Vector Calculus

Dr.E.Prasad
Asst Professor, Dept of Mathematics
VIT Bhopal
 Vector Calculus

Vector Calculus

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor
Vectors Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal2
 Vector Calculus

Syllabus
Vector fields - Line integrals - work, circulation and flux – Path independence,
conservative fields and potential functions - Green’s Theorem (statement) – Curl
and Divergence – Surface integrals – Stoke’s Theorem (statement) – Divergence
Theorem (statement) – Applications restricted to area and volume problems

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor
Vectors Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal3
 Vector Calculus

SCALAR FIELD

In mathematics and physics, a scalar field or simply scalar is a function associating a

single number to every point in a space – possibly physical space. The scalar may
either be a pure mathematical number (dimensionless) or a scalar physical
quantity (with units).usually denoted by φ(x ,y,z)

Example: 1. φ(x ,y, z)=𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧

2. φ(x ,y, z)=𝑦𝑧+yx+logz

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal4
 Vector Calculus

VECTOR FIELD

A vector field is a special case of a vector-valued function, whose domain's

dimension has no relation to the dimension of its range; for example, the position
vector of a space curve is defined only for smaller subset of the ambient space.
usually denoted by F = f1 (x, y, z)i + f2 (x, y, z)j + f3 (x, y, z) k, where f1 , f2 , f3 are
functions of x , y , z (continuous) or constants

Example: 1. F(x ,y, z)=2 i+3j+4k

2. F(x ,y, z)=xy i+𝑥 2 𝑧j+xyzk

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal5
 Vector Calculus

Operator Grad (𝜵) or operator 𝜵 (del)

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
grad=𝛻=𝑖 𝜕𝑥+ 𝑗 𝜕𝑦+ 𝑘 𝜕𝑧

Gradient of a Scalar

Let φ be a scalar. The vector field whose three components are the three partial
derivatives of φ (in the usual order) is called gradient of φ and denoted by grad φ
or 𝛻𝜑[𝛻 called del operator) defined as

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝛻𝜑= 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 𝜑+ 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 𝜑+ 𝑘 𝜕𝑧 𝜑

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal6
 Vector Calculus

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal7
 Vector Calculus

Example:

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal8
 Vector Calculus

Exercise
x2
1. The ellipse is a level curve of the function f(x,y)= 4 + y 2 .Find the gradient of ƒ at (-2, 1)

2. If f x, y, z = x 2 + y 2 − 2z 2 + zlogx, then find the gradient at (1,1,1)

3. If ƒ(x, y, z) = ex+y cosz + (y + 1)sin−1 (x), then find the gradient at (0,0,π/6)

4. Show that

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal9
 Vector Calculus

Unit Normal for a given vector

Let 𝒂= a1 i + a2 j + a3 k then its corresponding unit normal vector denoted by 𝑛 and
defined as
𝒂
𝑛=
𝒂

where 𝒂 = a1 2 + a2 2 + a3 2

Unit Normal for a given Scalar

Let φ(x ,y , z) be any scalar function in x,y and z then its unit normal at any point
P(x, y, z) is given by

𝛁𝝋
𝑛= at P(x ,y ,z )
𝛁𝝋

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Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal
 Partial Differentiation

Example: If a = xi + yj + zk is a vector then the unit vector at (1,1,1)

Solution:

𝒂
We know that the unit normal vector 𝑛=
𝒂
(xi + yj + zk)
=
√(x2 + y2 + z2)
x y x
= 2 2 2 𝑖+ 2 2 2 𝑗 + 2 2 2 𝑘
√(x + y + z ) √(x + y + z ) √(x + y + z )
At (1,1,1)
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝑛= 𝑖 + 𝑗 + 𝑘
𝟑 𝟑 𝟑

Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Partial Differentiation

Example: Find unit normal vector for 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 2𝑧𝑥 = 4 𝑎𝑡 (2, −2, 3)

Solution:

Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Angle Between Vectors

Let 𝒂=a1 i + a2 j + a3 k and 𝒃 =b1 i + b2 j + b3 k then the angle between 𝒂 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒃 is given by

𝒂. 𝒃
cos 𝜃 =
𝒂 𝒃

where 𝒂 = a1 2 + a2 2 + a3 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐛 = b1 2 + b2 2 + b3 2

Angle Between Two Surface: Let φ1 (x ,y ,z ) and Let φ2 (x ,y , z) are any tow surface then
the angle between φ1 and φ2 at P(x ,y ,z ) is given that

𝛁𝝋𝟏 .𝛁𝝋𝟐
cos 𝜃 = at P(x ,y ,z )
𝛁𝝋𝟏 𝛁𝝋𝟐

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Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal
 Vector Calculus

Solution

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor 14
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal
 Partial Differentiation

Example: Find angle between two functions 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 9 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 3 𝑎𝑡 (2, −1, 2)

Solution:

Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Divergence of a Vector

The divergence of a vector field is a scalar field. The divergence is generally denoted by “div”.
The divergence of a vector field can be calculated by taking the scalar product of
the vector operator applied to the vector field. I.e., ∇ . F(x ,y, z) or ∇ . F ,

Let F=f1 (x, y, z)i+f2 (x, y, z)j+f3 (x, y, z) k

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Div F=𝛻. F= 𝑓
𝜕𝑥 1
(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)+ 𝑓
𝜕𝑦 2
(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)+ 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)
𝜕𝑧 3

Solenoidal Vector

A vector function F=f1 (x, y, z)i+f2 (x, y, z)j+f3 (x, y, z) k is defined as a solenoidal vector if

𝛻. F =0 or Div F =0

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor 16
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal
 Vector Calculus

Divergence of a Vector

The divergence of a vector field is a scalar field. The divergence is generally denoted by “div”.
The divergence of a vector field can be calculated by taking the scalar product of
the vector operator applied to the vector field. I.e., ∇ . F(x ,y, z) or ∇ . F ,

Let F=f1 (x, y, z)i+f2 (x, y, z)j+f3 (x, y, z) k

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Div F=𝛻. F= 𝑓
𝜕𝑥 1
(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)+ 𝑓
𝜕𝑦 2
(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)+ 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)
𝜕𝑧 3

Solenoidal Vector

A vector function F=f1 (x, y, z)i+f2 (x, y, z)j+f3 (x, y, z) k is defined as a solenoidal vector if

𝛻. F =0 or Div F =0

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor 17
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal
 Vector Calculus

Example: Find the divergence of a vector field F(x, y, z) = x2i + 2zj – yk.

Solution:

Given: F(x, y, z) = x2i + 2zj – yk

As we know,

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Div F=𝛻. F = 𝜕𝑥 𝑓1 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)+ 𝜕𝑦 𝑓2 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)+ 𝜕𝑧 𝑓3 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝜕𝑥 𝑥 2 + 𝜕𝑦 2𝑧+ 𝜕𝑧 (−𝑦)
∴ 𝛻. F = 2x

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor 18
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal
 Vector Calculus

Example :Prove that the vector 𝑭 = 𝒛 𝒊 + 𝒙 𝒋 + 𝒚 𝒌 is solenoidal

Solution: Given that 𝑭 = 𝒛 𝒊 + 𝒙 𝒋 + 𝒚 𝒌

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Div F=𝛻. F = 𝜕𝑥 𝑧+ 𝜕𝑦 𝑥+ 𝜕𝑧 𝑦

=0

∴ 𝛻. F = 0

Example : Find ‘a’ such that (𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝒛)𝒊 + (𝟒𝒙 + 𝒂𝒚 − 𝒛)𝒋 + (𝒙 − 𝒚 + 𝟐𝒛)𝒌 is solenoidal.

Solution:

Thanks… Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Curl of a Vector Field

The curl of a vector field is again a vector field. The curl of a vector field is obtained by
taking the vector product of the vector operator applied to the vector field F(x, y, z),
denoted by Curl F = ∇ × F defined as , Let F=f1 (x, y, z)i+f2 (x, y, z)j+f3 (x, y, z) k
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Curl F = ∇ × F = 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑓3

Irrotational Vector

Let F=f1 (x, y, z)i+f2 (x, y, z)j+f3 (x, y, z) k and if Curl F = ∇ × F =0 then we say that F is
irrotational vector or conservative

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor 20
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal
 Vector Calculus

Example: Find the curl of F(x, y, z) = 3x2i + 2zj – xk.

Solution

Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Example: Show that the vector 𝑭= (𝟔𝒙𝒚+𝑧 3 )𝒊+ (𝟑𝑥 2 −𝒛)𝒋+ (𝟑𝒙𝑧 2 −𝒚)𝒌is irrotational

Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Example: Find the constants 𝒂,𝒃,𝒄 so that the vectors is irrotational

𝑭= (𝒙+𝟐𝒚+𝒂𝒛)𝒊+ (𝒃𝒙+𝟑𝒚−𝒛)𝒋+(𝟒𝒙+𝒄𝒚+ 𝟐𝒛)𝒌.

Solution:

Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Exercise

1. Prove that F=3y 2 z 2 𝑖+3x 2 z 2 𝑗+3x 2 y 2 𝑘̂ is a solenoidal vector

2. If F=𝑥 2 𝑦i − 2xzj+2𝑦𝑧 k then find curl curl F (Ans:2x+2j)

3. If F=𝑥𝑧 3 i − 2𝑥 2 𝑦zj+2𝑧 4 𝑦k then find 𝛻 × F at (1,-1,1) (Ans:3j+4k)

4. Find div 𝐅 and curl 𝐅, where 𝐅 = grad(𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝒙𝒚z)

5. Find div(grad 𝛗) and curl(grad 𝛗) at (1,1,1) for 𝛗=𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧 4

6. If 𝐅 = 𝒙𝑦 2 𝒊+𝟐𝑥 2 𝒚𝒛𝒋⃗−𝟑𝒚𝑧 2 𝒌 find 𝛁.𝐅 and 𝛁×𝐅 at the point (1,-1, 1)

Ans
Ans4.
Ans5.

Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Activity:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB83DpBJQsE

Dr.E.Prasad,Asst Professor 25
Vector Calculus Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal
 Vector Calculus

Scalar Potential
Definition: If F is an irrotational vector, then there exists a scalar function φ such that
F=∇φ. Such a scalar function is called scalar potential of F

Thanks… Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Example:
Prove that F = (𝟔𝒙𝒚+𝑧 3 )𝒊+ (𝟑𝑥 2 −𝒛)𝒋+ (𝟑𝒙𝑧 2 −𝒚)𝒌 is irrotational and find 𝝋 such that F = 𝛁𝝋.
Sol:

Thanks… Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Thanks… Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Example:
Prove that F = (𝑦 2 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒙+ 𝑧 3 )𝒊+ (𝟐𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏x−𝟒)𝒋+ (𝟑𝒙 𝑧 2 )𝒌is irrotational and find its scalar
potential.

*Updated Qn

∴ 𝜑= 𝑦 2 sin𝑥+𝑧 3 𝑥−4𝑦+𝑐 is scalar potential

Thanks… Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal

 Vector Calculus

Exercise

1.

2.

3.

4.

Thanks… Dr.E.Prasad ,Asst Professor,VIT Bhopal