16.

5 1

Curl and Divergence

Before we get to Curl and Divergence we need a new operator.

Definition(s). The vector di↵erential operator r is defined as:

D @ @ @ E

Ey Ey I
r= , ,
O @x @y @z

Carl
Definition(s). The curl of F is the vector field on R3 defined by:
E P Q R
TX F
curl F = r ⇥ F

i j
j k K
fi
I
= @ @ @
@x @y @z

P Q R

Ey Ez txt
= (Ry Qz )i (Rx Pz )j + (Qx Py )k

= hRy Qz , Pz R x , Qx Py i

Note: Does third component look familiar? It 2 dimensional “circulation at a point ” that we

integrated in Green’s Theorem

comhponettest
is the major condition in the component test
MEEEE
. Also if Qx

. gymnasium
Py = 0 () Qx = Py which

Carl
If F is a vector field defined on all of R3 whose component functions have continuous partial derivatives and curl F =F0 o ,

then F is conservative
conservative .

Carlo
Vise versa, if F is a conservative vector field then curlF=0 .

mmmm
This comes from the fact that if f is a function of 3 variables and has continuous second-order partial derivatives, then

curlrf =0 .
16.5 2

Example. Consider the vector field F(x, y, z) = y 2 z 3 i + 2xyz 3 j + 3xy 2 z 2 k.

(a) Show that F is a conservative vector field. curse

(b) Find a function f such that F = rf . 11y23 Ey Iz
2 923 3
522
34522
Fg EgCzyz 3 52227
9,1823
I 4125232 day
cozy

6Xyz
6xyz2 39222 32223 292325237

F is conservative
0,907 so

Definition(s). The divergence

divergence of F is scalar function defined by:

div F = r · FF
J
D @ @ @ E
= Exuday
, ,
@x @y @z
if
· hP, Q, Ri PQ R
= Px + Q y + R z

dfytogytofz
If F = (P, Q, R) and P, Q, R have continuous second derivatives, then

o
div(curlF) = 0

2
Example. If F = hxz, xyz, y i find div F.

dirt fycxzltofycxyzltfzc y.tl

Zt Xz to
16.5 3

More Curl and More Divergence

Great but what are these things?

Remark. Divergence is a number that counts how much is coming in or out of a point. Baiting
outward fromP .
(a) Positive means more is going out than in
Y
(b) Negative means more is going inward
in than out to p .

about equal
(c) 0 means no net change .

TELL
Remark. Curl is a collection of numbers that counts how much is rotating around a point.

(a) Positive means rotation in counterclockwise

the counter clockwise direction.

clockwise
(b) Negative means rotation in the clockwise direction.

no rotation
(c) 0 means no rotation .

Example. Consider the picture of F = hx + y, y xi to the right. Use the picture to determine if the following values should

be positive, negative, or 0. Then use the equation of the vector field to verify your guess.

(a) div F at (1, 1).

dive 1
Zyletyltggly x 1 2 y

die at 1,17 2 1
(b) curl F at (1, 1).

expect negative curl clockwise notation 1

I
x

curl 00,94 08,7 10,0 27

a
16.5 4

Example. Consider the picture of F = hsin(y), cos(x)i to the right. Use the picture to determine if the following values

should be positive, negative, or 0. Then use the equation of the vector field to verify your guess.

(a) r · F at (3⇡/2, ⇡).

(b) r ⇥ F at (3⇡/2, ⇡).

ie

a n x
3⇡/2

Definition(s).

(a) Curl helps to measure rotations about a point. Because of this if curl F= 0 at a point P then the fluid is free from
e irrotational
rotations at P and F is called irrotational at P .

(b) Div (Divergence) represents the net rate of change (with respect to time) of a mass of fluid (or gas) flowing from the

incompressible
point (x, y, z). If div F= 0 then there is no net change and F is said to be imcompressible .

Example. Is the vector field

G(x, y, z) = hf (x), g(y), h(z)i

where f, g, h are di↵erentiable functions, irrotational?

are

y Ix Ey Iz
not

Iyaz Ezo's's fxhizltgz.se I 961 8,561

o 0,07
So G is inrotational
16.5 5

More examples
Example. Let F= 2xi 3yj + 5zk. Is F irrotational/incompressible/both/neither?

Fir rotational look at previous example

IÉÉÉtdyl 3
4,521 2 3 5 0

incompressible

Example. Your friend Eugene comes up to you and is like “Whoa you have to check out my awesome vector field F. You

know what? I bet you can’t even figure out what it is. The only thing I’ll tell you is that curl F = hxz, xyz, y 2 i.” Shut

Eugene up by finding his vector field if it exists or prove that Eugene is a liar.

divfurdF 0

x2
toy 421 8,1 5
z txt to

so Eugene is a fucking lier there is no valor field

6 that has o curl F
 16.5 6

Example. Consider the vector field F = hyz + ↵y + 1, xz + 3x + z + 2, xy yi.

(a) Find values for constants ↵ and so that F is conservative.

To be conservative curle O

I is
caret of
Ey Iz
YZtOgHxztzx
Bzt2 Ky
LKL X 13 Yty Zt3 Z N

L 1 13,0 3 0
Bet
want 0 3
010107

So F lYZt3ytl xzt3x Zzz xy y is conservative

let's find the potential function
striped steps
49,2 _yyzt3y x zytay
the

Z
(b) Using your answers from (a) evaluate F · r where C is your favorite curve from (1, 0, 0) to (1, 2, 1).
C

scrinall flinitial
F drift dr
251112,1 51110,0
H L
E
16.5 7

Example. Show that the vector field F = hxz, xyz, y 2 i cannot be written as a curl of another vector field, that is there is

no vector field G such that

F = curlG.