Chapter 5

VECTOR CALCULUS
 5.1 Introduction

Vector Calculus, also known as vector

analysis, deals with the differentiation
and integration of vector field,
especially in the three-dimensional
Euclidean space. Vector fields represent
the distribution of a vector to each point in
the subset of space.
 5.2 Differential Length, Area, and Volume

Differential elements in length,

area, and volume are useful in
vector calculus. They are defined
in the Cartesian, cylindrical, and
spherical coordinate systems.
 5.3 Cartesian Coordinates

A. Cartesian Coordinates
1. From Figure 5.1, we noticed that the
differential displacement is given by

(5.1)
5.3 Cartesian Coordinates

Figure 5.1 Differential elements in the

right-handed Cartesian coordinate
system
5.3 Cartesian Coordinates

2. Differential normal area is given by

(5.2)

and illustrated in Figure 5.2

5.3 Cartesian Coordinates

Figure 5.2 Differential normal areas in Cartesian coordinates:

5.3 Cartesian Coordinates

3. Differential volume is given by

(5.3)
 5.3 Cartesian Coordinates

The way dS is defined important. The

differential surface (or area) element dS may
generally be defined as
(5.4)

where dS is the area of the surface element and

an is a unit vector normal to the surface dS.
 5.3 Cylindrical Coordinates

B. Cylindrical Coordinates
Note from Figure 5.3 that in cylindrical
coordinates, differential elements can be found
as follows:
(1) Differential displacement is given by
(5.5)
5.3 Cylindrical Coordinates

Figure 5.3 Differential elements in

cylindrical coordinates.
 5.3 Cylindrical Coordinates

(2) Differential normal area is given by and

illustrated in Figure 5.4.

(5.6)
5.3 Cylindrical Coordinates

Figure 5.4 Differential normal areas in cylindrical coordinates.

5.3 Cylindrical Coordinates

(3) The differential volume is given by

(5.7)
 5.3 Spherical Coordinates

C. Spherical Coordinates
From Figure 5.5 we notice that
(1) Differential displacement is given by

(5.8)
5.3 Spherical Coordinates

Figure 5.5 Differential elements

in the spherical coordinate
system.
5.3 Spherical Coordinates

(2) The differential normal area is

(5.9)

and illustrated in Figure 5.6

5.3 Spherical Coordinates

(3) The differential volume is

(5.10)

and illustrated in Figure 5.6

5.3 Spherical Coordinates

Figure 5.6 Differential normal areas in

spherical coordinates:
 5.3 Examples

Example 5.1 Consider the object shown in Figure 5.7.

Calculate
(a) The distance BC
(b) The distance CD
(c) The surface area ABCD
(d) The surface area ABO
(e) The surface area AOFD
(f) The volume ABDCFO
5.3 Examples

Figure 5.7 For Example 5.1

 5.3 Examples

Solution: Although points A, B, C, and D are given in Cartesian

coordinates, it is obvious that the object has cylindrical symmetry.
Hence, we solve the problem in cylindrical coordinates. The points
are transformed from Cartesian to cylindrical coordinates as
follows:
5.3 Examples
5.3 Examples
 5.4 Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals

The familiar concept of integration will

now be extended to cases when the
integrand involves a vector. By a line we
mean the path along a curve in space. We
shall use terms such as line, curve, and
contour interchangeably.
 5.4 Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals

Line Integral
The line integral is the integral of the
tangential component of A along curve L.
Given a vector field A and a curve L, we define the
integral
(5.11)

as the line integral of A around L (see Figure 5.8)

 5.4 Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals

If the path of integration is a closed curve such

as abca in Figure 5.8, the equation becomes a
closed contour integral

(5.12)

which is called the circulation of A around L.

5.4 Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals

Figure 5.8 Path of

integration of vector field A.
5.4 Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals

(5.13)
5.4 Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals

Figure 5.9 The flux of a vector

field A through surface S.
 5.4 Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals

For a closed surface (defining a volume) equation 5.13

becomes
(5.14)

which is referred to as the net outward flux of A from S.

Notice that a closed path defines an open surface whereas
a closed surface defines a volume. (see Figures 5.11
and 5.16)
5.4 Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals

(5.15)
 5.4 Examples

Example 5.2 Given that

calculate the circulation of F around the (closed) path
shown in Figure 5.10.

Figure 5.10 For example 5.2

 5.4 Examples

Solution The circulation of F around path L is given by

where the path is broken into segments numbered 1 to 4

as shown in Figure 5.10.
For segment 1, y = 0 = z
5.4 Examples
5.4 Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals
5.4 Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals
5.5 Del Operator
5.5 Del Operator

The operator is useful in defining

 5.5 Del Operator

A. Del Operator in Cartesian coordinate

(5.16)

B. Del Operator in Cylindrical coordinate

(5.17)

C. Del Operator in Spherical coordinate

(5.18)
 5.5 Gradient of a Scalar

The gradient of a scalar field V is a

vector that represents both the magnitude
and the direction of the maximum space
rate of increase of V.
 5.5 Gradient of a Scalar (V)

A. Cartesian coordinate
(5.19)

B. Cylindrical coordinate

(5.20)

C. Spherical coordinate
(5.21)
 5.5 Gradient of a Scalar (V)

The following computation formulas on gradient

should be noted:
(5.22)
(5.23)

(5.24)

(5.25)

where U and V are scalars and n is an integer.

 5.5 Gradient of a Scalar (V)

Example 5.3 Find the gradient of the

following scalar fields:
 5.5 Gradient of a Scalar (V)

Solution:
 5.5 Divergence of a Vector

The divergence of A at a given point P is the

outward flux per unit volume as the volume
shrinks about P.

(5.26)
 5.5 Divergence of a Vector

Example 5.4 Determine the divergence of

these vector fields:
 5.5 Divergence of a Vector

Solution:
5.5 Divergence of a Vector
5.5 Divergence of a Vector
 5.5 Curl of a Vector

The curl of A is an axial (or rotational)

vector whose magnitude is the maximum
circulation of A per unit area as the area
tends to zero and whose direction is the
normal direction of the area when the area is
oriented so as to make the circulation
maximum.
5.5 Curl of a Vector

(5.27)
 5.5 Curl of a Vector

A. Cartesian Coordinate

(5.28)

or

(5.29)
 5.5 Curl of a Vector

B. Cylindrical Coordinate

(5.30)

or

(5.31)
 5.5 Curl of a Vector

C. Spherical Coordinate

(5.32)

or

(5.33)
 5.5 Curl of a Vector

Example 5.5 Determine the curl of these

vector fields:
 5.5 Curl of a Vector

Solution:
5.5 Curl of a Vector
5.5 Curl of a Vector
5.5 Curl of a Vector
5.5 Laplacian of a Vector
 5.5 Laplacian of a Vector

A. Cartesian Coordinate

(5.34)

or

(5.35)
 5.5 Laplacian of a Vector

B. Cylindrical Coordinate

(5.30)

C. Spherical Coordinate

(5.31)
 5.5 Laplacian of a Vector

Example 5.6 Find the Laplacian of the

following scalar fields:
 5.5 Laplacian of a Vector

Solution:
5.5 Laplacian of a Vector
5.5 Laplacian of a Vector
5.5 Laplacian of a Vector
Thank You