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Unit-5 Vector Calculus

This document discusses vector calculus concepts including gradient, curl, and divergence and their interpretations. It defines the vector differential operator ∇ and explains how to calculate the gradient of a scalar field. It also covers directional derivatives and finding the directional derivative of a scalar field in a given direction. Several examples are worked through applying these concepts to find things like unit normals to surfaces, directional derivatives, and checking for coplanarity of gradient vectors.

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Ashish Khari
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319 views9 pages

Unit-5 Vector Calculus

This document discusses vector calculus concepts including gradient, curl, and divergence and their interpretations. It defines the vector differential operator ∇ and explains how to calculate the gradient of a scalar field. It also covers directional derivatives and finding the directional derivative of a scalar field in a given direction. Several examples are worked through applying these concepts to find things like unit normals to surfaces, directional derivatives, and checking for coplanarity of gradient vectors.

Uploaded by

Ashish Khari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit-5 Vector Calculus

Vector Differentiation:

1. Gradient, Curl and Divergence and their Physical Interpretation


2. Directional Derivatives
3. Vector Identities ( Without Proof )

Vector Integration:

1. Line Integral
2. Surface Integral
3. Volume Integral
4. Gauss Divergence Theorem ( Without Proof )
5. Stoke’s Theorem ( Without Proof )
6. Green’s Theorem ( Without Proof ) and their Applications
The operator ∇ vector differential operator

The vector differential operator ∇ is defined by the equation

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

Note: The operator ∇ is read as del ( also called nabla)

Gradient of a Scalar Field

Let 𝜙 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 be a function defining a scalar field, then the gradient of 𝜙, written as grad 𝜙 or ∇𝜙 is defined as
𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙
grad𝜙 = ∇𝜙 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘෠
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

Note:
(𝑖) ∇𝜙 is normal to the surface 𝜙 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑐.
(𝑖𝑖) ∇𝜙 gives the maximum rate of change of to the surface 𝜙 and the magnitude of this maximum is ∇𝜙 .
Directional Derivative: The directional derivative of a scalar field 𝜙 at a point 𝑃 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 in the direction of a
unit vector 𝑎ො is given by
𝑑𝜙
= 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝜙 . 𝑎ො
𝑑𝑠
Note: The maximum value of the directional derivative of a scalar field 𝜙 is ∇𝜙 in the direction of ∇ 𝜙.

Ex 1. Find a unit vector normal to the surface 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 + 3𝑥𝑦𝑧 = 3 at the point 1, 2 − 1 .

Sol.
1 ෠
Ex 2. Show that ∇𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 𝑟Ԧ and hence evaluate ∇ where 𝑟Ԧ = 𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑦𝑗Ƹ + 𝑧𝑘.
𝑟

Sol.
Ex 3. Find the angle between the surfaces 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 9 and 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 3 at the point 2, −1, 2 .

Sol.
5
Ex 4. Find the directional derivative of 𝜙 = 5 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 5𝑦 2 𝑧 + 𝑧 2 𝑥 at the point P 1, 1, 1 in the direction of
2
𝑥−1 𝑦−3 𝑧
the line = = .
2 −2 1

Sol.
Ex 5. Find the directional derivative of 𝜙 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 −1Τ2 at the point P 3, 1, 2 in the direction of
෠
the vector yz𝑖Ƹ + 𝑧𝑥𝑗Ƹ + 𝑥𝑦𝑘.

Sol.
Ex 6. If the directional derivative of 𝜙 = 𝑎 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑏𝑦 2 𝑧 + 𝑐𝑧 2 𝑥 at the point P 1, 1, 1 has maximum
𝑥−1 𝑦−3 𝑧
magnitude 15 in the direction parallel to the line = = , find the values of 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐.
2 −2 1

Sol.
Questions For Practice

Q 1. Find the unit normal at the surface 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 at the point 1, 2, 5

Q 2. Find the directional derivative of the function 𝜙 = 𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑧 3 at the point 2, −1, 1 in the
direction of the normal to the surface 𝑥 log 𝑧 − 𝑦 2 + 4 = 0 at 2, −1, 1 . Ans: −3 2

Q 3. If 𝑢 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧, 𝑣 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 , 𝑤 = 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥 + 𝑥𝑦, prove that 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑢, 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑣 and 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑤


are coplanar vectors.

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