Divergence and Curl

"Del", ∇ - A defined operator

∂ ∂ ∂
∇= , ,
∂x ∂y ∂z

The gradient of a function (at a point) is a vector that points in the direction
in which the function increases most rapidly.

A vector field is a vector function that can be thought of as a velocity field

of a fluid. At each point it assigns a vector that represents the velocity of
a particle at that point.
The flux of a vector field is the volume of fluid flowing through an element
of surface area per unit time.

The divergence of a vector field is the flux per unit volume.

The divergence of a vector field is a number
that can be thought of as a measure of the
rate of change of the density of the fluid at a point.

The curl of a vector field measures

the tendency of the vector field
to rotate about a point.
The curl of a vector field at a point is a vector
that points in the direction of the axis of
rotation and has magnitude represents
the speed of the rotation.
V ector Field Scalar Funct i on
F = P ( x, y, z ) , Q ( x, y, z ) , R ( x, y, z ) f ( x, y, z )

G ra dient grad (f)

∇f = fx , fy , fz
D iv e rgence div ( F )
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂P ∂Q ∂R
∇ ⋅F = , , ⋅ P, Q, R = + + = Px + Q y + R z
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y ∂z
C url curl ( F )
i j k
∂ ∂ ∂
∇×F = = ( R y − Q z ) i − ( R x − Pz ) j + ( Q x − Py ) k
∂x ∂y ∂z
P Q R
∇ × F = R y − Q z , − ( R x − Pz ) , Q x − Py
F ( x, y, z ) = xe− z , 4 yz 2 ,3 ye− z

∂ ∂ ∂
div ( F ) = ∇ ⋅ F = , , ⋅ xe − z , 4 yz 2 ,3 ye − z = e − z + 4 z 2 − 3 ye − z
∂x ∂y ∂z

i j k
∂ ∂ ∂
curl ( F ) = ∇ × F =
∂x ∂y ∂z
( )
= 3 e − z − 8 yz 2 , − 0 − ( − xe − z ) , 0

xe − z 4 yz 2 3 ye − z
3 e − z − 8 yz 2 , − xe − z , 0
 grad ( scalar function ) = Vector F ield
div ( V ector F ield ) = scalar function
curl ( Vector F ield ) = V ector F ield
Which of the 9 ways to combine grad, div and curl by taking
one of each. Which of these combinations make sense?

grad ( grad ( f ) )
div ( grad ( f ) )
curl ( grad ( f ) ) vector

0
V ector F ield V ector F ield V ector F ield

grad ( div ( F ) )
scalar function
div ( div ( F ) )
scalar function
curl ( div ( F ) )
scalar function

grad ( curl ( F ) )
V ector F ield

div ( curl ( F ) ) scalar
0
curl ( curl ( F ) )
V ector F ield V ector F ield

2 of the above are always zero.

Verify the given identity. Assume continuity of all partial derivatives.
curl ( grad ( f ) ) = 0.
i j k
grad ( f ) = f x , f y , f z ∂ ∂ ∂
curl ( grad ( f ) ) = ∇ × ∇f =
∂x ∂y ∂z
fx fy fz

∇ × ∇f = f zy − f yz , − ( f zx − f xz ) , f yx − f xy = 0
since mixed partial derivatives are equal.

Verify the given identity. Assume continuity of all partial derivatives.

div ( curl ( F ) ) = 0.

Let F = P ( x, y, z ) , Q ( x, y, z ) , R ( x, y, z )
curl ( F ) = Ry − Qz , Pz − Rx , Qx − Py
i j k

curl ( F ) = ∇ × F =
∂ ∂ ∂ div ( curl ( F ) ) = ( Ry − Qz ) + ( Pz − Rx ) y + ( Qx − Py )
∂x ∂y ∂z x z

P Q R
div ( curl ( F ) ) = Ryx − Qzx + Pzy − Rxy + Qxz − Pyz

div ( curl ( F ) ) = Ryx − Qzx + Pzy − Rxy + Qxz − Pyz = 0