Understanding divergence and curl

Mainak Sengupta

EE, IIEST Shibpur,

Howrah, WB, India

September 2, 2021

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 Presentation Outline

Presentation Outline

• Definition - What,Why, How - divergence and curl

• Some simple vector valued functions
• divergence and curl - operations on those fns.
• Implications and conclusions
• Exercises
• References

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 Definition

Definition - What?

divF~ = ∇.F~ (1)

curlF~ = ∇ × F~ (2)

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 Definition

Definition - Why?

To become clear by itself at the end.

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 Definition

Definition - How?

We shall see in the subsequent slides.

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 Vector (valued) functions

Vector (valued) functions

• Vectors disposed all over a space

such that

at each space co-ordinate the corresponding vector has a value as defined

by the given functional relation.

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 Vector (valued) functions

Vector (valued) functions

• General representation

F~ = fx i + fy j + fz k (3)
• Coefficients fx etc. need not be a function of x

• May be a function of any one or more of the variables. x,y , z, or even a

constant (zero, also),

• 2-D examples to follow where fz = 0 in (3) above, always.

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 1

F~ = 2i (4)

Figure: Plot of vector functions Ex-1

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 1 - (contd.)

i j k
and,∇ × F~ = ∂
∂x
∂
∂y
∂
∂z
  2 0 0
∂fx ∂fy ∂fz
∇.F~ =
   
+ + ∂(0) ∂(0) ∂(2) ∂(0)
∂x ∂y ∂z = − i+ − j
  ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x
∂(2) ∂(0) ∂(0) 
∂(0) ∂(2)

= + + + − k
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y
= 0 = 0
(5) (6)

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 2

F~ = xi (7)

Figure: Plot of vector functions Ex-2

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 2 - (contd.)

i j k
and,∇ × F~ = ∂
∂x
∂
∂y
∂
∂z
  x 0 0
∂fx ∂fy ∂fz
∇.F~ =
   
+ + ∂(0) ∂(0) ∂(x) ∂(0)
∂x ∂y ∂z = − i + − j
  ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x
∂(x) ∂(0) ∂(0) 
∂(0) ∂(x)

= + + + − k
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y
= 1 = 0
(8) (9)

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 3

F~ = y i (10)

Figure: Plot of vector functions Ex-3

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 3 - (contd.)

i j k
and,∇ × F~ = ∂
∂x
∂
∂y
∂
∂z
  y 0 0
∂fx ∂fy ∂fz
∇.F~ =
   
+ + ∂(0) ∂(0) ∂(y ) ∂(0)
∂x ∂y ∂z = − i + − j
  ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x
∂(y ) ∂(0) ∂(0) 
∂(0) ∂(y )

= + + + − k
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y
= 0 = (−1) k
(11) (12)

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 4

F~ = xi + y j (13)

Figure: Plot of vector function in

Ex-4

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 4 - (contd.)

i j k
and,∇ × F~ = ∂
∂x
∂
∂y
∂
∂z
  x y 0
∂fx ∂fy ∂fz
∇.F~ =
   
+ + ∂(0) ∂(y ) ∂(x) ∂(0)
∂x ∂y ∂z = − i + − j
  ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x
∂(x) ∂(y ) ∂(0) 
∂(y ) ∂(x)

= + + + − k
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y
= 2 = 0
(14) (15)

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 5

F~ = y i + xj (16)

Figure: Plot of vector function in

Ex-5

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 5 - (contd.)

i j k
and,∇ × F~ = ∂
∂x
∂
∂y
∂
∂z
  y x 0
∂fx ∂fy ∂fz
∇.F~ =
   
+ + ∂(0) ∂(x) ∂(y ) ∂(0)
∂x ∂y ∂z = − i + − j
  ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x
∂(y ) ∂(x) ∂(0) 
∂(x) ∂(y )

= + + + − k
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y
= 0 = 0
(17) (18)

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 6

F~ = −y i + xj (19)

Figure: Plot of vector function in

Ex-6

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 6 - (contd.)

i j k
and,∇ × F~ = ∂
∂x
∂
∂y
∂
∂z
  (−y ) x 0
∂fx ∂fy ∂fz
∇.F~ =
   
+ + ∂(0) ∂(x) ∂(−y ) ∂(0)
∂x ∂y ∂z = − i + − j
  ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x
∂(−y ) ∂(x) ∂(0) 
∂(x) ∂(−y )

= + + + − k
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y
= 0 = 2k
(20) (21)

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 7

F~ = xi − y j (22)

Figure: Plot of vector function in

Ex-7

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 Vector (valued) functions

Example 7 - (contd.)

i j k
and,∇ × F~ = ∂
∂x
∂
∂y
∂
∂z
  x (−y ) 0
∂fx ∂fy ∂fz
∇.F~ =
   
+ + ∂(0) ∂(−y ) ∂(x) ∂(0)
∂x ∂y ∂z = − i + − j
  ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x
∂(x) ∂(−y ) ∂(0) 
∂(−y ) ∂(x)

= + + + − k
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y
= 0 =0
(23) (24)

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 Conclusions

Conclusions

•Divergence - a measure of net outflow of vector valued functions in a

given space.

• Curl - a measure of net circulation of vector valued functions in a given

space.

• Sign of the resultis meaningful.

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 Exercises

Exercises I

1 Plot the vector functions and evaluate divergence and curl for the
following:
F~ = |y |i
F~ = y 2 i
2 For the exercises above if the vector F~ represents velocity, then plot a
graph of velocity -vs-vertical distance (y ).
3 Calculate the divergence of the following vector functions[1]:
~F = x 2 i + 3xz 2 j − 2zxk
~F = xy i + 2yzj + 3zxk
~F = y 2 i + (2xy + z 2 )j + 2yzk
4 For the Exercise 2 above, try to check with fluid flow concepts and
make technical inferences. (Hint: You may take help from materials
on fluid mechanics).

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 Conclusions

Acknowledgements

• Late Prof. K. V. Ratnam- my M.Tech and Ph. D Supervisor and my

GURU.
• Prof. T. K. Bhattacharya - my Ph. D co-Supervisor,
• My teachers at all levels.
• All students, particularly at the my PG & R level and colleagues at
IIEST, Shibpur.
• My entire family for the continued support!
• Prof. G. P Sastry for sustaining & furthering my interest in Physics!
• Most importantly - all of you, in this course.

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 References

References I

David J. Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics, 4th ed.,2017,

Cambridge University Press, New Delhi, India, ISBN-13:
978-1108420419 & ISBN-10: 1108420419.
Richard P. Feynmann, R.B. Leighton and M. Sands, The Feynmann
Lectures on Physics, Vol I - III, The Millenium ed.,12013, Dorling
Kindersley (India) Pvt. Ltd., ISBN-10: & ISBN-13: .
Erwin Kreyszig, Advanced Engg. Mathematics, 5th ed.,1996, John
Wiley & sons, 1983, New Age(India) Pvt. Ltd. reprint 1996,
ISBN-81-224-0016-7.
George Arfken, Mathematical Methods for Physicists, 1st ed.,1966,
Academic Press, Library of Congress Catalog No. 65-27740.
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOcFJKQPZfo.

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 References

References II

https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvzTEbp9lrc
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB83DpBJQsE

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 QA

Questions please?

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