Lecture 3

The DEL (or NABLA) operator

 Del is a symbol used in mathematics, in

particular, in vector calculus
It is a vector differential operator
It is usually represented by the nabla symbol .
When applied to function defined on a 1-D
domain, it denotes its standard derivative as
defined in analysis.
When applied to a field (a function defined on a
multi-dimensional domain), is defined as a
vector that requires to be filled in

In the three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates

system R3 with coordinates (x, y, z), del is
defined as

, ,
x y z
3

Operations that can be made with

V = grad V = a vector
E = div E = a scalar
E = curl E = a vector

Gradient applied to a scalar

V is a vector
in cartesian 3 - D system:
V V V
V
i
j
k
y
z
x
5

Divergence a scalar product of

with a vector field

3
E is a scalar, in :
E x E y E z
E

y
z
x

Curl (" rotore") a vector product of

with a vector field

3
E is a vector, in :
i

E
x
Ex

y
Ey

z
Ez
7

Laplacian : a scalar operator

2

it can be applied to scalar and vector fields

is a scalar, in :
2

2 2 2
x y z
2

10

11

Cylindrical coordinates: r, z,

12

Spherical coordinates: r, ,

The following equations assume that is

inclination from the normal axis:

13

Gauss law

14

Divergence theorem (Gauss):

The flux of a vector along a close surface S is equal to
the volume integral of the vector divergence

15

 =
1

(1)
(2)
16

12 = ( - )
(1)
(2)

12 =

17

Total flux : face (1) to face (6)

E x E y E z
dxdydz
( E )

y
z
x

qinside
Gauss' law : ( E )

E x E y E z
dxdydz

dxdydz

y
z
0
x

E divE

18


2
E V V

V
0
2

19

IN CONCLUSION:
3 different expressions for the same Gauss law:

qinside
( E ) E un dS
S

E divE

V
0
2

20

Circuitation theorem (Stokes)

B un dS

surfaceS

d
l

lineL

21