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Notes 18 PDF
Notes 18 PDF
Lecture Notes 18
Z
Gradient N(x, y, z)
Figure:
N(x+dx, y + dx, z+ dz)
r
r + dr (a)
z Δ
v(x,y,z)=C2
M
N
dr
v(x, y, z) = C1
y
Figure (a) shows two neighboring points M and N of the region in which a scalar function V is
defined. The vector separation is
dr = dx ax + dy ay + dz az
v v v
dv = dx dy dz
x y dz
Using operator r is
v v v
V = dx dy dz
x y dz
v v v
dv = dx dy dz : (dxax + dyay + dzaz)
x y dz
dv = V . dr
The vector V (grad v ) is called gradient of scalar function V. It can be seen that for a
fixed | dr |, the change in V in given direction dr is proportional to projection of V in that
direction. Thus V lies in a direction of maximum increase of function of V.
Let M and N lie on the same equipotential surface v(x, y, z) = C1.
As shown in figure (b).; then dv = 0 which implies that V is perpendicular to dr but dr is
tangential to equipotential surface. Hence V must be along the surface normal to M. since v is
in the direction of increasing V it points from v(x, y, z) = C1 to v(x, y, z) = c2 where c2 > 1, the
gradient of a potential function is a vector field that is everywhere normal to equipotential
surface. The expression for V in the three co-ordinate system ax.
v v v
V = dx dy dz (Cartesian)
x y dz
v 1 v v
V = a a a z (cylindrical)
z
v 1 v 1 v
V = ar a a (spherical)
r r r sin
dv = - E . dl ---------------(1)
for a Cartesian co-ordinate system,
v v v
dv = dx dy dz ----------------(4)
x y dz
From (3) and (4)
v v v
- Ex = , - Ey = & - Ez = + ---------------(5)
x y z
So that
v v v
E =- ax a y az
x y z
i.e E = - V
---------------(6)