Gradient Div Curl

Unit 1-Mathematical methods in physics
Reference for module vectors and coordinate systems

1) Introduction to electrodynamics: Third edition by D J Griffiths
Chapter 1 : Good source for problems and basic introduction
2) Mathematical methods for Physicists by Arfken and Weber 6th edition
Chapter 1 and 2 Good reference for theory
3) Mathematical Methods in the physical sciences, Mary L Boas
4) Advanced engineering mathematics by Erwin Kreyszig 8th edition
Chapter 8 and 9
Temperature in the room
T x , y , z
Height of mountain Z(x,y)
Real physical quantities: depends on (x,y,z)

their variation is different in different directions
(other examples: Electric potential,
gravitational potential etc.)
How to calculate this rate of change in different directions?
Directional derivatives
The laws of Nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God.

Euclid
The miracle of the appropriateness of the language of
mathematics for the formulation of the laws of physics is a
wonderful gift which we neither understand nor deserve.
E.P. Wigner (Nobel prize in 1963)
One factor that has remained constant through all the twists and
turns of the history of physics is the decisive importance of the
mathematical imagination.
Freeman Dyson
4
Review of derivatives with single variable
f x xf x
df
f x=
= lim
d x x 0
x
'
Geometrical interpretation:
Slope of the curve at a given point
x0
Differential:
d f x
d f x=
dx
dx
Approximate change in
f x
when x changes from
x x
Partial derivatives:
f
x
x 0,
f x 0 x , y 0 f x 0 , y 0
= lim
x
x0
y
0
vary only x
x 0 x 0 x
value of
y= y 0
Partial derivative of
Partial
remains constant
f x , y w.r.t. x
6
f
y
x 0,
f x , y w.r.t. x
f x 0 , y 0 yf x 0 , y 0
= lim
y
y0
y
0
vary only y
y 0 y 0 y
value of
x=x 0
Partial
remains constant
f x , y w.r.t. y
7
How to compute the partial derivatives?
f
=f x =?
x
1) Keep x as a variable and y as a constant
2) Treat the function as a single variable of x
3) Do the differentiation w.r.t. x
f
=f y =?
y
1) Keep y as a variable and x as a constant
2) Treat the function as a single variable of y
3) Do the differentiation w.r.t. x
f x , y =Z=9x y
Find partial derivatives at (1,2)
Geometrical interpretation:
http://moodle.capilanou.ca/mod/book/view.php?id=328667&chapterid=1398
2
f x , y =Z=9x y
Geometrical meaning of derivative of function at (a, b) ?

Let us keep y=2 (x-z plane)
2
f x , 2=Z =9x 2
2
10
f x=Z=5x
inverted parabola in the X-Z plane
Now find the derivative (partial) of this function at a given x

Let x=1
f
x
=2xx=1=2
1,2
11
Now keep x constant

Let x=1
f 1, y=Z=8 y
inverted parabola in the Y-Z plane

Now find the derivative (partial) of this function at a
given y
Let that y=2
g
y
1,2
=2yy=2=4
12
Differential for a single variable:
d f x
d f x=
dx
dx
Total differential for two variables:
f
f
df=
dx
dy
x
y
This way you can extend to any dimensions
13
Rate of change depends upon the DIRECTION
14
How to calculate the directional derivatives?
f r r f r
df
= lim
d s s 0
s
f
= lim
s 0 s
s= r
s= x y z
We need to get an expression for
df
ds
15
f
f
f
df=
dx
dy
dz
x
y
z
d r =[ ex dxey dy ez dz ]
ex , ey , ez
: Unit vectors
f
f
f
= ex
ey
ez
[ ex dx ey dyez dz ]
x
y
z
fd r
df =
16
fd r
df =
f
f
f
f = ex
ey
ez
x
y
z
: Gradient of a scalar function

VECTOR quantity
17
f f f
f= i
j
k
x
y
z
f= i
j
k
x
y
z
= i
j
k
x
y
z
18
= i
j
k
x
y
z
Del operator or nabla operator

Operator: carries an instruction
acts on a function
acts on a scalar function
Example:
V
=
E
vector function
19
Find the gradient of
f x , y , z=r= x y z
f
f
f
f = ex
ey
ez
x
y
z
f
x
=
x x 2 y 2z 2
Similarly calculate other derivatives and put that in the expression
for gradient
x ex y ey z ez r
f=
=
=
r
2
2
2
x y z r
20
Gradient of a function
f x , y , z=r= x y z
2
x
Circles correspond to the contour. Notice that gradient direction
is normal to the contour line (circle)
21
fd r
df =
fd r cos
df =
f
f
f
f = ex
ey
ez
x
y
z
ds=d r
fds cos
df =
df
fcos
=
ds
22
df
fcos
=
ds
df
= fu
ds
Component of
in the direction
u :
Unit vector along

the direction of
displacement
give the directional derivative of f in that direction
fd r cos
df =
23
df
fcos
=
ds
df
ds
maximum when
=0
Rate of change is maximum

if the
d r
points along the gradient direction
Direction of GRADIENT points along the maximum rate of change
df
f
=
ds
=0
24
Magnitude of gradient: rate of change of the function along the maximal
direction
Geometrical interpretation of GRADIENT:

If you fix d
r and look around all angles,
i) Find the direction of steepest descent
ii) That will be the direction of the gradient
direction you will

fall if you lose
your feet !!
Imagine water-drops at this point,

drops will flow along the direction of gradient
25
With ordinary vectors we define three operations:

1) Multiplication with a scalar:
a
A
2) Multiplication of two vectors
A
B
Dot product giving a scalar
cross product giving a vector
Correspondingly we have three ways the operator

1) On a scalar function
2) on a vector function
:
A : A
A : A
gradient
via the dot product DIVERGENCE
via the cross product CURL
26
How to calculate the directional derivatives?
f r r f r
df
= lim
d s s 0
s
df
= fu
ds
Gradient of a scalar function:
will give
A vector whose component along u
rate of change along that particular direction
27
Gradient in Cartesian form:
f
f
f
f = ex
ey
ez
x
y
z
= i
j
k
x
y
z
Del operator or nabla operator
28
Geometrical interpretation of GRADIENT:

If you fix d
r and look around all angles,
i) Find the direction of steepest descent
ii) That will be the direction of the gradient
direction you will

fall if you lose
your feet !!
Imagine water-drops at this point,

drops will flow along the direction of gradient
29
Exercise 1:
Given function
f =x y z4xyz
Find the rate of change of this function at (1,3,1) in

the direction 2 e
ey 2 ez .
Exercise 1:
Temperature distribution is given by
2
T =x y xyz273
I) In which direction the temperature increasing most rapidly
At (-1, 2, 3)?
ii) What is the max. rate of increase at this point?
30
f x , y =z=x y
Paraboloid
How does the gradient this of this function look like?

31
x y
f x , y=z=
2
f =r
The minimum of
the function is
located
at the origin
Gradient graph: Minimum of f(x,y) corresponds to point where arrows are
pointing away
If we move along radial direction of f(x,y), you will see the maximum
rate of change (i.e. along the direction of gradient)
32
Level surface:
f x , y , z=const.
df =0
f
f
f
dx
dy
dz=0
x
y
z
fd r =0
is perpendicular to the level surface
Heat flow: perpendicular to surfaces with constant temperature (ISOTHERMAL)

Electric field of a point charge: perpendicular to the equipotential surface
(radial)
(spherical)
33

Divergence
V x V y V z
V =
x
y
y
Divergence of radial vector
V x =V x x , y , z
V y =V y x , y , z
V z =V z x , y , z
r =3
=x x y y
F
F
=2
34
Positive divergence
Positive divergence
Zero divergence
Negative divergence
35
Positive divergence
(diverging)
Presence of Source
Negative divergence
(converging)
Presence of Sink
36
Physical meaning of divergence
v x , y , z
: Velocity of a compressible fluid

: density of the fluid
x , y , z ,t
dV =dx dy dz
H
x D
C
x
J = v
z
F
E
2
[ J ]=ML T
37
Rate of inward flow of the fluid through ABCD (along Y-axis)
=[ v y ] y x z
0
Rate of outward flow of the fluid through EFGH (along Y-axis)
= [ v y ] y y x z
0
(other components
vx , vz
Net flow along Y-direction
have no contribution in this direction)
= [ v y ] y y [ v y ] y x z
0
[v ]
y y 0 y
[ v y ] y
xz y
38
Net flow along Y-direction
[v ]
y y 0 y
[ v y ] y
[v ]
y y 0 y
Net flow along x-direction
Net flow along Z-direction
[ v y ] y
[ J y ] y y [ J y ] y
[ J x ] x x [ J x ] x
0
[ J z ] z x [ J z ] z
z
x
0
xz y
V
39
Total outward flow
[ J x ] x x [ J x ] x
0
[ J y ] y y [ J y ] y
0
x
y
[ J z ] z y [ J z ] z
V
z
0
Total outward flow /
[ J x ] x x [ J x ] x
0
[ J y ] y y [ J y ] y
0
[ J z ] z y [ J z ] z
0
y
0
40
z0
x0 y0
z
B
H
x D
C
x
reduces to a POINT
F
y
Total outward flow /
V
=
[ J x ] x x [ J x ] x
0
[ J y ] y y [ J y ] y
0
x
y
[ J z ] z y [ J z ] z
V
z
0
41
lim x 0
[ J x ] x x [ J x ] x
0
Jx
=
x
Net outward flow per unit volume evaluated at a point
Jx J y Jz
=
x y
z
J
=
DIVERGENCE: Net outward flow per unit volume evaluated
at a point
42
THE CURL
x , y , z =V x ex V y ey V z ez
V
V x =V x x , y , z
V y =V y x , y , z
V =
x
Vx
y
Vy
z
Vz
V z =V z x , y , z
f V =f
V
f V

43
v = x ex y ey
v =0
v = y ex x ey
v =2 e
z
44
45
Show that
f V =f
V
f V

Curl of central force field
r f r=f r r[
f r ]r
r=
x
x
y
y
=0
z
z
Using the relation f r= r

r
f
We get
f rr =
r r =0
r
r f r =0
46

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Unit 1-Mathematical methods in physics

Reference for module vectors and coordinate systems

Temperature in the room

Height of mountain Z(x,y)

Real physical quantities: depends on (x,y,z)

The laws of Nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God.

Review of derivatives with single variable

Slope of the curve at a given point

when x changes from

How to compute the partial derivatives?

Find partial derivatives at (1,2)

Geometrical meaning of derivative of function at (a, b) ?

inverted parabola in the X-Z plane

Now find the derivative (partial) of this function at a given x

Now keep x constant

inverted parabola in the Y-Z plane

Differential for a single variable:

Total differential for two variables:

Rate of change depends upon the DIRECTION

How to calculate the directional derivatives?

We need to get an expression for

: Gradient of a scalar function

Del operator or nabla operator

acts on a scalar function

Find the gradient of

Unit vector along

give the directional derivative of f in that direction

Rate of change is maximum

points along the gradient direction

Direction of GRADIENT points along the maximum rate of change

Geometrical interpretation of GRADIENT:

direction you will

Imagine water-drops at this point,

With ordinary vectors we define three operations:

2) Multiplication of two vectors

Dot product giving a scalar

cross product giving a vector

Correspondingly we have three ways the operator

How to calculate the directional derivatives?

Gradient in Cartesian form:

Del operator or nabla operator

Geometrical interpretation of GRADIENT:

direction you will

Imagine water-drops at this point,

Find the rate of change of this function at (1,3,1) in

How does the gradient this of this function look like?

is perpendicular to the level surface

Heat flow: perpendicular to surfaces with constant temperature (ISOTHERMAL)

Physical meaning of divergence

: Velocity of a compressible fluid

Rate of inward flow of the fluid through ABCD (along Y-axis)

Rate of outward flow of the fluid through EFGH (along Y-axis)

Net flow along Y-direction

have no contribution in this direction)

Net flow along Y-direction

Net flow along x-direction

Net flow along Z-direction

Total outward flow

Total outward flow /