

In other words, a surface is a set


of points where the scalar field f
has a constant value. As we
know, the gradient of a scalar
field is always perpendicular to
the surface of its constant value.
Therefore

This vector however in general is not of the unit length. If we divide it to its length,
we obtain vector

28
Integration of scalar and vector fields over a volume

Volume element is always a scalar


quantity. This means that we can only have
the following two types of volume integrals

The definitions of them are similar to those


which we have already considered

Examples of this type of integrals are: Total


mass of a body with the density

This volume can be composed of


infinitely small cones (as is shown
in the figure). Therefore this
volume integral can be expressed
in terms of the surface integral
29
Integral forms of the differential operations of vector
analysis
We defined all the differential operations of
vector analysis using vector nabla

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Geometrical meaning of grad, div, and curl

The geometrical meaning of the


operations grad, div, and curl now
should be clear. The gradient is a
vector normal to the surface
φ = const and pointing in the
direction of increasing φ

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Integral theorems of vector analysis

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There are two other theorems
closely related to Gauss’ theorem.
They can be proved in the same
manner using the integral
definitions of the gradient and curl
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