Chapter 1

Gradient, Divergence
& Curl

Scalar and vector fields

Imagine a cooling system of a reactor

which is using fluid as the cooler medium
vb
va

Fluid
Tc
Td

FIELD is a description of how a physical

quantity varies from one point to another
in the region of the field (and with time).
(a) Scalar fields
Ex: Depth of a lake, d(x, y)
Temperature in a room, T(x, y, z)

Depicted graphically by constant

magnitude contours or surfaces.
y

d3

d1
d2
x

At any point P, we can measure the

temperature T.
The temperature will depend upon
whereabouts in the reactor we take the
measurement. Of course, the temperature
will be higher close to the radiator than the
opening valve.
Clearly the temperature T is a function of
the position of the point. If we label the
point by its Cartesian coordinates ( x, y, z ) ,
then T will be a function of x, y and z, i.e.
T T ( x, y , z ) .
This is an example of a scalar field since
temperature is a scalar.

1. A field is a quantity which can be specified everywhere in

space as a function of position.

2. The quantity that is specified may be a scalar or a vector.

3. For instance, we can specify the temperature at every point in
a room.
4. The room may, therefore, be said to be a region of
temperature field which is a scalar field because the
temperature T (x, y, z) is a scalar function of the position.
5. An example of a scalar field in electromagnetism is the electric
potential.
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