Divergence of a Vector Point Function

The divergence of a differentiable vector point function 𝑉 is denoted by 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑉 and is defined as

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑉 = ∇. 𝑉 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘෠ . 𝑉 = 𝑖Ƹ . + 𝑗Ƹ . + 𝑘෠ . = σ 𝑖Ƹ .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥

Obviously, the divergence of a vector point function is a scalar point function.

Note:
𝑖 ෠ then
If 𝑉 = 𝑉1 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑉2 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑉3 𝑘,

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝑉1 𝜕𝑉2 𝜕𝑉3

𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑉 = ∇. 𝑉 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘෠ . 𝑉1 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑉2 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑉3 𝑘෠ = + +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

෠ 𝑘෠ = 1 and 𝑖.Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ = 𝑗.Ƹ 𝑘෠ = 𝑘.

since 𝑖.Ƹ 𝑖Ƹ = 𝑗.Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ = 𝑘. ෠ 𝑖Ƹ = 0

𝑖𝑖 If 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑉 = 0, then 𝑉 is said to be a Solenoidal vector.

 Curl of a Vector Point Function

The curl ( or rotation) of a differentiable vector point function 𝑉 is denoted by 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑉 and is defined as

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑉 = ∇ × 𝑉 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ ෠
+ 𝑘 × 𝑉 = 𝑖Ƹ × + 𝑗Ƹ × ෠
+ 𝑘 × = ෍ 𝑖Ƹ ×
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥

Obviously, the curl of a vector point function is a vector point function.

Note:
𝑖 ෠ then
If 𝑉 = 𝑉1 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑉2 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑉3 𝑘,

𝑖Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ 𝑘෠
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑉 = ∇ × 𝑉 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘෠ × 𝑉1 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑉2 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑉3 𝑘෠ =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑉1 𝑉2 𝑉3
𝜕𝑉3 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉1 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉2 𝜕𝑉
𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑉 = − 2 𝑖Ƹ + − 3 𝑗Ƹ + − 1 𝑘෠
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝑖𝑖 If 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑉 = 0, then 𝑉 is said to be an irrotational vector.

Ex 1. ෠ show that
If 𝑟Ԧ = 𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑦𝑗Ƹ + 𝑧𝑘,
𝑖 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑟Ԧ = 3 (𝑖𝑖) c𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑟Ԧ = 0

Sol.
Ex 2. Find the divergence and curl of the vector point function 𝐹Ԧ = 𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑦𝑧 2 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑧𝑥 2 𝑘෠
at the point 1, 2, 3
Sol.
Ex 3. A vector field is given by 𝐴Ԧ = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 𝑗.Ƹ Show that the field is irrotational and find
the scalar potential.
Sol.
Ex 4. Find the constants 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 so that 𝐹Ԧ = 𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑏𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 𝑧 𝑗Ƹ + 4𝑥 + 𝑐𝑦 + 2𝑧 𝑘෠ is
𝑥2 𝑦2
irrotational. If 𝐹Ԧ = 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝜙, show that 𝜙 = − 3 + 𝑧 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑥𝑧 − 𝑦𝑧.
2 2

Sol.
 Vector Identities

𝑖 If 𝐴Ԧ is a differentiable vector point function and 𝜙 is a scalar function then

𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝜙𝐴Ԧ = 𝜙 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝐴Ԧ + 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝜙 . 𝐴Ԧ

𝑖𝑖 If 𝐴Ԧ is a differentiable vector point function and 𝜙 is a scalar function then

𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝜙𝐴Ԧ = 𝜙 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝐴Ԧ + 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝜙 × 𝐴Ԧ

𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = 𝐵. 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝐴Ԧ − 𝐴.

Ԧ 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝐵

𝑖𝑣 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝐴Ԧ × 𝐵 = 𝐴Ԧ 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝐵 − 𝐵 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝐴Ԧ + 𝐵. ∇ 𝐴Ԧ − ∇. 𝐴Ԧ 𝐵

𝜕2 𝜕2 𝜕2
𝑣 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝜙 = ∇2 𝜙 where 2
∇ ≡ 2 + +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2

(𝑣𝑖) 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝜙 = ∇ × ∇𝜙 = 0

(𝑣𝑖) 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑉 = ∇. ∇ × 𝑉 = 0

Ex 1. ෠ Hence show that
Prove that 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑟 𝑛 = ∇2 𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑛 𝑛 + 1 𝑟 𝑛−2 where 𝑟Ԧ = 𝑥𝑖Ƹ + 𝑦𝑗Ƹ + 𝑧𝑘.
1 𝑟Ԧ
∇2 = 0. Hence or otherwise evaluate ∇ × .
𝑟 𝑟2

Sol.
 𝑟Ԧ
Ex 2. Show that the vector field 𝐹Ԧ = is irrotational as well as solenoidal. Find the scalar potential.
𝑟3

Sol.
Ex 3. If 𝐸 and 𝐻 are irrotational prove that 𝐸 × 𝐻 is solenoidal.

Sol.
 Questions For Practice

Q 1. Prove that 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑟 𝑛 𝑟Ԧ = 𝑛 + 3 𝑟 𝑛 , further show that 𝑟 𝑛 𝑟Ԧ is solenoidal only if 𝑛 = −3

Q 2. Show that 𝐴Ԧ = 6𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧 3 𝑖Ƹ + 3𝑥 2 − 𝑧 𝑗Ƹ + 3𝑥𝑧 2 − 𝑦 𝑘෠ is irrotational. Find the velocity potential 𝜙

such that 𝐴Ԧ = ∇𝜙

𝑥 ෠
Q 3. Show that ∇2 = 0 where 𝑟 is the magnitude of position vector 𝑟Ԧ = 𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑦𝑗Ƹ + 𝑧𝑘.
𝑟3

2 1Τ2
Q 4. Show that ∇2 𝑓 𝑟 = 𝑓 ′′ 𝑟 + 𝑓 ′ 𝑟 . Hence evaluate ∇2 log 𝑟 if 𝑟 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2
𝑟
1
Ans: ∇2 log 𝑟 =
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2