PHY 568

Vector calculus
Quick revision (previous lecture)
Orthogonal Coordinates systems
The general form of the formula you refer to
Then the desired coefficients are the magnitudes of these vectors:
NB: The variables that are shared between the systems are z and
Coordinates transformation
Coordinates transformation
 Maxwell ’s Equations
The subject of Electricity and Magnetism @ Electromagnetism may be
summarized in Maxwell ’s Equations:
Basics Concepts in Vector Calculus in Cartesian
Coordinate Systems
 Volume elemenet
dV=dxdydz is a scalar
quantity

Surface area elemenet dS

is a vector quantity
 Basics Concepts in Vector Calculus in Cylindrical
Coordinate Systems

Remember that:
Arc length = radius × angle (in radian)
Basics Concepts in Vector Calculus in Cylindrical
Coordinate Systems
The area elements in cylindrical systems
Basics Concepts in Vector Calculus in Spherical
Coordinate Systems
Basics Concepts in Vector Calculus in Spherical
Coordinate Systems
The area elements in spherical systems
Summary of differential elements
in the three coordinate systems
Differential area or element of area
direction of the normal vector
Differential area or element of area
direction of the normal vector
Exercise 1:
Exercise 2
EXERCISE 3
Refer to Exercise 2, calculate:
(a) The surface area AEHD
(b) The surface area ABCD
(c) The volume of the object

Answer:
(a) 1.177
(b) 4.192
(c) 4.263
Quick Revision For Line Integral
Line Integral
Line Integral
Line Integral
Line Integral
Line Integral
Exercise 4:
 Comment on the line integral example on the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnGDmZynvYY

There is a mistake on the video. The points should be (3,6) to (1,-1) and this is
the easiest way to make it correct or if the points are correct then the calculations
must be corrected as follows:

x  3  2t , y  6  5t , 0  t  1
dx dy
 2,  5
dt dt

Then correct them according to the corrected values above

Exercise 5:
 EXERCISE 6

i.

ii.

iii.

Answer: i) ii) iii) 8

 Del Operator, ∇

Definition:

Del is a vector differential operator, also known as the gradient operator.

Del is not a vector in itself, but when it operates on a scalar function, the product is a
vector.

Del operator is useful in finding:

• The gradient of a scalar V, written, as ∇ V

• The divergence of a vector A, written as ∇ • A
• The curl of a vector A , written as ∇× A
• The Laplacian of a scalar V, written as ∇ 2 V
∇ In Cylindrical Coordinate System
Del Operator, ∇

2
Del Operator, ∇

2
Del Operator, ∇

2
∇ In Spherical Coordinate System
∇ In Spherical Coordinate System
 Gradient of a scalar, ∇ V pronounced as “ grad V ”

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.
EXERCISE 6
EXERCISE 7
EXERCISE 8
EXERCISE 9
EXERCISE 10
EXERCISE 10
EXERCISE 10
EXERCISE 10
 EXERCISE 10

𝜓 x2 y2 z2
  1
     5
2 2 2
10 10

𝜃 𝜓
EXERCISE 11
 Divergence of a vector and divergence theorem

Definition: The divergence of A at a given point P is the outward flux per unit
volume as the volume shrinks about P.

where V is the volume

enclosed by the closed
surface S in which P is
located
 Divergence Theorem
The total outward flux of a vector field A through a closed surface S is the
same as the volume integral of the divergence of A .
Mathematically:
EXERCISE 12
EXERCISE 13
 Curl of a vector
Definition : 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.
NB: Curl was once known as rotation

Mathematically:

Useful properties:
Cartesian coordinate
system

Cylindrical coordinate system

Spherical coordinate system

 EXERCISE 14

• Determine the curl of each of these vector fields

Solution
Exercise 15
(a)
 Exercise 16

Answer:
( − 6 𝑝𝑧 cos ∅ ) 𝒂 𝝆 + ( 𝜌 sin ∅ ) 𝒂∅ +¿
 Laplacian ( ∇2 ) of a scalar,

NB: ∇2 is a scalar operator. Hence, it can also works on a vector field.

EXERCISE 17
Examples:
Important:

Whenever the Laplacian of a field

is zero, that is, ∇2 V = 0, the field is
Solutions: said to be harmonic (it is of the form
of sine or cosine).

∇ 2V = 0 is called the Laplace ’s

Equation
EXERCISE
18
 Divergence Theorem
The total outward flux of a vector field A through a closed surface S is the
same as the volume integral of the divergence of A .
Mathematically:
EXERCISE 19
EXERCISE 20
 Curl of a vector
Definition : 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.
NB: Curl was once known as rotation

Mathematically:

Useful properties:
 Stokes's theorem
Stokes's theorem states that the circulation of a vector field A around a (closed)
path L is equal lo the surface integral of the curl of A over the open surface S
bounded by L provided that A and ∇× A are continuous on S .

Mathematically:

The proof of Stoke ’s theorem Recall that curl A is circulation of A per

unit area
EXERCISE
21
 EXERCISE 22

Use Stokes’s theorem to confirm your result in Exercise 5.

Answer : 1
END OF CHAPTER 2