4 Divergence
4 Divergence
∂ ∂ ∂
∇ = x̂ + ŷ + ẑ . (1.39)
∂x ∂y ∂z
Of course, del is not a vector, in the usual sense. Indeed, it doesn’t mean much
until we provide it with a function to act upon. Furthermore, it does not “multiply”
T ; rather, it is an instruction to differentiate what follows. To be precise, then, we
say that ∇ is a vector operator that acts upon T , not a vector that multiplies T .
With this qualification, though, ∇ mimics the behavior of an ordinary vector in
virtually every way; almost anything that can be done with other vectors can also
be done with ∇, if we merely translate “multiply” by “act upon.” So by all means
take the vector appearance of ∇ seriously: it is a marvelous piece of notational
simplification, as you will appreciate if you ever consult Maxwell’s original work
on electromagnetism, written without the benefit of ∇.
Now, an ordinary vector A can multiply in three ways:
1. By a scalar a : Aa;
2. By a vector B, via the dot product: A · B;
3. By a vector B via the cross product: A × B.
We have already discussed the gradient. In the following sections we examine the
other two vector derivatives: divergence and curl.
FIGURE 1.18
∂ ∂ ∂
∇ · vb = (0) + (0) + (1) = 0 + 0 + 0 = 0,
∂x ∂y ∂z
as expected.
∂ ∂ ∂
∇ · vc = (0) + (0) + (z) = 0 + 0 + 1 = 1.
∂x ∂y ∂z
! Problem 1.17 In two dimensions, show that the divergence transforms as a scalar
under rotations. [Hint: Use Eq. 1.29 to determine v y and v z , and the method of
Prob. 1.14 to calculate the derivatives. Your aim is to show that ∂v y /∂ y + ∂v z /∂z =
∂v y /∂ y + ∂vz /∂z.]