V Semester B.Sc.

Mathematics Paper 6 MT5218

Vector Differential Calculus-Lecture 6
29-07-2020

Divergence and Curl of a Vector point function

Divergence of a vector point function
Let F be any given continuously differentiable vector point function, then the
divergence of F denoted by divF or 𝛻. 𝐹 is defined as
𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹
𝑑𝑖𝑣𝐹 = 𝛻. 𝐹 = ( ). 𝑖 + ( ). j + ( ). 𝑘
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
=( 𝑖+ j+ k) . F
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝐹1 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹3
If 𝐹 = 𝐹1 𝑖̂ + 𝐹2 𝑗̂ + 𝐹3 𝑘̂ ⇒ 𝛻. 𝐹 = + +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

Note: Divergence of a vector point function is a scalar point function

Curl of a vector point function

Let F be any given continuously differentiable vector point function, then the
Curl of F denoted by curl(F) or 𝛻 × 𝐹 is defined as
𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹
curl(𝐹) = 𝛻 × 𝐹 = ( ) × 𝑖 + ( ) × j + ( ) × 𝑘
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
=( 𝑖+ j+ k) ×F
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
If 𝐹 = 𝐹1 𝑖̂ + 𝐹2 𝑗̂ + 𝐹3 𝑘̂ ⇒ 𝜵 × 𝑭 =|𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
|
𝐹1 𝐹2 𝐹3

Note: Curl of a vector point function is a vector point function

Properties
1.Divergence of a sum: div(A+B)=divA +divB
i.e. 𝛻. (𝐴 + 𝐵) = 𝛻. 𝐴 + 𝛻. 𝐵
2. Divergence of a constant vector:
If F is a constant vector point function then divF= 𝛻. 𝐹 =0
3.Curl of a sum: curl(A+B) = curl(A) +curl(B)
i.e. 𝛻 × (𝐴 + 𝐵) = (𝛻 × 𝐴) + (𝛻 × 𝐵)
4. Curl of a constant vector:

If F is a constant vector, then Curl(F)= 𝛻 × 𝐹 = ⃗0

Problems
1.Find the divergence of
a)𝐹 = 2𝑥 2 𝑧𝑖̂ − 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑗̂ + 3𝑥𝑦 2 𝑘̂
𝜕𝐹1 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹3
divF= 𝛻. 𝐹 = + +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

=𝟒𝒙𝒛 − 𝟐𝒙𝒚
b) F = 𝑥𝑦𝑧𝑖̂ + 3𝑦𝑥 2 𝑗̂ + (𝑥𝑧 2 − 𝑧𝑦 2 )𝑘̂
Sol:- 𝛻. 𝐹 = 𝒚𝒛 + 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙𝒛 − 𝒚𝟐
c) F = (𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )𝑖̂ + 2𝑦𝑥𝑗̂ + (𝑦 2 − 𝑥𝑦)𝑘̂ at (2,0,2)
Sol:- 𝛻. 𝐹 = 2𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 4𝑥
At the point (2,0,2), 𝛻. 𝐹 =8
2.Find the curl of F where
a).𝐹 = 𝑥 2 𝑖̂ + 𝑦 2 𝑗̂ + 𝑧 2 𝑘̂
Solution: Given 𝐹 = 𝑥 2 𝑖̂ + 𝑦 2 𝑗̂ + 𝑧 2 𝑘̂
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
⇒ 𝜵 × 𝑭 =|𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
| = | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
| = 0𝑖̂ + 0𝑗̂ + 0𝑘̂
𝐹1 𝐹2 𝐹3 𝑥2 𝑦2
𝑧2
b.𝐹 = 𝑟
Sol: 0𝑖̂ + 0𝑗̂ + 0𝑘̂
c. F = (𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )𝑖̂ + 2𝑦𝑥𝑗̂ + (𝑦 2 − 𝑥𝑦)𝑘̂
Sol: (2𝑦 − 𝑥)𝑖̂ + 𝑦𝑗̂ + 4𝑦𝑘̂
d. 𝐹 = 2𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧𝑗̂ + 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑖̂ − 3𝑦𝑧 2 𝑘̂ at (1,-1,1)
Sol: curl(F) = (−3𝑧 2 − 2𝑥 2 𝑦)𝑖̂ + 0𝑗̂ + (4𝑥𝑦𝑧 − 2𝑥𝑦)𝑘̂
At (1,-1,1) , curl(F) = −𝑖̂ − 2𝑘̂
e.If 𝐹 = (𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1)𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ + (−𝑥 − 𝑦)𝑘̂, find 𝐹. 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙(𝐹)
Sol: 0
Geometrical interpretation of Divergence and Curl:
A source of light, a spark or an electric bulb of very small size that can be
considered as just a point. Light emerges from it in all directions. In other words,
light diverges from the point.
At each point in space, the rate at which partices are generated per unit volume
is called the divergence of the vector field

Curl of a vector field is its rotational tendency.

At each point in space, the rate at which particles are swirling around it per unit
area is called the Curl of the vector field.

A vector whose divergence vanishes identically is said to be a Solenoidal

vector.i.e. F is Solenoidal if 𝛻. 𝐹 =0.
A vector whose Curl vanishes is said to be a Irrotational vector.
⃗
i.e. F is Irrotational if 𝛻 × 𝐹 = 0

Practice Problems:
⃗⃗⃗ )=3
1.Prove that div((𝑟
𝜋 𝜋
2.Given 𝐹 = (𝑥𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑧)𝑖̂ + (𝑦 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥)𝑗̂ + (𝑧 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥𝑦)𝑘̂ .Find 𝛻. 𝐹 at the point (0, , )
2 2

3. If ‘a’ is a constant vector, show that

i) 𝛻. (𝑎 × 𝑟) = 𝛻. (𝑟 × 𝑎) = 0
ii) 𝛻 × (𝑎 × 𝑟) = 2𝑎 and iii) 𝛻 × (𝑟 × 𝑎) = −2𝑎
4. Find curlV if 𝑉 = 𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 (𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂)
5.Show that the vector (𝑥 + 3𝑦)𝑖̂ + (𝑦 − 3𝑧)𝑗̂ + (𝑥 − 2𝑧)𝑘̂ is Solenoidal.
6.Determine the constant ‘a’ so that the vector
(2𝑥 + 3𝑦)𝑖̂ + (4𝑦 − 2𝑧)𝑗̂ + (12𝑥 + 𝑎𝑧)𝑘̂ is Solenoidal.

7.Check whether the vector (𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦 + 𝑧)𝑖̂ + (𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦 − 𝑧)𝑗̂ + (𝑥 − 𝑦)𝑘̂ is irrotational or not.
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