Del Operator1
Del Operator1
Del Operator1
Del Operator
• The del operator ()is a vector differential
operator. This operator is extremely used
in operations on vector calculus and is
primarily useful in defining:
1. The gradient of a scalar V, written as V
2. The divergence of a vector D,written as D
3. The curl of a vector E , written as x E
4. The Laplacian of a scalar V, written as V
2
Del Operator
• Del Operator in the different coordinate
systems:
• Cartesian:
ax ay az
x y z
• Cylindrical: 1
a a a z
z
• Spherical: a r 1 a 1 a
r r r sin
Gradient of a Scalar
• Suppose that T1(x,y,z) is the temperature
at point P1(x,y,z) in some region of space
and T2(x + dx, y + dy, z + dz) is the
temperature at a near by point P2. the
differential distance dx, dy, and dz are the
components of the differential vector d l .
V V V
• Cartesian: V ax ay az
x y z
V 1 V V
• Cylindrical: V a a az
z
• Spherical: V V 1 V 1V
ar a a
r r r sin
where: V is any scalar value.
Example
• The electric field intensity is derivable as
the negative gradient of the electric
potential V, E V . Let V = 2xy2z3 +
3ln(x2 + 2y2 + 3z2). At point P(3,2,-1),
evaluate: (a) |V| at P; (b) E
Solution
a)
V 2(3)(22 )(1)3 3 ln 32 2(2) 2 3(1) 2 15
b)
V V V
E V ax ay a z
x y z
V 2 xy z 3 ln x 2 y 3z
2 3 2 2 2
x x
V 6x
2y z 2
2 3
x x 2 y 3z
2 2
Solution
b) V 2 xy z 3 ln x 2 y 3z
2 3 2 2 2
y y
V 12 y
4 xyz 2
3
y x 2 y 2 3z 2
2 3
V 2 xy z 3 ln x 2 y 3z
2 2 2
z y
V 18 z
6 xy z 2
2 2
z x 2 y 3z
2 2
Solution
b)
2 3 6x
2 y z 2 a
2 x
x 2 y 3z
2
12 y
E 4 xyz 3 2 a
2 y
x 2 y 3z
2
6 xy 2 z 2
18 z
a z
x 2 y 3z
2 2 2
Solution
b) 6(3)
2(2) (1) 2 a
2 3
2 x
(3) 2(2) 3(1)
2
12(2)
E 4(3)( 2)( 1) 2
3
a
2 y
(3) 2(2) 3(1)
2
6(3)( 2) 2 (1) 2 18(1)
a z
(3) 2(2) 3(1)
2 2 2
E 7.1 a x 22.8 a y 71.1 a z
Example
• Determine the gradient of VOe-2ρsin3Φ at
(1, π/2, 3) in cylindrical coordinates.
Solution
Let
2
f V0e sin 3
f 1 f f
f a a a z
z
V0 e sin 3
2 1 V0 e sin 3
2
f a a
V0 e sin 3
2
az
z
Solution
1
f 2 V0 e 2 sin 3 a 3V e 2
cos 3 a 0
0
f 2(1)V0e 2(1) sin 3 a
2
1
3V0 e 2(1) cos 3 a 0
(1) 2
f 0.27V0 a
Example
• Given Φ = xy + yz + xz, determine the
gradient of Φ at point (1,2,3) and the
directional derivative of Φ at the same
point in the direction toward (3,4,4).
Solution
grad ax ay a z
x y z
xy yz xz xy yz xz
ax ay
x y
xy yz xz
az
z
y z a x x z a y y x a z
Solution
at point (1,2,3)
2 3 a x 1 3 a y 2 1 a z 5 a x 4 a y 3 a z
Solution
directional derivative of Φ at the same point
in the direction toward (3,4,4)
d
a l
dl
l (3 1) a x (4 2) a y (4 3) a z 2 a x 2 a y a z
2ax 2ay az 2ax 2ay az
al
2 2 1
2 2 2 3
d
2 2 1
a l 5 4 3 7
dl 3 3 3
Divergence and Divergence
Theorem
• D d S = net flow of the flux D of around
a closed surface
divD D lim
D dS
v 0 v
Divergence and Divergence
Theorem
• We may consider the divergence of a
vector field D at a given point as a
measure of how much the field diverges or
emanates from that point.
D d S
D d S
Front Back Left Right Top Bottom
Divergence and Divergence
Theorem
• A three dimensional Taylor series
expansion of DX about P:
( z )
2 sin
2 2
z
Solution
b)
D
1
2z 2 2
sin 2
1
z (2 cos 2 ) 2
2 2
sin 2
D 4 z 2 sin 2 (2 z 2 cos 2 ) 2 2 sin 2
D 2 sin 2 z 2 z cos 2 ;
2 2 2 2
P(2,110 0 ,1)
D 2 sin 110 2(1) (2) 2(1)
2 0 2 2 2
cos 2(110 0 ) 9.064
Solution
c)
D 2r sin cosar r cos cosa r sin a
1 2 1 D
D 2
r r
r Dr
1
r sin
sin D
r sin
3
1
D 2 (2 sin cos )
r r
r
1
r sin
(r cos )
sin cos
1
r sin
r sin
Solution
c)
r
1
D 2 (2 sin cos ) 3r 2 1
r sin
(r cos )
1
[sin ( sin ) cos (cos )] cos
sin
cos cos
D 6 sin cos (cos sin )
2 2
sin sin
at P(1.5,30 0 ,50 0 )
0
cos 50
D 6 sin 30 0 cos 50 0 0
(cos 2(30 0
) 1) 1.2855
sin 30
Divergence and Divergence
Theorem
Example:
Evaluate both sides of the divergence
theorem for the field
D 4 xya x 2( x 2 z 2 )a y 4 yza z
in the region. 0 < x < 2, 0 < y < 3, 0 < z <
5.
Solution
Solution
Divergence Theorem:
D d S D dv
S V
D
S
Front d S : at front : x 2, d S dydzax
y2 5
3
z 8 (5 0) 180
2 2
3 0
S Front
D d S 8
2 0 2 2
0
Solution
Back
D
S
Back d S : at back : x 0, d S dydz(a x )
D
S
Left d S : at left : y 0, d S dxdz(a y )
D
S
Right d S : at right : y 3, d S dxdzay
D
S
Top d S : at top : z 5, d S dxdyaz
y2 2
3
x 20 (2 0) 180
2 2
3 0
S Top
D d S 20
2 0 2 2
0
Solution
Bottom
D
S
Bottom d S : at back : z 0, d S dxdy(a z )
D d S D dv
S V
2 3
2 2
2 y 3 0
V D dv 8 x 0 2 z 0 8(2 0) 2 2 (5 0) 360
5
0
Divergence and Divergence
Theorem
Example
Evaluate using divergence theorem for the
field
G 2 cos 5a sin 5a a z
2
G
1
(2 cos5 ) 3 2 1
(2 )(5 cos5 ) 0
2
3. The divergence of the curl of a vector field
vanishes, that is, x A 0 .
4. The curl of the gradient of a scalar field
vanishes, that is, .xV 0
Curl of a Vector
Derived Formulas for the Curl:
• Cartesian:
H z H y H x H z H y H x
x H a x a y a z
y z z x x y
• Cylindrical:
1 H z H H H z 1 ( H ) H
x H a a a z
z z
• Spherical:
1 1 ( H sin ) H 1 1 H r (rH ) 1 (rH ) H r
x H a r a a
r sin r sin r r r
Curl of a Vector
• Stoke’s Theorem
• Stokes’ theorem states that the circulation
of a vector field around a closed path L is
equal to the surface integral of the curl of
over the open surface S bounded by L
provided that and are continuous on S
A d l x A d S
L S
Curl of a Vector
Example:
Determine the curl of the following vector
fields and evaluate them at the points
specified:
(a) A yz a x 4 xy a y y a z
at (1, -2, 3)
(b) B z sin a 3z 2 cos a
at (5, π/2, 1)
1
(c) C 2r cos cos a r r 2 a
at (1, π/6, π/3)
Solution
a)
Az Ay Ax Az Ay Ax
A a x a y a z
y z z x x y
( y ) (4 xy ) ( yz ) ( y )
A a x ay
y z z x
(4 xy ) ( yz )
a z
x y
A 1 0 a x y 0 a y 4 y z a z ; at (1,2,3)
A a x 2 a y 11 a z
Solution
b)
1 Bz B B Bz
B a a
z z
1 B B
a z
1 (0) (3z 2 cos ) ( z sin ) (0)
B a a
z z
1 (3z 2 cos ) ( z sin )
a z
Solution
b)
( z 2 )
B 0 3 cos a sin 0 a
z
1 ( ) 2
(sin )
(3z cos )
2
( z ) a z
B 6 z cos a sin a
6 z cos z cos a z ; at (5,
2
,1)
2
Solution
b)
B 6(5)(1) cos a 5 sin a
2 2
6(1) 2 cos (5)(1) cos a z
2 2
B 5 a
Solution
c)
1 C sin C
C a r
r sin
1 1 Cr rC 1 rC Cr
a a
r sin r r r
Solution
1
r sin
2
c) 1 (0)
C ar
r sin
12
(r ) r
1 1 (2r cos cos )
a
r sin r
1 r (0) (2r cos cos )
a
r r
Solution
1
c)
r 2
sin
C ar
r sin
12
(r ) r
1 2r cos (cos )
a
r sin r
1 (cos )
2r cos a
r
Solution
c)
1
cos 1 2r cos sin 3 12
C r 2
a r r a
sin r sin 2
2r cos sin a ; at (1, 6 , 3)
1
r
cos
1
1 2(1) cos 6 sin 3 3 2
1
C (1) 2
a r (1) a
sin 1 sin 6 2
2(1) cos 3 sin 6 a
1
1
C 1.732 a r 4.5 a 0.5 a
Curl of a Vector
Example:
If F (2 z 5)a x (3x 2)a y (4 x 1)a z
, verify Stokes’ theorem over the
hemisphere x y z 4 and z 0 .
2 2 2
Solution
F d l x F d S
L S
Solution
evaluate the right side :
F F F F F F
x F z y a x x z a y y x a z
y z z x x y
4 x 1 3x 2 2 z 5 4 x 1 3x 2 2 z 5
x F a x a y a z
y z z x x y
x F (0 0)a x (2 4)a y (3 0)a z 2a y 3a z ; d S r 2 sin ddar , r 2( spherical )
S 0 0 0 0
S 0 0 0 0
x F d S 12
S
Solution
evaluate the left side : d l da , r (cylindrical )
F F a 2 z 5a x 3x 2a y 4 x 1a z a
F F a 2 z 5a x a 3x 2a y a 4 x 1a z a
F 2 z 5 sin 3x 2cos 4 x 1(0); z 0, x cos 2 cos
F 5 sin 6 cos2 2 cos a
L
F d l
L
5 sin 6 cos2
2 cos a 2da
2 2 2
F d l 10 sin d 12 cos d 4 cosd
2
L 0 0 0
F d l 10 sin d 12 2 1 cos 2 d 4 cosd
2 2 2
1
L 0 0 0
F d l 10 cos
2
2 2 sin 2 2
0
6 0 4 sin 0
12
2
L
0
Laplacian of a Scalar
• The Laplacian of a scalar field V, written as
V , is the divergence of the gradient of V.
2
Laplacian of a Scalar
• Laplacian:
• In cartesian coordinates:
2
V 2
V 2
V
V 2 2 2
2
x y z
• In cylindrical coordinates:
1 V 1 2V 2V
V
2
2 2 2
z
• In spherical coordinates:
1 V 1 V 1 2
V
V 2 r 2 sin 2 2
2 2
r r r r sin r sin 2
Laplacian of a Scalar
• A scalar field V is deemed harmonic in a
given region if its Laplacian vanishes in
the region: . This is also called Laplace’s
equation.
• Laplacian of a Vector
• When applied to vectors, is now defined
as the gradient of the divergence of minus
the curl of the curl of
Laplacian of a Scalar
Example
Find the laplacian of the following scalar
field
(a) F xz y
20 2 20
(b) D 2 sin 2 sin 2
2
(c) F cos sin ln r r sin
Solution
a)
2
V 2
V 2
V
V 2 2 2
2
x y z
z z
2
( e sin 2 x cosh y ) 2
( e sin 2 x cosh y )
V
2
x 2
y 2
2 (e z sin 2 x cosh y )
z 2
Solution
a) z z
( 2e cos 2 x cosh y ) ( e cos 2 x sinh y )
V
2
x y
(e z sin 2 x cosh y )
z
2V 4e z sin 2 x cosh y e z sin 2 x cosh y
z
e sin 2 x cosh y
2V 2e z sin 2 x cosh y
Solution
b) 1 U 1 2
U 2
U
U
2
2 2
2
z
1 ( z sin z 2
cos2
2
)
U
2
1 ( z sin z cos )
2 2 2 2
2
2
2 ( z sin z 2 cos2 2 )
z 2
Solution
b)
1
U
2
( z sin 2 )
1 2 (sin cos )
2 z sin 2 z
( sin 2 z 2 cos2 )
z
2
1
U z sin 4 2 z sin 2 z 2 cos 2 2 cos2
1
2
2z
U 4 2 cos
2 2
cos 2
2
Solution
1 2 V 1 V
V 2 r 2 sin
2
c) r r r r sin
1 V2
2 2
r sin 2
1 (cos sin ln r r 2
)
f 2 r
2 2
r r r
1 (cos sin ln r r 2 )
2 sin
r sin
1 2 (cos sin ln r r 2 )
2 2
r sin 2
Solution
c) 2 f 1 1 1 cos sin 2r 2
r r r r
2 2
2
1
r sin
sin 2 sin ln r
1
2 2 ( cos sin ln r )
r sin
f 2 cos sin
2 1
r
2
1
r sin
1 2 ln r csc2 ln r 6
Classification of Vector Fields
A vector field is uniquely characterized
by its divergence and curl. All vector fields
can be classified in terms of their
vanishing or non-vanishing divergence or
curl as follows:
1. A 0, x A 0
2. A 0, x A 0
3. A 0, x A 0
4. A 0, x A 0
Classification of Vector Fields