Frequently used formula

1. 𝛻. ∅𝐴 = ∅𝛻. 𝐴 + 𝐴. 𝛻∅

2. 𝛻 × ∅𝐴 = ∅𝛻 × 𝐴 + 𝛻∅ × 𝐴

3. 𝛻. 𝐴. 𝐵 = 𝐵. 𝛻 × 𝐴 − 𝐴 . 𝛻 × 𝐵

4. 𝛻 × 𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝐵. 𝛻 𝐴 − 𝐴 . 𝛻 𝐵 + 𝐴 𝛻. 𝐵 −

𝐵 𝛻. 𝐴

5. 𝛻 × 𝛻 × 𝐴 = 𝛻 𝛻. 𝐴 − 𝛻 2 𝐴

6. 𝛻. 𝛻 × 𝐴 = 0
7. 𝛻 × 𝛻∅ = 0
 Q. N. 1. If 𝒓 is position vector, then prove that;
𝟏 𝒓
i. 𝛁 =−
𝒓 𝒓𝟑
ii. 𝛁𝒓𝒏 = 𝒏𝒓 𝒏−𝟐 𝒓

Solution: we know that;

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑟 = 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧 and 𝛻 = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

1
Now, magnitude of 𝑟, 𝑟 = 𝑟 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2

1 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 1
Therefore, 𝛻 = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 1
𝑟 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 2

𝜕 −1 𝜕 −1 𝜕 −1
=𝑖 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 +𝑗 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 +𝑘 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
 −1 2 −3 −1 2 −3 −1 2 −3
= 𝑖. 𝑥 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 . 2𝑥 + 𝑗. 𝑥 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 . 2𝑦 + 𝑘. 𝑥 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 . 2𝑧
2 2 2
−1 −3
= .2 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 +𝑧 2 2 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧
2

𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧
=− 3
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2

1 𝑟
∴𝛻 =− 3
𝑟 𝑟
 𝑛 2 2 2 𝑛2
(ii) We know that, 𝑟 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝑛
Now, 𝛻𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝜕 𝑛 𝜕 𝑛 𝜕 𝑛
=𝑖 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 +𝑗 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 +𝑘 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝑛 2 𝑛 𝑛 2 𝑛 𝑛 2 𝑛
= 𝑖. 𝑥 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 2 −1 . 2𝑥 + 𝑗. 𝑥 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 2 −1 . 2𝑦 + 𝑘. 𝑥 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 2 −1 . 2𝑧
2 2 2

𝑛 𝑛
. 2 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 −1 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧
2
𝑛−2
=𝑛 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧

∴ 𝛻𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 𝑟

Hence, proved.
 𝒓
Q. N. 2. Show that; 𝜵 𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒓 =
𝒓
Solution: we know that; 1 2𝑥
= 𝑖 2
𝑟 = 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧 and 𝛻 = 𝑖
𝜕
+𝑗
𝜕
+𝑘
𝜕 2 𝑥 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
2𝑦
+𝑗 2
Now, magnitude of 𝑟, 𝑟 = 𝑟 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 = 𝑥 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2
1
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Therefore, 𝛻 log 𝑟 = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 log 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
 Q. N. 3. Calculate the curl and divergence of the following vector field;
i. 𝑭 = 𝒊 𝒙 + 𝒚 + 𝒋 𝒙 + 𝒚 − 𝟐𝒌𝒛
ii. 𝑯 = 𝒊 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒛𝟐 + 𝟐𝒋 − 𝟐𝒌𝒙𝒛
And interpret the results.
Solution;
(i) The given vector is, 𝐹 = 𝑖 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑗 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑘𝑧
The divergence of 𝐹 is defined as,
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝛻. 𝐹 = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 . 𝑖 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑗 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑘𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕 𝑥+𝑦 𝜕 𝑥+𝑦 𝜕(−2𝑧)
⇒ 𝛻. 𝐹 = + +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

⇒ 𝛻. 𝐹 = 1 + 1 − 2 ⇒ 𝛻. 𝐹 = 0
Hence, the vector 𝐹 is solenoidal.
 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝛻×𝐹 = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 × 𝑖 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑗 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑘𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
=
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
(𝑥 + 𝑦) (𝑥 + 𝑦) −2𝑧
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
=𝑖 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 +𝑘 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
(𝑥 + 𝑦) −2𝑧 −2𝑧 (𝑥 + 𝑦) (𝑥 + 𝑦) (𝑥 + 𝑦)

⇒ 𝛻 × 𝐹 = 𝑖. (0 − 0) + 𝑗. (0 − 0) + 𝑘. (1 − 1)

⇒𝛻×𝐹 =0
Thus, the vector 𝐹 is irrotational vector.
ii. The given vector is, 𝐻 = 𝑖 𝑥 2 − 𝑧 2 + 2𝑗 − 2𝑘𝑥𝑧
The divergence of 𝐻 is defined as,
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝛻. 𝐻 = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 . 𝑖 𝑥 2 − 𝑧 2 + 2𝑗 − 2𝑘𝑥𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕 𝑥2 − 𝑧2 𝜕 2 𝜕(−2𝑥𝑧)
⇒ 𝛻. 𝐻 = + +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

⇒ 𝛻. 𝐻 = 2𝑥 + 0 − 2𝑥

⇒ 𝛻. 𝐻 = 0
Hence, the vector 𝐻 is solenoidal.
The curl of 𝐻 is defined as,

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝛻×𝐻 = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 × 𝑖 𝑥 2 − 𝑧 2 + 2𝑗 − 2𝑘𝑥𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
=
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑥2 − 𝑧2 2 −2𝑥𝑧
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑖 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 +𝑘 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
2 −2𝑥𝑧 −2𝑥𝑧 𝑥 2 − 𝑧 2 𝑥2 − 𝑧2 2

⇒ 𝛻 × 𝐻 = 𝑖. (0 − 0) + 𝑗. (−2𝑧 + 2𝑧) + 𝑘. (0 − 0)
⇒𝛻×𝐻 =0
Thus, the vector 𝐻 is also irrotational vector.
Q. N. 4. If 𝑟 = 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧, then prove that;
𝛻. 𝛻𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑛 𝑛 + 1 𝑟 𝑛−2

Solution:
𝑛
We know that, 𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 2

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝑛
Now, 𝛻𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2

𝜕 𝑛 𝜕 𝑛 𝜕 𝑛
=𝑖 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 +𝑗 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 +𝑘 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑛 2 𝑛 𝑛 2 𝑛
= 𝑖. 𝑥 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 2 −1 . 2𝑥 + 𝑗. 𝑥 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 2 −1 . 2𝑦
2 2
𝑛
𝑛 −1
+𝑘. 2 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 . 2𝑧
𝑛 𝑛
=. . 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 2 −1 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧
2
𝑛−2
∴ 𝛻𝑟 𝑛 =𝑛 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧
or, 𝛻𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2
𝑟
 𝑛−2
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Now, 𝛻. 𝛻𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑖 + 𝑗 + 𝑘 . 𝑛 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑛−2
2 2 2
𝜕 𝑥 +𝑦 +𝑧 2 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧
= 𝑛 𝑖.
𝜕𝑥
𝑛−2
𝜕 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧
+ 𝑗.
𝜕𝑦
 𝑛−2
𝑛−2
𝜕 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧 𝜕 𝑥2 + 𝑦2+ 𝑧2 2
𝑛−2
𝜕 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 + 𝑘𝑧
= 𝑛 𝑖. 𝑟 + 𝑖. 𝑟 + 𝑗. 𝑟
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
 𝑛−2
𝑛−2 2 2 2
𝑛−4
𝑛−2
𝑛−2 2 2 2
𝑛−4
=𝑛 𝑟 +𝑥 𝑥 +𝑦 +𝑧 2 2𝑥 + 𝑟 +𝑦 𝑥 +𝑦 +𝑧 2 2𝑦
2 2
Q. N. 5. Find the value of 𝒂 if the given vector 𝑨 is a solenoidal vector.
𝑨 = 𝒙 + 𝟐𝒚 𝒊 + 𝟐𝒚 − 𝒛 𝒋 + (𝟐𝒙 + 𝒂𝒛)𝒌
Solution: As we know that, a vector is said to be solenoidal if its divergence is
zero. The given vector is,
𝐴 = 𝑥 + 2𝑦 𝑖 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 𝑗 + (2𝑥 + 𝑎𝑧)𝑘
For 𝐴 to be solenoidal, 𝛻. 𝐴 = 0
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
⇒ 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 . 𝑥 + 2𝑦 𝑖 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 𝑗 + 2𝑥 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕(𝑥 + 2𝑦) 𝜕(2𝑦 − 𝑧) 𝜕(2𝑥 + 𝑎𝑧)
⇒ + + =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

⇒1+2+𝑎 =0
∴ 𝑎 = −3
Q. N. 6. A vector 𝑨 is defined in X – Y plane, given as;
𝑨 = −𝒚𝒊 + 𝒙𝒋
Calculate (i) 𝜵 × 𝑨 (ii) the line integral of 𝑨 for the closed curve, 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒓𝟐 , 𝒛 = 𝟎.
Hence verify Stoke’s theorem.
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Solution; 𝛻 × 𝐴 = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 × −𝑦𝑖 + 𝑥𝑗
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
=
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
−𝑦 𝑥 0
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑖 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝑥 0 𝑥 −𝑦 −𝑦 𝑥
⇒ 𝛻 × 𝐴 = 𝑖. 0 + 𝑗. 0 + 𝑘. 2
⇒ 𝛻 × 𝐴 = 2𝑘
(i) The given surface, 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2 is the circle at 𝑧 = 0. 𝒁 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔
Also, 𝐴 = (−𝑦)2 +(𝑥)2 = 𝑟 2 𝒅𝒔 = 𝒌𝒅𝒔
Now, the line integral of 𝐴 is defined as, 𝑨

2
𝒅𝒍
𝐴. 𝑑 𝑙 = 𝐴𝑑𝑙 = 𝑟𝑑𝑙 = 𝑟 𝑑𝑙 = 𝑟. 2𝜋𝑟 = 2𝜋𝑟

∴ 𝐴. 𝑑 𝑙 = 2𝜋𝑟 2 … … … (1)

This is the required line integral of a vector 𝐴 along the circular path of radius 𝑟.
Now, the Stoke’s theorem states that;

𝐴. 𝑑 𝑙 = 𝛻 × 𝐴 . 𝑑 𝑠 … … … . (2)

Where, 𝑑 𝑠 is the area perpendicular to the given circular surface in X – Y plane. Thus, 𝑑 𝑠 = 𝑘𝑑𝑠
Also, the curl of vector 𝐴 is,
⇒ 𝛻 × 𝐴 = 2𝑘
Therefore, the surface integral of right side if equation (1) can be
calculated as,
𝛻 × 𝐴 . 𝑑𝑠 = 2𝑘. 𝑘𝑑𝑠 = 2 𝑑𝑠 = 2𝜋𝑟 2

∴ 𝛻 × 𝐴 . 𝑑 𝑠 = 2𝜋𝑟 2 … … … (3)

From equation (1) and (3) the statement of Stoke’s theorem given by
equation (2) is verified.