Core Course – I

Mathematical Physics – I
Problem Set – 2 (Vector Analysis)

The Solved Problems and Supplementary Problems from Spiegel as suggested during the classes

Review of CU Exam. Papers:

CU – 2018 (CBCS)
1. Check whether the three vectors 𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂, 𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ and 𝑘̂ + 𝑖̂ are linearly independent. [2]
2. Show that for any vector 𝑟⃗, 𝑟⃗. 𝑑𝑟⃗ = 𝑟𝑑(|𝑟⃗|). [2]

3. If 𝑎⃗ is a constant vector, prove that ⃗∇⃗(𝑎⃗. 𝑟⃗) = 𝑎⃗. [2]

4. Check whether the three vectors 𝐴⃗ = 2𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂ − 𝑘̂ , 𝐵

⃗⃗ = 2𝑖̂ − 3𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ and 𝐶⃗ = 𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ are coplanar. [3]

⃗⃗ ∙ (𝜙𝐴⃗) = ∇
5. Show that ∇ ⃗⃗𝜙 ∙ 𝐴⃗ + 𝜙∇
⃗⃗ ∙ 𝐴⃗ [2]

6. Find the values of 𝜆, 𝜇, 𝜈 so that the vector 𝐹⃗ = (𝑥 + 𝜆𝑦 + 4𝑧)𝑖̂ + (2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 𝜇𝑧)𝑗̂ + (𝜈𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧)𝑘̂
is conservative. Find also the scalar function 𝜙(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) such that 𝐹⃗ = ∇
⃗⃗𝜙. [2+3]

7. Find a unit normal to the sphere 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 3 at the point (1, 1, −1). Evaluate ∮ 𝑟⃗. 𝑑𝑆⃗, where 𝑆 is
the surface of the given sphere. [2+1]

8. State Stokes’ theorem. Using this theorem evaluate ∮ 𝐴⃗. 𝑑𝑟⃗ around the boundary of the circle 𝑥 2 +
𝑦 2 = 1 in the anticlockwise direction for the vector field 𝐴⃗ = (𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )𝑖̂ + 2𝑥𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂. [2+3]

9. Prove that ∮ 𝑢∇⃗⃗𝑣. 𝑑𝑆⃗ = ∫ 𝑢∇2 𝑣 𝑑𝑉 + ∫ ∇

⃗⃗𝑢. ∇
⃗⃗𝑣 𝑑𝑉 where the surface integral is over the surface
enclosing the volume of integration. [2]
10. Write down the Jacobian of (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) with respect to (𝑟, 𝜃, 𝜙) where (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) and (𝑟, 𝜃, 𝜙) are the
Cartesian coordinates and the spherical polar coordinates respectively. [3]

CU – 2018
1. Find the gradient of ln|𝑟⃗| where 𝑟⃗ is the position vector. [2]
2. Find the magnitude and projection of the vector 2𝑖̂ + 5𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ on the vector 𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂. [2]
3. Find the cosines of the angles which the vector 2𝑖̂ + 4𝑗̂ − 5𝑘̂ makes with the three coordinate axes. [2]
4. Let S be the closed surface bounding a region V and let 𝑛̂ be the outward normal to S. If ∭ 𝑟 3 𝑑𝑉 = 𝑃,
evaluate the integral ∯ 𝑟 3 𝑟⃗. 𝑑𝑆⃗. [4]

5. Let 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) and 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) be two well-behaved scalar fields. Show that the vector field 𝐹⃗ = ∇
⃗⃗𝑓 × ∇
⃗⃗𝑔
is solenoidal. [2]

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CU – 2017
1. Prove that [2]

⃗⃗𝜓). 𝑑𝑆⃗
∫(𝜑∇2 𝜓 + ⃗∇⃗𝜑. ⃗∇⃗𝜓)𝑑𝑉 = ∮(𝜑∇

⃗⃗ × (𝜑𝐴⃗) = (∇
1. (i) Deduce ∇ ⃗⃗𝜑) × 𝐴⃗ + 𝜑(∇
⃗⃗ × 𝐴⃗). [2]

⃗⃗ . Let 𝑉
(ii) State Stokes’ theorem for a vector 𝑉 ⃗⃗ = 𝜑𝑐⃗ where 𝑐⃗ is a constant vector. Use the result of (i) to
deduce that [1+3]

⃗⃗𝜑 × 𝑑𝑠⃗ = − ∮ 𝜑 𝑑𝑟⃗

∫∇

2. Given the vector 𝐴⃗ = (𝑥 2 − 𝑦)𝑖̂ + 2𝑥𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂, evaluate ∮ 𝐴⃗. 𝑑𝑟⃗ around the boundary of the circle 𝑥 2 +
𝑦 2 = 1. [4]

CU – 2016

1. If 𝐴⃗ is constant vector, find grad (𝐴⃗. 𝑟⃗). [2]

2. Show that 𝐴⃗ = (6𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧 3 )𝑖̂ + (3𝑥 2 − 𝑧)𝑗̂ + (3𝑥𝑧 2 − 𝑦)𝑘̂ is irrotational. Find 𝜑 such that 𝐴⃗ = ∇
⃗⃗𝜑.
[1+3]

3. If 𝐹⃗ = 3𝑥𝑦𝑖̂ − 𝑦 2 𝑗̂, evaluate ∫ 𝐹⃗ . 𝑑𝑟⃗ over a curve C described by 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 in the 𝑥𝑦 plane, from (0, 0)
to (1, 2). [3]
4. Use divergence theorem to prove that [3]

𝑟⃗ 𝑑𝑉
∮ 2
. 𝑑𝑠⃗ = ∫ 2
𝑟 𝑟

CU – 2015

̅𝑢 = 0 on
1. A surface in 3-dimensions is described by 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝐶 where 𝐶 is a constant. Show that ∇
̅𝑢 is perpendicular to the surface] [2]
this surface. [Wrong question! *Show that ∇

2. For a force defined by 𝐹⃗ = (−𝑥𝑖̂ + 𝑦𝑗̂)/𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 , evaluate the line integral along the semi-circular path
connecting the points (−1,0) and (1,0) with the origin as the center. [4]

3. Use the divergence theorem to evaluate ∮ 𝐴⃗ . 𝑑𝑠⃗ where 𝐴⃗ = (2𝑥 − 𝑧)𝑖̂ + 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑗̂ + 𝑥𝑧 2 𝑘̂, and 𝑆 is the
surface of the cube bounded by 𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 0, 𝑦 = 1, 𝑧 = 0, 𝑧 = 1. [3]
4. Consider the spherical polar co-ordinate system as given by
𝑟⃗ = 𝑟 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜑 𝑖̂ + 𝑟 sin 𝜃 sin 𝜑 𝑗̂ + 𝑟 cos 𝜃 𝑘̂
Find the unit vectors 𝑒̂𝑟 , 𝑒̂𝜃 , 𝑒̂𝜑 in this system. [3]

5. Show that |∮ 𝑑𝑟⃗ × 𝑟⃗| taken around a curve in the 𝑥-𝑦 plane is twice the area enclosed by the curve. [4]

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CU – 2014

1. Show that ⃗∇⃗ × (𝜙𝐴⃗) = ⃗∇⃗𝜙 × 𝐴⃗ + 𝜙∇

⃗⃗ × 𝐴⃗ for a scalar field 𝜙 and a vector field 𝐴⃗. [2]
1
2. Show that 3 ∯ 𝑟⃗. 𝑑𝑠⃗ = 𝑉 where 𝑉 is the volume enclosed by the closed surface 𝑆. [2]

⃗⃗ × ∇
3. By use of Stokes’ theorem, prove that ∇ ⃗⃗𝜙 = 0. [2]

4. A particle moves along the curve 𝑥 = 2𝑡 2 , 𝑦 = 4𝑡 2 − 1, 𝑧 = 5𝑡 − 3, where 𝑡 denotes time. Find the
component of acceleration at time 𝑡 = 1 in the direction 𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂. [3]

5. Show that the line integral of 𝐹⃗ = −𝑖̂𝑦 + 𝑗̂𝑥 around a continuous closed curve in the 𝑥 − 𝑦 plane is
twice the area enclosed by the curve. [3]

CU – 2013
𝑑𝐴 ⃗
1. If the magnitude of a vector field 𝐴⃗(𝑡) is constant with respect to time t, show that 𝑑𝑡 is perpendicular
to 𝐴⃗. [2]
⃗⃗ ∙ (𝜙𝐴⃗) = (∇
2. (i) Deduce ∇ ⃗⃗𝜙) ∙ 𝐴⃗ + 𝜙(∇
⃗⃗ ∙ 𝐴⃗). [2]

⃗⃗ = 𝜙𝐶⃗, where 𝐶⃗ is a constant vector, in the divergence theorem, and use the result of (i), to
(ii) Let 𝑉
deduce that ∫(∇⃗⃗𝜙) 𝑑𝜏 = ∯ 𝜙 𝑑𝜎⃗. [3]

3. Let 𝐹⃗ = 𝑦 2 𝑖̂ + 2𝑥𝑦𝑗̂ − 𝑧 2 𝑘̂. Check that it can be written as the gradient of a scalar. Find the scalar. [5]

CU – 2012

1. Prove that for a vector field 𝐴⃗ and a scalar field 𝜙, ⃗∇⃗ ∙ (𝜙𝐴⃗) = (∇
⃗⃗𝜙) ∙ 𝐴⃗ + 𝜙(∇
⃗⃗ ∙ 𝐴⃗). [2]

2. Find a unit vector perpendicular to the surface (𝑥 − 2)2 + 5𝑦 2 + 2𝑧 2 = 8 at the point (1,1,1). [3]
⃗⃗ = 2𝑥𝑦𝑖̂ − 𝑦 2 𝑗̂ + (𝑥 + 𝑥𝑦)𝑘̂ , calculate ∬ 𝑉
3. If 𝑉 ⃗⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝜎⃗ where 𝜎 is the surface bounded by 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 9,
𝑧 = 0 and 𝑧 = 5. [5]
⃗⃗ × 𝐴⃗ = 0, show that ∇
4. If ∇ ⃗⃗. (𝐴⃗ × 𝑟⃗) = 0 . [2]

CU – 2011

1. For two sets of vectors {𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗, 𝑐⃗} and {𝑎⃗′, 𝑏⃗⃗′, 𝑐⃗′}, if 𝑎⃗ ∙ 𝑎⃗′ = 1 and 𝑏⃗⃗ ∙ 𝑎⃗′ = 𝑐⃗ ∙ 𝑎⃗′ = 0, then show that
⃗⃗×𝑐⃗
𝑏
𝑎⃗′ = ⃗⃗ ×𝑐⃗)
. [2]
𝑎⃗⃗∙(𝑏

2. If 𝐹⃗ = (2𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑖̂ + (3𝑦 − 𝑥)𝑗̂, evaluate ∫ 𝐹⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝑟⃗ around a path C in XY plane consisting of the straight
line segments from (0,0) to (2,0) and then to (3,2). [3]
3. Using Green’s theorem for a plane, prove that the area bounded by a closed curve C in XY plane is
1 𝑥2 𝑦2
given by 2 ∮(𝑥𝑑𝑦 − 𝑦𝑑𝑥). Hence calculate the area of an ellipse 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 1. [3]

4. Use Stokes’s theorem to compute the line integral of the vector 𝐴⃗ = 𝑦𝑥̂ − 𝑥 2 𝑦̂ around the contour 𝑥 2 +
𝑦 2 = 4, 𝑧 = 3. [4]

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CU – 2010

⃗
𝑑𝐴
1. If the magnitude of a vector field 𝐴⃗(𝑡) is constant with respect to time t, show that is perpendicular
𝑑𝑡
to 𝐴⃗. [2]

2. If 𝐴⃗ is irrotational, show that 𝐴⃗ × 𝑟⃗ is solenoidal. [2]

3. ABCD is a square in the 𝑥𝑦 −plane. The 𝑥, 𝑦 coordinates of A, B, C, D are (0,0), (0, 𝑎), (𝑎, 𝑎) & (𝑎, 0)
respectively. Show that the line integral of 𝐹⃗ = (2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧 2 )𝑖̂ + 𝑥 2 𝑗̂ + 3𝑥𝑧 2 𝑘̂ is zero over ABCDA. [4]

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