1 Dirac Delta Function

By definition the function δ(x) has the following properties:

  

 Z b 
 Z b 

 ∞ If x = 0  1 If a < x = 0 < b  f (0) If a < x = 0 < b
δ(x) = and dx δ(x) = → dx δ(x)f (x) =

 a 
 a 

 0 otherwise  0 otherwise  0 otherwise

it follows from above definition that if the delta function is translated to x0 then
  

 Z b 
 Z b 

 ∞ If x = x0  1 If a < x = x0 < b  f (x0 ) If a < x = 0 < b
δ(x − x0 ) = and dx δ(x − x0 ) = → dx δ(x − x0 )f (x) =

 a 
 a 

 0 otherwise  0 otherwise  0 otherwise

Example: Evaluate the following integrals[answers are worked out next to the integral]

Z ∞
dxδ(x) 1
√ = √ =1
−∞ 1−x 1−0
Z ∞
dxδ(x) sin x sin 0
√ = √ =0
−∞ 1−x 1−0
Z ∞
dxδ(x − 2) 1 1 1
√ = √ = √ = = −i
−∞ 1−x 1−2 −1 i
Z 6
dxδ(x − 2) 1 1 1
√ = √ = √ = = −i
−5 1−x 1−2 −1 i
Z 1
dxδ(x − 2)
√ = 0
−3 1−x
Z 6
dxδ(x + 2) 1 1
√ = p = √
−5 1−x 1 − (−2) 3
Z 1
dxδ(x + 2) 1 1
√ = p = √
−3 1−x 1 − (−2) 3

Two and three dimensional integrals follow along the same lines[do one integral at a time]:

Example:

Z ∞ Z ∞ Z ∞ Z ∞
dxdyδ(x)δ(y) δ(y) δ(y)
√ = dy p = dy √ =1 you can do a short cut but careful
−∞ −∞ 1 − xy − y −∞ 1 − (0)y − y −∞ 1−y
Z 1 Z 5 Z 1 Z 1
dxdyδ(x − 1)δ(y + 2) δ(y + 2) δ(y) 1 1
√ = dy p = dy √ = p = √
y=−3 x=0 1 − xy − y y=−3 1 − (1)y − y y=−3 1 − 2y 1 − 2(−2) 5

It also follows that

g(x)
Z ∞ z }| { f ( −a
b
) f (x1 ) a
f (x)dxδ(a + bx) = = where g(x) = a + bx = 0 → x1 = −
−∞ |b| | b | b
|{z}
¯
dg ¯
dx ¯x=x
1

Example: Derive above relation


 R∞ R∞ f ( −a )

 u ) du δ(a + u) = |b|
g(x) 
 −∞ f (x)dxδ(a + |b|x) = −∞ f ( |b| |b| |b|
b>0
Z ∞ z }| { 

f (x)dxδ(a + bx) = ; QED
−∞ 



 f ( −a ) f( a )
 R ∞ f (x)dxδ(a − |b|x) = R −∞ f ( u ) du δ(a + u) = R +∞ f ( u ) du δ(a + u) =
 −|b|
=
|b|
b<0
−∞ +∞ −|b| −|b| −∞ −|b| +|b| |b| |b|

It also follows that

g(x)  q
Z ∞ z }| { 
 −b+ b2 −4ac
1 1  x1 =
f (x)dxδ(a + bx + cx ) =
2
f (x1 ) + f (x2 ) where
2
g(x) = ax + bx + c = 0 → q2c
| b + cx1 | | b + cx2 | 
 2
−∞
| {z } | {z }  x = −b− b −4ac
2 2c
¯ ¯
dg ¯ dg ¯
dx ¯x=x dx ¯ x=x2
1

1
Example: Derive above relation

g(x)
Z ∞ z }| { Z ∞ Z ∞
2 a b 2
f (x)dxδ (a + bx + cx ) = f (x)dx δ[c( +
x + x )] = f (x)dx {δ[c(x − x1 )(x1 − x2 )] + δ[c(x2 − x1 )(x − x2 )]}
−∞ −∞ c c −∞
| {z }
δ[c(x − x1 )(x − x2 )]
| {z }
δ[c(x−x1 )(x1 −x2 )]+δ[c(x2 −x1 )(x−x2 )]

f (x1 ) f (x2 )
= + Q.E.D
c|x1 − x2 | c|x2 − x1 |

The result generalizes to:

Z ∞ N
X f (xi )
f (x)dxδ(g(x)) = ¯µ ¶¯ (careful with the limits of integration)
−∞
¯ dg ¯¯ ¯
i=1 ¯ ¯
¯ dx ¯x=x ¯
i

where N is the number of the roots of g(x). If the integration limits are from a to b then only the roots within a and b contribute to the integral.

Example:

Z ∞
3 ( −1
3
)3
(a) x δ(3x + 1)f (x)dx =
−∞ 3

 √
Z ∞ 
 x1 = 1+ 5
2 f (x1 ) f (x2 ) 2
(b) f (x)δ(x − x − 1)dx = + where √
|2x1 − 1| |2x2 − 1| 

−∞  x2 = 1− 5
2
Z Z ∞ Z π Z 2π · ¸
3 2 δ(r)δ(θ − θ0 )δ(φ − φ0 )
(c) dτ δ (~
r−~
r0 )F (~
r) = (dr sin θ dθdφr sin θ) F (r, θ, φ) = F (r0 , θ0 φ0 )
0 0 0 r 2 sin θ

2
 2 ~ ), Diver-
Displacement(d~r), Gradient of a scalar (∇V

~ · F~ ), Curl of a vector(∇
gence of a vector(∇ ~ × F~ ) and

~ · ∇V
Laplacian of a scalar(∇ ~ ) in Cartesian bases

displacement vector: d~
r = îdx + ĵdy + k̂dz

∂φ ∂φ ∂φ ∂ ∂ ∂
gradient of a scalar: ~ = î
∇φ + ĵ + k̂ = (î + ĵ + k̂ )φ
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y ∂z

∂Fx ∂Fy ∂Fz

divergence of a vector: ~ ·F
∇ ~ = + +
∂x ∂y ∂z

¯ ¯
¯ ¯
¯ î ĵ k̂ ¯
¯ ¯
¯ ¯
curl of a vector: ∇ ~ = ¯¯ ∂
~ ×F ∂ ∂ ¯
¯
¯ ∂x ∂y ∂z ¯
¯ ¯
¯ ¯
¯ Fx Fy Fz ¯

2 ∂2 φ ∂2 φ ∂2 φ
Laplacian of a scalar: ∇ φ= + +
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2

Example Find the angle between the two surfaces xyz = 1 and x2 + y 2 − 2z 2 = 0 everywhere.

Solution:

~ 1 ) · (∇f
(∇f ~ 1) 2yz + 2yz − 4yz
~ 1 = ∇(xyz
∇f ~ − 1) = yz î + xz ĵ + xy k̂ ; ∇f ~ 2 + y 2 − 2z 2 ) = 2xî + 2yz ĵ − 4z k̂ → cos θ =
~ 2 = ∇(x = =0→
~ 1 ||∇f
|∇f ~ 2| ~ 1 ||∇f
|∇f ~ 2|

the two surfaces are orthogonal everywhere

Example: Show that the following relations hold.

~ · î = ∇
∇ ~ · ĵ = ∇
~ · k̂ = 0 ; ~ × î = ∇
∇ ~ × ĵ = ∇
~ × k̂ = 0
 
 ρ̂ = qxî+y ĵ 
 x2 +y 2 
1 k̂  
~ · ρ̂ = ~ · φ̂ = 0 ; ∇
~ · k̂ = 0 ~ × ρ̂ = 0 ; ∇
~ × φ̂ = ~ × k̂ = 0  −y î+xĵ 
∇ ; ∇ ; ∇ ; ∇ where  φ̂ = q 
ρ ρ  
 x2 +y 2 
 p 
ρ= x2 + y 2
 
r̂ = qxî+yĵ+z k̂
 x2 +y 2 +z 2

 
 
 −y î+xĵ 
 φ̂ = q 
2 cot θ φ̂ cos θr̂ − sin θ θ̂ k̂  x2 +y 2

~ · r̂ =
∇ ~ · θ̂ =
; ∇ ~ · φ̂ = 0
; ∇ ; ~ × r̂ = 0 ; ∇
∇ ~ × θ̂ = ~ × φ̂ =
; ∇ = where  q 
 
r r r r sin θ ρ  x î+y ĵ x2 +y 2 
 θ̂ = q z q − q k̂ 
 2 2 2 2 2 
 x +y +z x +y x2 +y 2 +z 2 
 
p
r = x2 + y 2 + z 2

p
Example: show that if r = x2 + y 2 + z 2 and ~
r = xî + y ĵ + z k̂ then

2 1 ~
r 2 1 ~
r
(a) ∇ ~ ·
= 0 ; r 6= 0 ; (b) ∇ ~ · r̂ =
= 0 ; r 6= 0 ; (c) ∇ ~
; (d) ∇ =−
r r3 r r r3

3
 Some important identities involving divergence, gradient and circulation of vectors:

(a) ~ × ∇Φ
∇ ~ =0

(b) ~ · (∇
∇ ~ ×~
v) = 0

(c) ~ · (²E)
∇ ~ = (∇²)
~ ~ + ²∇
·E ~ ·E
~ =E
~ · ∇²
~ + ²∇
~ ·E
~

(d) ~ × (²E)
∇ ~ = (∇²)
~ ~ + ²∇
×E ~ ×E
~

(e) ~ · (E
∇ ~ × B)
~ =B
~ · (∇
~ × E)
~ −E
~ · (∇
~ × B)
~

(f ) ~ × (E
∇ ~ × B)
~ = E(
~ ∇~ · B)
~ −E
~ ·∇
~B~ − B(
~ ∇~ · E)
~ +B
~ ·∇
~E~

(g) ~ E
∇( ~ · B)
~ =E
~ ·∇
~B~ +B
~ ·∇
~E~ +E
~ × (∇
~ × B)
~ +B
~ × (∇
~ × E)
~

(h) ~ × (∇
∇ ~ × B)
~ = ∇(
~ ∇ ~ − ∇2 B
~ · B) ~

(i) ~ × (∇
E ~ × B) ~ i−E
~ = Ei ∇B ~ ·∇
~B~

1 2
(j) ~ × (∇
E ~ × E) ~ i−E
~ = Ei ∇E ~ ·∇
~E~ =∇
~ ~ ·∇
E −E ~E~
2

~ × (B
Let’s show (f)[A ~ × C)
~ =A
~·C
~B~ −A
~·B
~C~ = Ai BC
~ i − Ai Bi C]
~

~ ∇·
−[B ~ E−
~ E·
~ ∇~ B]
~
z }| {
~ ∇·
~ B−
~ E·
~ ∇~B
~ ~ E×
−[∇·( ~ B)
~
E B=const ]
z }| { z }| {
~ × (E
∇ ~ × B)
~ = ~ · (E
∇ ~ × B)
~ E=const + ∇
~ · (B
~ × E)
~ B=const = E(
~ ∇~ · B)
~ −E
~ ·∇
~B~ − B(
~ ∇~ · E)
~ +B
~ ·∇
~E~

~ =∇
from this (h) follows by letting E ~ in (f).

4
3 Divergence and curl theorem
For divergence theorem assume that the normal vector points out of the volume of interest(convention).

~ ·~
The divergence theorem states that divergence of a vector field ∇ v multiplied by an infinitesimal volume element dτ is equal to the flux of

the vector field-the normal component of the vector field n̂ · ~

v integrated over the surface enclosing the infinitesimal volume element (for derivation

see below)

I H
∂dτ dS(n̂ · ~
v)
~ ·~
∇ v dτ = dS(n̂ · ~
v) ~ ·~
v= ∇
divergence of ~ v= (number/second)
∂dτ dτ

For a finite volume we may add the small volume elements to obtain:
Z I
~ ·~
∇ v dτ = dS(n̂ · ~
v)
τ ∂τ =S

where S is the surface enclosing the volume. Notice that the integrations over the internal infinitesimal surfaces pairwise cancel because the

common surface shared by two volume elements have normals in opposite direction.

~ ×~
The curl theorem states that curl of a vector field ∇ v multiplied by an infinitesimal volume element dτ is equal to the ”circulation” flux

of the vector field-the tangential component of the vector field n̂ × ~

v integrated over the surface enclosing the infinitesimal volume element (for

derivation see appendix)

I H
∂dV dS(n̂ × ~
v)
~ ×~
∇ v dV = dS(n̂ × ~
v) curl of ~ ~ ×~
v=∇ v= (number/second)
∂dV dτ

For a finite volume we may add the small volume elements to obtain:
Z I
~ ×~
∇ v dτ = dS(n̂ × ~
v)
τ ∂τ

where S is the surface enclosing the volume. Notice that the integrations over the internal infinitesimal surfaces pairwise cancel because the

common surface shared by two volume elements have normals in opposite direction.

For stokes theorem assume that you walk along the curve in such a way that the area of interest is to your left (convention).

It is also useful to write Stoke’s equation:

Z I H
~ ×~ ~ ×~ ∂dS (d~
s ·~
v)
(∇ v ) · n̂dS = (d~
s·~
v) curl of ~
v = (circulation/area) = ∇ v= (number/second)
∂dS dS

Above integral for a closed surface vanishes (I am assuming the functions are all well behaved-see below).
H
Example: Compute v · n̂ where S is the surface of the cylinder x2 + y 2 = a2 and bounded by the plane z = 0 and z = b and where
dS~

~
v = xî − y ĵ + z k̂.

Solution:
I Z Z Z
dS~
v · n̂ = + +
top bottom side
¯
¯
¯
¯
¯
¯
¯
¯
¯
¯
¯
¯
Z ¯ Z ¯ Z ¯
¯ ¯ îx + ĵy ¯ 2
= dSt k̂ · [xî − y ĵ + z k̂]¯ + dSb k̂ · [xî − y ĵ + z k̂]¯ + dSs p · [xî − y ĵ + z k̂]¯¯ = πa b
|{z} z=b z=0 |{z} x2 + y 2 ¯
| {z } }¯¯
ρdφdρ adφdz | {z
| {z } 0 2 −y 2 ¯
x
q ¯
¯
πa2 (b) x2 +y 2 ¯
¯
| {z }¯¯
2 2
a (cos φ−sin φ)) 2 ¯q
¯
a x2 +y 2 =a
| {z }
0
R
Example: For the previous example compute ~ ·~
dV ∇ v where V is the volume enclosed by the cylinder.

Solution:
Z Z Z
~ ·~ ~ · (xî − y ĵ + z k̂) = 2
dV ∇ v= dV ∇ dV (1) = V = πa b

5
 n1
S1
n1’
V1
n2
E2 n2’
B2 V2 S2

E1 E3
B3
B1 V3 S3
n3’

n3

Figure 1:

Example: Show that(see figure 1.)

Z I I I
~ · EdV
~ ~ 1 dS1 + 0
~ 1 + n̂2 · E
~ 2 )dS2 + 0 ~ 1 + n̂3 · E
~ 3 )dS3
∇ = n̂1 · E (n̂2 · E (n̂2 · E
V1 +V2 +V3

Solution:

Z Z Z Z
~ · EdV
∇ ~ = ~ ·E
∇ ~ 1 dV1 + ~ ·E
∇ ~ 2 dV2 + ~ ·E
∇ ~ 3 dV3
V1 +V2 +V3
| {z } | {z } | {z }
H H H H H
~ dS +
n̂1 ·E1 1 n̂02 ·E
~ dS + n̂0 ·E
1 2 3
~ dS
1 3
~ dS
n̂2 ·E2 2
~ dS
n̂3 ·E 3 3
I I I
~ 1 dS1 + 0 ~ 1 + n̂2 · E
~ 2 )dS2 + 0 ~ 1 + n̂3 · E
~ 3 )dS3
= n̂1 · E (n̂2 · E (n̂2 · E

Example: Show that

Z I I I
~ × EdV
~ ~ 1 dS1 + 0 ~ 1 + n̂2 × E
~ 2 )dS2 + 0
~ 1 + n̂3 × E
~ 3 )dS3
∇ = n̂1 × E (n̂2 × E (n̂2 × E
V1 +V2 +V3

Solution:

Z Z Z Z
~ × EdV
∇ ~ = ~ ×E
∇ ~ 1 dV1 + ~ ×E
∇ ~ 2 dV2 + ~ ×E
∇ ~ 3 dV3
V1 +V2 +V3
| {z } | {z } | {z }
H H H H H
~ dS +
n̂1 ×E1 1
~ dS + n̂0 ×E
n̂02 ×E1 2 3
~ dS
1 3
~ dS
n̂2 ×E2 2
~ dS
n̂3 ×E 3 3
I I I
~ 1 dS1 + 0 ~ 1 + n̂2 × E
~ 2 )dS2 + 0
~ 1 + n̂3 × E
~ 3 )dS3
= n̂1 × E (n̂2 × E (n̂2 × E

6
 2 n2 n3
1 3 4
n1 n4 x

Figure 2:

3.1 Integration by Parts: Divergence theorems and other integral

identities
Show that if the function f and its first dervatives are continuous then

Z I Z I Z I
∂f ∂f ∂fj
dxdydz = dS cos nxf → dxdydz = dSf cos nxi → dxdydz = dSfj cos nxi
V ∂x ∂V V ∂xi ∂V V ∂xi ∂V

Solution: The first identity on the left follows from the integration over the prism shown in figure 2(dS cos nxi = 1 ²
2 ijk
|dxj × dxk |)

Z Z
∂f
dxdydz = dydz(f2 − f1 + f4 − f3 )
∆V ∂x ∆S
Z
= [dS2 f2 n̂2 · î + dS1 f1 n̂1 · î + dS4 f4 n̂4 · î + dS3 f3 n̂3 · î]
∆S
Z Z Z
= dSi fi n̂i · î = dSi fi cos ni x ≡ dSf cos nx
∆Si ∆Si ∆S

and then summing over all infinitesimal prisms gives the quoted result:

Z I
∂f
dxdydz = dSf cos nx
V ∂x S

It follows therefore:

Z I
∂fi
dxdydz = dSfi cos nxj (Integration by parts)
V ∂xj S

which gives the divergence theorem (see Planck)

Z I I
1
~ · f~ =
dV ∇ dS n̂ · f~ (Divergence T heorem) ~ · f~ =
∇ dS n̂ · f~
V S dV dS

the circulation theorem

Z I I
1
~ × f~ =
dV ∇ dS n̂ × f~ ; ~ × f~ =
∇ dS n̂ × f~
V S dV dS

The Stokes theorem

Z I Z
dS ~ × f~ =
~·∇ s · f~
d~ (Stokes T heorem) ; dS ~ × f~ = 0
~·∇
S(open) s S(closed)

7
 And many other identities follows by integration parts.

Example: Use the integration by parts to show the following identities:

Z I I
(a) ~
dV ∇P = ~
dSP dS n̂P =
V S S
Z I I
(b) ~ ·E
dV ∇ ~ = ~ =
dS n̂ · E ~·E
dS ~
V S S
Z I I
(c) ~ ×E
dV ∇ ~ = dS n̂ × E~ = ~×E
dS ~
V S S
I
1
(d) ~ ×~
∇ v= dS n̂ × ~
v (using divergence theorem)
dV ∂S
Z I
(e) ~·∇
dS ~ ×~v= d~s·~v
S s
Z I
(e) ~ ×P
dS(n̂ × ∇) ~ = d~ ~
s×P

R H
(a) Solution: From the integration by parts V dxdydz ∂f
∂x
= S dSf cos nx [remember î, ĵ, k̂ are constant unit vectors you can therefore pull

them out or push them into integrals. Also n̂ = (n̂ · i) î + (n̂ · j) ĵ + (n̂ · k) k̂]:
| {z } | {z } | {z }
cos nx cos ny cos nz


 R H


 dxdydz î ∂P
V ∂x
= S dSP î cos nx add


R H z}|{ Z ∂P ∂P ∂P
I Z I
∂P → dxdydz [î + ĵ + k̂ ]= dSP [î cos nx + ĵ cos ny + k̂ cos nz] → ~
dV ∇P = dS n̂P

 V dxdydz ĵ ∂y = S dSP ĵ cos ny V ∂x ∂y ∂z S | {z } V S

 R H | {z }

 ∂P n̂
V dxdydz k̂ ∂z = S dSP k̂ cos nz ~
∇P

(b) Solution: From the integration by parts

 ~ î=dSx
 dS·




 R ∂Ex H z }| {

 V dxdydz = S dS cos nx Ex

 ∂x

 add
z}|{ I I Z I
 ~ ĵ=dSy
dS·
∂Ex ∂Ey ∂Ez
R H z }| { → dS [ + + = [dSx Ex + dSy Ey + dSz Ez ] → ~ ·E
dV ∇ ~ = ~·E
dS ~
 ∂Ey

 dxdydz ∂y = S dS cos ny Ey S ∂x ∂y ∂z S | {z } V S
 V
 | {z }

 ~ k̂=dSz ~ E
dS· ~

 dS· ~ E
∇· ~



 R ∂Ez H z }| {
V dxdydz ∂z = S dS cos nz Ez

~ ×E
(c) Solution: From the integration by parts [I have added proper terms from integration by parts to obtain the desired result, i.e. ∇ ~ =

( ∂E z − ∂Ey )î + ( ∂Ex − ∂Ez )ĵ + ( ∂Ey − ∂Ex )k̂]:

∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y


 dSy Ez −dSz Ey




 R ∂Ez ∂Ey H z }| {



 V dxdydz[( ∂y − ∂z )î] = S dS(Ez cos ny − Ey cos nz) î

 add

z
dSz Ex −dSx Ez
}| { z}|{ I ∂Ez ∂Ey ∂Ex ∂Ez ∂Ey ∂Ex
I
R ∂Ex ∂Ez H → dS [( − )î + ( − )ĵ + ( − )k̂] = [dSx Ex + dSy Ey + dSz Ez ]



 V dxdydz[( ∂z − ∂x
)ĵ] = S dS(Ex cos nz − Ez cos nx) ĵ S ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y S | {z }

 | {z }
 dSx Ey −dSy Ex ~ E
dS× ~

 ~ E
∇× ~

 H z }| {
 R
 ∂Ey ∂Ex | {z }
V dxdydz[( ∂x − ∂y )k̂] = S dS(Ey cos nx − Ex cos ny) k̂ R
~ ~
H
~ ~
V dV ∇×E= S dS×E

8
 1
H 1
H 1
H
dV ∂S
dS n̂ · [~v × î] dV ∂S
dS n̂ · [~v × ĵ] dV ∂S
dS n̂ · [~v × k̂]
z z z

y y y

x x x

( x v) ^.
i=
Dvz dzdx _ Dvy dxdy
dxdydz dxdydz
( x v) ^.
j=
Dvx dxdy _ Dvz dydz
dxdydz dxdydz
( x .
v) ^
Dv dxdy _ Dvxdzdx
k= y
dxdydz dxdydz

Figure 3: from left to write: curl of the vector ~v in direction of the unit vectors î, ĵ and k̂

H
~ ×~
(d)Solution: The identity ∇ 1
v = dV dS n̂ × ~
v follows as:
∂S

I I n o I n o
1 1 1
dS n̂ × ~
v = dS [(n̂ × ~ v ) · î]î + [(n̂ × ~
v ) · ĵ]ĵ + [(n̂ × ~ v ) · k̂]k̂] = dS [n̂ · (~v × î)]î + [n̂ · (~
v × ĵ)]ĵ + [n̂ · (~v × k̂)]k̂]
dV ∂S dV ∂S dV ∂S
½ I ¾ ½ I ¾ ½ I ¾
1 1 1
= î dS[n̂ · (~v × î)] +ĵ dS[n̂ · (~
v × ĵ)] +k̂ dS[n̂ · (~
v × k̂)] = î[î · (∇ ~ ×~ ~ ×~
v )] + ĵ[ĵ · (∇ ~ ×~
v )] + k̂[k̂ · (∇ v )]
dV ∂S dV ∂S dV ∂S
| {z } | {z } | {z }
~ · (~
∇ v × î) ~ · (~
∇ v × ĵ) ~ · (~
∇ v × k̂)
| {z } | {z } | {z }
∂vz ∂vy ~ v) ∂vx ∂vz ~ v) ∂vy ∂vx ~ v)
− =î·(∇×~ − =ĵ·(∇×~ − =k̂·(∇×~
∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y

= ~ ×~
∇ v

9
 v

n dS

n‘ S

ds

dh
n v

dS

ds
n

Figure 4:

(e)Solution: The Stokes theorem can be shown as follows (see figure 4.). Consider an open surface and divide the surface into small circular
H
~ × f~ = 1
disks[the shape need not be a disk] and consider one of these disks and use the differential circulatin theorem ∇ dS n̂ × f~
dV dS

curved surf ace dσ contributes

top and bottom surf aces do not contribute since

when n̂ = ν̂ or n̂ = ν̂ 0 then ν̂ · (n̂ × ~

v ) = ν̂ 0 · (n̂ × ~
v) = 0
I z}|{ Z I I
1 1 1 1
~ ×~
ν̂ · (∇ v) = dS ν̂ · (n̂ × ~
v) = dσ ~v · (ν̂ × n̂) = dsdh~
v · t̂ = ds~
v · t̂
dV | {z } dSdh |{z} dSdh dS
~
v ·(ν̂×n̂) dhds

H H
ds~
v · t̂ = ~
v · d~
s is known as the circulation of the velocity field. Hence:

I
~ ×~
dS ν̂ · (∇ v) = ~
v · d~
s

Summing up the small disks

X XI
~ ×~
dSi ν̂ · (∇ v )i = (~
v · d~
s)i
i i

and noting that the internal lines pairwise cancel gives Stoke’s Theorem:

Z I
~ · (∇
dS ~ ×~
v) = (~
v · d~
s)
∂S

Above derivation implies that above expression is zero for a closed surface.

(f)Solution: From Stokes theorem[let ~

v =~ ~]
a×P

Z I Z I
~ · (∇
dS ~ ×~
v) = (~
v · d~
s) → dS ~ × (~
n̂ · [∇ ~]
a×P = (~ ~ ) · d~
a×P s
∂S | {z } | {z }
~ ~ P
a∇· ~ −~ ~P
a·∇ ~ −~
a·d~ ~
s×P
| {z }
~
ni ai ∇·P ~ P
−nj ai ∇ ~
i j
| {z }
~
ai [ni ∇·P ~ P
−nj ∇ ~
i j]
| {z }
~ ~
a·[n̂∇·P ~P
−nj ∇ ~ ]=−~ ~P
a·[nj ∇ ~ −n̂∇·P
~ ]=−~ ~
a·[(n̂×∇)×P~]
j j

hence[~
a is arbitrary]

Z Z Z I
−~
a· ~ ×P
dS(n̂ × ∇) ~ = −~
a· d~ ~ →
s×P ~ ×P
dS(n̂ × ∇) ~ = d~ ~
s×P

10