III.

d Curl and Divergence f Given a scalar function f (x, y, z) we have computed its gradient f = i+ x f f j+ k and discussed some of its practical signicance. We now introduce two y z operations on vector elds F = M i + N i + P k. The rst is the divergence of F, denoted by div (F) or div (F) = F and dened by

M N P i+ j+ k (M i + N j + P k) = + + . x y z x y z F and dened by:

The second is the curl of F, denoted by curl (F) or i F = det x M =i j y N k z P

N P M M N P +j +k . y z z x x y

Observe that for any F, div (F) is scalar while curl (F) is a vector. We shall not discuss in any detail the physical signicance of div and curl . But there are some properties we wish to point out. Properties: (1) F 0 i F is conservative. Indeed the components of quatities that are zero precisely when a potential exists. (2) As a consequence of (1), we have the zero vector. (3) By direct calculation, ( F) = 0, i.e., the div of a curl is zero. ( f ) = 0, i.e., the curl of a gradient is F are the three

(4) We can write Greens Theorem in vector form: Let F = M i + N j + O k, and C is simple closed path in the (x, y) plane.
197

D C

Then F dr =
D

N M x y

dA =
D

(curl F) k dA.

Terminology: If curl F = 0 at a point P in (x, y, z) space, then we say F is irrotational at P . If div F = 0 at some point P in (x, y, z) space, then F is incompressible at P . These names come from the physical signicance of curl , div , respectively. Example 1. Answer. div F = 2 (x ) + (xy) + (xz 2 ) = 2x + x + 2xz. x y z Find the div and curl of F = x2 i + xy j + xz 2 k.

Example 2. Answer.

Is there a vector eld G whose curl is given by curl G = x i+y j+z k?

At rst sight, it may seem wise to approach this problem as follows: Try

to nd G1 , G2 , G3 such that G = G1 i + G2 j + G3 k has curl G = x i + y j + z k. In reality, it is much better to note that div (curl G) = 0 for any G, while in this case we would have: div (curl G) = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. So there is no G. Example 3. Answer. Prove the identity div (f F) = f div (F) + F f.

This cannot be done by choosing examples for f , F (e.g. f (x) = xyz,

198

F = x i + y j + z k, say) and then proving the identity for the chosen f , F! Instead,

we write F = M i + N j + P k. Then div (f F) = div (f M i + f N j + f P k) = = (f M ) + (f N ) + (f P ) x y z M f N f P f M +f + N +f + P +f x x y y z z M N P + + x y z f. + f f f M + N + P x y z

=f

= f div (F) + F

Example 4. Answer. Set

Verify the identity: div (F G) = G curl F F curl G.

F=Mi+Nj+P k G = Q i + R j + S k. Now i F G = det M Q j N R k P S

= i[N S P R] + j[P Q M S] + k[M R N Q]. So div [F G] = N x + + S+N P y M z S x Q y R z

199

P x

RP M y N z

R x S y Q z

Q+P R+M

SM QN

=Q

N P M P M N +R +S y z z x x y M Q S Q R R S + + + +N +P z y x z y x

= G curl F F curl G.

200

Further Exercises: Find div (F), curl (F) for 1)3). 1) F = (sin2 x)i + (x + y)j + (sec z)k. 2) F = (sec(xy))i + (csc(yz))j + (tan z sec z)k. 3) F = e y i + e x j + exyz k. 4) Verify the identity: div (f curl F) = (gradf ) (curl F). 5) Verify the identity: (f F) = f F + ( f ) F.
x y

6) Verify the identity: curl (f F) = f curl (F) + ( f ) F. 7) Find all constant(s) k, if any, for which f = ekz sin(x)sin(2y) is harmonic (i.e., satises Laplaces equation ( f ) = 0).

8) Find all constant(s) k, if any, such that the eld F = xyi+(y 2 /2)j+[tan(sin(x2 + y 2 )) + kez xy]k is incompressible. 9) Find all constant(s) k, if any, such that the eld F = x2 yi + [(x3 /3) + zy]j + [ez +kzy 2 ]k is irrotational. For these k, nd the potential f such that f = F.

201