STATIC ELECTRO-MAGNETIC FIELDS

PART 1 - COORDINATE SYSTEMS & VECTOR CALCULAS

SHORT NOTES

1. Coordinate Systems
It is a way of addressing points or lines or planes or any other geometrical shape in a
three dimensional space of study. If the geometry of study has,

Flat Planar distribution :

Cartesian Systems with Reference as 3 infinite Orthogonal Planes

Axial or Angular distribution :

Cylindrical Systems with Reference as 1 infinite Line

Point and Angular distribution :

Spherical Systems with Reference as single point.

Cartesian Cylindrical Spherical

Parameters (u , v, w): x, y, z ,,z r,  , 

Unit Vectors : ax , ay ,az a , a ,az ar , a ,a
Scaling Factors : (h1 ,h2, h3) 1, 1 ,1 1 , , 1 1 , r , r.sin
The role of scaling factors is crucial in calculations of distances or area in directions
involving angular parameters. Scaling factors for angular parameters are the radius
of the circle containing the angular parameter.

2. Point Transformations or Parametric Conversions

Cartesian to Cylindrical Cylindrical to Spherical

X = Cos Y = Sin  = r.Sin Z = r.Cos

 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2  = tan-1( Y /X) r = √2 + 𝑍 2  = tan-1( Z /r)

Cartesian to Spherical
X = r.Sin.Cos Y = r.Sin.Sin Z = r.Cos

r = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2  = cos-1( Z /r)  = tan-1( Y /X)

3. Dot Product Equivalents between Unit Vectors for Vector Transformations

Cartesian and Cylindrical Cartesian and Spherical

(.) a a az (.) ar a a
ax Cos -Sin 0 ax Sin.Cos Cos.Cos -Sin
ay Sin Cos 0 ay Sin.Sin Cos.Sin Cos
az 0 0 1 az Cos -Sin 0

4. Vector Transformations
Any Vector in Cartesian , A = Ax ax +Ay aY +Az aZ
Can be Expressed as A = A a +A a +Az aZ OR A= Ar ar +A a + A a
A = A . a = Ax ax . a +Ay aY . a +Az aZ . a
( Dot Products to get Projection of A in  direction)
A = A. a.
The same procedure to be applied for any other Vector Components in any system.
5. Directional Integrations and Directional Derivatives
They are used extensively in the subject for calculating total effects or rate of change
analysis of space varying phenomenon like Electric or Magnetic Fields.
Directional Derivatives are calculated using Del Operator. 
It is a vector spatial three dimensional derivative operator.
 is an operator to find out rate of change of space varying quantities.
It can be used to find out rate of change of scalar functions or vector functions of
space.
1  1  1 
 = 𝑎𝑢 + 𝑎𝑣 + 𝑎𝑤
ℎ1  𝑢 ℎ2  𝑣 ℎ3  𝑤
Where u, v, w represents the three dimensions of space in any coordinate systems,
When  is operated on scalar function f(u, v,w) ,
f is called as Gradient Operation. The resultant is a vector function.

When  is operated on vector function A(u, v,w) , we have two ways,

i) Study of variations (Rate of change ) in the direction of the vector,
.A (Dot ) called as Divergence of the vector. The resultant is a scalar function.

ii) Study of variations (Rate of change ) perpendicular to the direction of the vector,
XA (Curl ) called as Curl of the vector. The resultant is a vector function.

6. Vector Identities
a)  X A is a vector orthogonal to both the operated vectors,
The resultant when operated as Divergence results in  . (  X A ) is always zero.
Divergence ( Curl of any Vector) = 0
b) f is a vector function in the direction of ,
The resultant when operated as Curl results in  X (f) is always zero.
Curl ( Gradient of scalar ) = 0
c) Curl ( Curl of Vector ) =  X ( X A ) = (.A ) - 2A

7. Incremental Vector Line Element dL for One dimensional Integration

dL = dx ax + dy ay + dz az
= d a + d a + dz az
= dr ar + r d a + r.sin d a
dL = h1du au + h2dv av + h3dw aw
8. Incremental Vector Surface Element dS for Two dimensional Integration
dS = dy.dz ax + dx.dz ay + dx.dy az
=  d.dz a + d.dz a + .d.d az
= r2 sin d d ar + r sin d.d a + r d dr a
dS = h2.h3 dv dw au + h3.h1 dw du av + h1.h2 du dv aw
9. Incremental Scalar Volume Element dV for Three Dimensional Integration

dV = dx. dy. dz
= .d d.dz
= r2 sin dr.d.d
dV = h1.h2.h3 du.dv.dw

10. Divergence of a Vector Function A = Au au + Av av + Aw aw

1 ( ℎ3 ℎ2 𝐴𝑢)  ( ℎ3 ℎ1 𝐴𝑣)  ( ℎ1 ℎ2 𝐴𝑤)

.A= ( + + )
ℎ1 ℎ2 ℎ3 𝑢 𝑣 𝑤

11 . Curl of a Vector Function A = Au au + Av av + Aw aw

ℎ1 𝑎𝑢 ℎ2 𝑎𝑣 ℎ3𝑎𝑤
1   𝜕
X A= | |
ℎ1 ℎ2 ℎ3 𝑢 𝑣 𝜕𝑤
ℎ1 𝐴𝑢 ℎ2 𝐴𝑣 ℎ3 𝐴𝑤
12. Gradient of a Scalar function f(u,v,w)
1 𝑓 1 𝑓 1 𝑓
f = 𝑎𝑢 + 𝑎𝑣 + 𝑎𝑤
ℎ1  𝑢 ℎ2  𝑣 ℎ3  𝑤

13. Laplacian Operator

. = 2 = Scalar Laplacian Operator,
It is second order derivative and can be operated on scalars and vectors.
Scalar Laplacian Operator is Divergence of Gradient of any Magnitude , 2f or 2A

1 𝜕 ℎ2 ℎ3 𝜕𝑓 𝜕 ℎ1 ℎ3 𝜕𝑓 𝜕 ℎ2 ℎ1 𝜕𝑓
2 f = ( ( )+ ( )+ ( ))
ℎ1 ℎ2 ℎ3 𝜕𝑢 ℎ1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 ℎ2 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤 ℎ3 𝜕𝑤
 WORKBOOK PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Basics of Coordinate Systems

Q1) Describe the LOCUS or Geometry of the following definitions.

(a) x = 2, y = 5
(b) x = 2, y = −1, z = 10
(c) r = 10,  = 30
(d)  = 5,  = 40
(e)  = 60 , z = 10
a(f) r = 5,  = 90

𝑦
Q2) Express the vector 𝐵̄ = 𝑍𝑎𝑥 + (1 − 𝑥)𝑎𝑦 + 𝑥 𝑎𝑧 into
cylindrical coordinates at (1, 1, 1)

Q3) The locus of the surface defined by r.ax = 2 is __________

where r = x a x + y a y + z a z

Line Integrals

Q1) Let a vector G = 4x ax + 2y ay + y az,

Find ∫ 𝐺. 𝑑𝑙 between the points (0, 4, 5) and ( 5, 7, 4)

Q2) Find the line integral of 𝐹 = 8𝑥𝑦𝑎̂𝑥 − 7𝑦𝑎̂𝑦 + 6𝑥𝑎̂𝑧 from the Point (1, 1, 1) to (2, 2, 2)
along the straight line path.

Q3) If G = 2y ax, Find  G.dl between the points (1, –1, 2) to (2, 1, 8).

Q4) Calculate ∮ 𝐴. 𝑑𝑙 Over the path shown where 𝐴̅ = 2𝜌 cos ∅𝑎̂𝜌 + 3sin ∅ 𝑎̂∅
Q5) Given H = x 2a x + y 2 a x find  H.dl between points (0,0) to along the straight-line path and
also along the parabola y = x 2

Q6) If 𝑓 = 2𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 and 𝐴̅ = ∇𝑓, find ∫ 𝐴. 𝑑𝑙 from the origin to (2, 7, 4).

Surface Integrals

Q1) Given a non-uniform surface change density s = x 2 + xy c / m2 ,

Find the total charge in the region y = x 2 ,0  x  1

Q2) If A = 2 xa x − z 2a y + 3xya z ,
Find the flux of A through a surface defined by  = 2 , 0     / 2, 0  z  1

Gauss – Divergence theorem and Divergence Formula

10𝑥 3
Q1) Verify Divergence theorem for 𝐷 = 𝑎𝑥 𝐶/𝑚2 for the volume of a cube of 2m on an
3
edge, centred at the origin and edges parallel to axes.

Q2) Determine change density in the regions

2
𝐷 = (20 + 3 ) 𝑎𝑝 𝑓𝑜𝑟  < 2

5
𝐷 = 138 𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟  > 2

Q3) Determine the charge density at the origin if the field

3𝑟
𝐷 = 𝑟 2 +1 𝑎𝑟 as exists in spherical coordinates.

1  
Q4) Find . 𝐴 at  , ,  if 𝐴̄ = 5 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑎𝜃 + 5 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜙 𝑎𝜙
2 4 4

Q5) A charge is distributed in the spherical region r  2 m with density

−200
= µC/m3.
𝑟2
What is the net flux crossing the surfaces r = 1 m , r = 4m and r = 500m.
Q6) Let D = 2  z 2a  +  cos 2  a z .

Evaluate (a)  S
D  dS (b)    Ddv
v

over the region defined by 2    5, −1  z  1, 0    2 .

Stoke’s Theorem and Curl Formula

Q1) Find the curl of vector field 𝐴̄ =  𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜙 𝑎 + 2 𝑎𝜙 + 𝑧 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜙 𝑎𝑧

Q2) Find   F where F = r a r + r cos 2 a 

Q3) Find the curl of vector field 𝐴̄ =  𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜙 𝑎 + 2 𝑎𝜙 + 𝑧 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜙 𝑎𝑧

Q4) Evaluate both sides of the Stokes theorem for the field
F = 3 y 2 za x + 6 x 2 ya y + 9 xz 2a z and the rectangular path around the edge of the region
0  x  2, −2  y  1, z = 1 .

Laplacian Operator

Q1) Find the Laplacian of the Vector A = 4y2 ax + 2z3 ay + 5x4az

Q2) Find 2𝑟 𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 = √𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2

A. n ( n − 1) r n − 2 B. ( n − 1)( n − 2 ) r n − 2 C. n ( n − 1) r n D. n ( n + 1) r n − 2

Q3) If r = xa x + ya y + za z is the position vector of point ( x, y, z ), r =| r | ,

and n is an integer.
Show that:
r 1
(a) (ln r ) = 2 (b)  2 (ln r ) =
r r2

Q4) Let A = 4 x 2e− y a x − 8 xe− y a y . Determine (. A)

sin  cos 
Q5) Let V = .
r
Determine  V