Department of Applied sciences

B.TECH (SEM I) 2024-25

Calculus for Engineers PRACTICE SHEET 1 VECTOR-DIFFERENTIATION

(K24AS11) UNIT- 5

Vector Differentiation : Scalar point function, Vector point function, Gradient of a scalar field, Directional
Derivatives, Application of Divergence, curl to solenoidal and irrotational respectively

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2 MARKS)

(i) Define del ∇ operator and gradient. If ∅ = 3𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑦 3 𝑧 2 , find grad  at point (2,0,-2)
1
(ii) Find grad , when ∅ = 3𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑦 3 𝑧 2 at (1,-2,-1)

2 Find grad  at the point (2,1,3) where ∅ = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑧

3 Find a unit normal vector to the surface 𝑧 2 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 at the point (1,0,-1)

4 Find the grad  when ∅ = 3𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑦 3 𝑧 2 at the point (1,-2,-1)
𝑥2 𝑦3
5 For the scalar field 𝑢 = + , find the magnitude of gradient at the point (1,3)
2 3

6 Find the magnitude of the gradient of the function 𝑓 = 𝑥𝑦 𝑧 3 at the point (1,0,2)
7 If 𝑟⃗ = 𝑥𝑖̂ + 𝑦𝑗̂ + 𝑧𝑘̂ is the position vector, then find the value of ∇(log 𝑟)
8 If 𝑟⃗ = 𝑥𝑖̂ + 𝑦𝑗̂ + 𝑧𝑘̂ , find div 𝑟⃗ and curl 𝑟⃗
9 ⃗⃗ = (𝑥 + 3𝑦)𝑖̂ + (𝑦 − 3𝑧)𝑗̂ + (𝑥 − 2𝑧)𝑘̂ is solenoidal
Show that vector 𝑉
10 Find the divergence of the vector 𝑅⃗⃗ = (𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑧)𝑖̂ + (𝑦 2 + 𝑧𝑥)𝑗̂ + (𝑧 2 + 𝑥𝑦)𝑘̂
11 Find the curl of 𝐴⃗ = 𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 (𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ ) at the point (1,2,3)
12 Show that 𝐹⃗ = (𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 + 𝑥)𝑖̂ − (2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦)𝑗̂ is irrotational
13 ⃗⃗ = (sin 𝑦 + 𝑧)𝑖̂ + (𝑥 cos 𝑦 − 𝑧 )𝑗̂ + (𝑥 − 𝑦)𝑘̂ is irrotational
Show that 𝑉
Determine the constants a & b such that the curl of
14
𝐴⃗ = (2𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑦𝑧)𝑖̂ + (𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑥𝑧 − 4𝑧 2 )𝑗̂ − (3𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏𝑦𝑧)𝑘̂ ) is zero
15 Find the value of m if 𝐹⃗ = 𝑚𝑥𝑖̂ − 5𝑦𝑗̂ + 2𝑧𝑘̂ is a solenoidal vector
16 ⃗⃗ = 3𝑦 2 𝑧 2 𝑖̂ + 4𝑥 3 𝑧 2 𝑗̂ − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑘̂ is solenoidal
Show that vector 𝑉

17 Find p such that 𝐴⃗ = (𝑝𝑥 + 4𝑦 2 𝑧)𝑖̂ + (𝑥 3 sin 𝑧 − 3𝑦)𝑗̂ − (𝑒 𝑥 + 4 cos 𝑥 2 𝑦)𝑘̂ is a solenoidal
vector
18 Find curl of a vector field given by 𝐹⃗ = (𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 )𝑖̂ + (𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦)𝑗̂.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

A fluid motion is given by 𝑉 ⃗⃗ = (𝑦 + 𝑧)𝑖̂ + (𝑧 + 𝑥)𝑗̂ + (𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑘̂ is this motion irrotational? If so find
1 (i) The velocity potential
(ii) Is this motion possible for incompressible fluid?
2 If a vector field is given by 𝐹⃗ = (𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 + 𝑥)𝑖̂ − (2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦)𝑗̂ . Is this field irrotational? If so, find the
scalar potential.
A fluid is given by 𝑉 ⃗⃗ = (y sin 𝑧 − sin 𝑥)𝑖̂ + (𝑥 sin 𝑧 + 2𝑦𝑧 )𝑗̂ + (𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧 + 𝑦 2 )𝑘̂. Is this field
3
irrotational? If so, find the velocity potential.
Find the constants a, b and so
4 𝐹⃗ = (𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑎𝑧 )𝑖̂ + (𝑏𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 𝑧 )𝑗̂ + (4𝑥 + 𝑐𝑦 + 𝑧)𝑘̂ ) is irrotational and hence find function 
such that 𝐹⃗ = ∇∅
 Department of Applied sciences
B.TECH (SEM I) 2024-25

Calculus for Engineers PRACTICE SHEET 1 VECTOR-DIFFERENTIATION

(K24AS11) UNIT- 5

𝑟⃗
(i) Show that the vector field 𝐹⃗ = is irrotational as well solenoidal. Find the scalar potential,
5 𝑟3
(ii) Prove that vector 𝑓(𝑟)⃗⃗⃗𝑟 is irrotational.

(i) Find the angle between the surfaces 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 9 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 3 at the point (2, -1, 2)
OR
(ii) An autonomous drone is navigating a complex 3D environment. Two surfaces in the space represent:
• A spherical obstacle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 9, which the drone must avoid.
6 • A parabolic surface = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 3, representing an energy field that the drone is monitoring.
At a specific point (2,−1,2) the drone's control system needs to determine the angle between the two
surfaces. This will help to calculate the orientation required to navigate smoothly between these
regions.

A fluid dynamics engineer is analyzing the behavior of a vector field F in a specific region of space to
determine its physical properties. The vector field is given as:
(𝑦 2 − 𝑧 2 + 3𝑦𝑧 − 2𝑥)𝑖̂ − (2𝑥𝑧 + 2𝑥𝑦)𝑗̂ + (3𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑧 + 2𝑧)𝑘̂
7
The engineer needs to verify whether this field is both irrotational (curl-free, representing a potential
flow) and solenoidal (divergence-free, indicating incompressibility).

An HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) engineer is analyzing the temperature distribution
T(x,y,z) in a large building to ensure optimal cooling. The temperature T at any point in the building
depends on the spatial coordinates x, y, and z.
The engineer needs to identify the direction in which the temperature increases the fastest at a specific
point in the building, say (3,4,5). This is critical for positioning temperature sensors or optimizing airflow
for cooling efficiency.
[HINT:

The temperature distribution in the building is modeled by:

8

The engineer wants to:

1. Find the direction of the steepest temperature increase at (3,4,5)
2. Determine the rate of change of temperature in that direction.

[HINT:

Environmental scientists are studying water flow in a river delta to understand how pollutants spread and
where sediment accumulates. The water flow in the delta is represented by a velocity vector field F(x,y,z)
9
where each component describes the flow rate in the x, y, and z directions.
Given a water velocity field:
 Department of Applied sciences
B.TECH (SEM I) 2024-25

Calculus for Engineers PRACTICE SHEET 1 VECTOR-DIFFERENTIATION

(K24AS11) UNIT- 5

determine:
1. The divergence of F
2. Areas in the delta that act as sources (∇⋅F>0) or sinks (∇⋅F<0).
3. How these areas affect pollution or sediment transport.
[HINT:
Compute divergence of F

Marine scientists are studying ocean currents to understand their role in transporting nutrients and
pollutants. Currents are modeled as a velocity vector field F(x,y,z) where each component represents the
flow in the x, y, and z directions.
They are investigating is the formation of vortices—rotational flows that trap nutrients or pollutants. The
presence of vortices can be identified using the curl of the vector field F. If the curl at a point is nonzero,
it indicates rotation or circulation in the current.
Given an ocean current velocity field:

determine:
1. The curl of F.
2. Whether there are rotational flows (vortices) in the ocean current.
3. The physical interpretation of the result.
10 [HINT:
Step 1: Compute curl of F.