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This document provides a comprehensive formula sheet for coordinate systems and vector derivatives, including Rectangular (Cartesian), Spherical, and Cylindrical coordinates. It outlines key mathematical elements such as line elements, volume elements, gradients, divergences, curls, and Laplacians for each coordinate system. The relationships between the different coordinate systems and their respective unit vectors are also detailed.

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noothan gude
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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formulas

This document provides a comprehensive formula sheet for coordinate systems and vector derivatives, including Rectangular (Cartesian), Spherical, and Cylindrical coordinates. It outlines key mathematical elements such as line elements, volume elements, gradients, divergences, curls, and Laplacians for each coordinate system. The relationships between the different coordinate systems and their respective unit vectors are also detailed.

Uploaded by

noothan gude
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Coordinate Systems and Vector Derivatives Formula Sheet

Rectangular (Cartesian) Coordinates (x, y, z)

Line element: d~` = x̂ dx + ŷ dy + ẑ dz

Volume element: dτ = dx dy dz

Gradient: ~ = ∂f x̂ + ∂f ŷ + ∂f ẑ
∇f
∂x ∂y ∂z

Divergence: ~ · ~v = ∂vx + ∂vy + ∂vz


∇
∂x ∂y ∂z
∂vz ∂vy ∂vx ∂vz ∂vy ∂vx
( ) ( ) ( )
Curl: ~ × ~v =
∇ − x̂ + − ŷ + − ẑ
∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y

∂2f ∂2f ∂2f


Laplacian: ∇2 f = + +
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2

Spherical Coordinates (r, θ, φ)

Relations to rectangular (Cartesian) coordinates and unit vectors:


x = r sin θ cos φ x̂ = r̂ sin θ cos φ + θ̂ cos θ cos φ − φ̂ sin φ
y = r sin θ sin φ ŷ = r̂ sin θ sin φ + θ̂ cos θ sin φ + φ̂ cos φ
z = r cos θ ẑ = r̂ cos θ − θ̂ sin θ
√
r = x2 +√ y2 + z2 r̂ = x̂ sin θ cos φ + ŷ sin θ sin φ + ẑ cos θ
θ = tan−1 ( x2 + y 2 /z) θ̂ = x̂ cos θ cos φ + ŷ cos θ sin φ − ẑ sin θ
φ = tan−1 (y/x) φ̂ = −x̂ sin φ + ŷ cos φ

Line element: d~` = r̂ dr + θ̂ r dθ + φ̂ r sin θ dφ

Volume element: dτ = r 2 sin θ dr dθ dφ

Gradient: ~ = ∂f r̂ + 1 ∂f θ̂ + 1 ∂f φ̂
∇f
∂r r ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ

~ · ~v = 1 ∂ (r2 vr ) + 1 ∂ 1 ∂vφ
Divergence: ∇ 2
(sin θ vθ ) +
r ∂r r sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ
1 ∂ ∂vθ 1 1 ∂vr ∂
[ ] [ ]
Curl: ~ × ~v =
∇ (sin θ vφ ) − r̂ + − (r vφ ) θ̂
r sin θ ∂θ ∂φ r sin θ ∂φ ∂r
1 ∂ ∂vr
[ ]
+ (r vθ ) − φ̂
r ∂r ∂θ

1 ∂2 1 ∂ ∂f 1 ∂2f
( )
Laplacian: ∇2 f = 2
(rf ) + 2 sin θ + 2
r ∂r r sin θ ∂θ ∂θ r2 sin θ ∂φ2
Cylindrical Coordinates (r, φ, z)

Relations to rectangular (Cartesian) coordinates and unit vectors:

x = r cos φ x̂ = r̂ cos φ − φ̂ sin φ


y = r sin φ ŷ = r̂ sin φ + φ̂ cos φ
z = z ẑ = ẑ
√
r = x2 + y 2 r̂ = x̂ cos φ + ŷ sin φ
φ = tan−1 (y/x) φ̂ = −x̂ sin φ + ŷ cos φ
z = z ẑ = ẑ

Line element: d~` = r̂ dr + φ̂ r dφ + ẑ dz

Volume element: dτ = r dr dφ dz

Gradient: ~ = ∂f r̂ + 1 ∂f φ̂ + ∂f ẑ
∇f
∂r r ∂φ ∂z

Divergence: ~ · ~v = 1 ∂ (rvr ) + 1 ∂vφ + ∂vz


∇
r ∂r r ∂φ ∂z
1 ∂vz ∂vφ ∂vr ∂vz 1 ∂ ∂vr
[ ] [ ] [ ]
Curl: ~ × ~v =
∇ − r̂ + − φ̂ + (rvφ ) − ẑ
r ∂φ ∂z ∂z ∂r r ∂r ∂φ

1 ∂ ∂f 1 ∂2f ∂2f
( )
2
Laplacian: ∇ f = r + +
r ∂r ∂r r2 ∂φ2 ∂z 2

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