1.

Divergence of a product: Given that is a scalar field and a vector field, show that
div() = (grad) + div
grad() = ( ),
= , + ,
= (grad ) + grad
Now, div() = tr(grad()). Taking the trace of the above, we have:
div() = (grad ) + div

2. Show that grad( ) = (grad )T + (grad )T

= is a scalar sum of components.
grad( ) = ( ),
= , + ,
Now grad = , swapping the bases, we have that,
(grad )T = , ( ).
Writing = , we have that, (grad )T = , ( ) =
, = ,

It is easy to similarly show that , = (grad )T . Clearly,

grad( ) = ( ), = , + ,
= (grad )T + (grad )T
As required.

3. Show that grad( ) = ( )grad ( )grad

=
Recall that the gradient of this vector is the tensor,
grad( ) = ( ),
= , + ,
= , + ,
= ( )grad + ( )grad

4. Show that div ( ) = curl curl

We already have the expression for grad( ) above; remember that
div ( ) = tr[grad( )]
= , + ,

= , + ,
= , + , = curl curl

5. Given a scalar point function and a vector field , show that curl () =
curl + (grad ) .
curl () = ( ),
= (, + , )
= , + ,
= () + curl

6. Show that div ( ) = (div ) + (grad )

is the tensor, . The gradient of this is the third order tensor,
grad ( ) = ( ),
And by divergence, we mean the contraction of the last basis vector:
div ( ) = ( ) ( )
= ( ) = ( )
= , + ,

= (grad ) + (div )

7. For a scalar field and a tensor field show that grad () = grad +
grad. Also show that div () = div + grad
grad() = ( ),
= (, + , )
= grad + grad
Furthermore, we can contract the last two bases and obtain,
div() = (, + , )( )
= (, + , )
= , + ,
= grad + div

8. For two arbitrary vectors, and , show that grad( ) = ( )grad

( )grad
grad( ) = ( ),

= ( , + , )
= ( , + , )
= ( )grad + ( )grad

9. For a vector field , show that grad( ) is a third ranked tensor. Hence or
otherwise show that div( ) = curl .
The secondorder tensor ( ) is defined as . Taking the covariant
derivative with an independent base, we have
grad( ) = ,
This gives a third order tensor as we have seen. Contracting on the last two bases,
div( ) = ,
= ,
= ,
= curl

10.

Show that div () = grad

Note that = ( ) . Also note that

grad = ( ),
The divergence of this third order tensor is the contraction of the last two bases:
div () = tr(grad ) = ( ), ( ) = ( ),
= ,
= , = , = grad

11.

Show that curl () = ( grad )

Note that = ( ) , and that curl = , so that,

curl () = ( ),
= (, ) = ,
= ( grad )

12.

Show that curl ( ) = (div ) grad

( ) =
curl = ,

so that
curl ( ) = ,

= ( ) ,
= , ,
= (div ) grad

13.

Show that div ( ) = curl curl

div ( ) = ( ),

Noting that the tensor behaves as a constant under a covariant

differentiation, we can write,
div ( ) = ( ),
= , + ,
= curl curl

14.

Given a scalar point function and a vector field , show that curl () =
curl + () .
curl () = ( ),
= (, + , )
= , + ,

= () + curl

15.

Show that curl (grad ) =

For any tensor =

curl = ,
Let = grad . Clearly, in this case, = , so that , = , . It therefore
follows that,
curl (grad ) = , = .
The contraction of symmetric tensors with unsymmetric led to this conclusion.
Note that this presupposes that the order of differentiation in the scalar field is
immaterial. This will be true only if the scalar field is continuous a proposition
we have assumed in the above.

16.

Show that curl (grad ) =

For any tensor = T

curl = ,

Let = grad . Clearly, in this case, T = , so that , = , . It

therefore follows that,
curl (grad ) = , = .
The contraction of symmetric tensors with unsymmetric led to this conclusion.
Note that this presupposes that the order of differentiation in the vector field is
immaterial. This will be true only if the vector field is continuous a proposition
we have assumed in the above.

17.

Show that curl (grad ) =

For a third order tensor =

curl = ,
Let = grad . Clearly, in this case, = , so that , = , . It
therefore follows that,
curl (grad ) = , = .
The contraction of symmetric tensors with unsymmetric led to this conclusion.
Note that this presupposes that the order of differentiation in the tensor field

is immaterial. This will be true only if the tensor field is continuous a

proposition we have assumed in the above.

18.

Show that curl (grad )T = grad(curl )

From previous derivation, we can see that, curl = , . Clearly,

curl T = ,
so that curl (grad )T = , . But curl = , . The
gradient of this is,
grad(curl ) = ( , ), = , = curl (grad )T

19.

Given that and are scalar fields, show that div (grad grad ) = 0
grad grad = , ,

The gradient of this vector is the tensor,

grad(grad grad ) = ( , , ),
= , , + , ,
The trace of the above result is the divergence we are seeking:
div (grad grad ) = tr[grad(grad grad )]

= , , + , ,
= , , + , ,
= , , + , , = 0
Each term vanishing on account of the contraction of a symmetric tensor with an
antisymmetric.

20.

Show that curl curl = grad(div ) grad2

Let = curl , . But curl , . Upon inspection, we

find that = , so that
curl ( , ), = ,
Now, it can be shown (see below) that = so that,
curl = ( ) ,
= , , = grad(div ) grad2

21.

Show that =

Note that

= |

= |

| = |

= |
| |
| + |
|

= |
| |
| + 3 |
|

= |
| =

22.

Given that () = |()|, Show that () = |()| :

2 :

Now,

(2 ) = 2
=
: + :
= 2:

as inner product is commutative. We can therefore write that

= :
=
:
|()|
as required.
Given a tensor field , obtain the vector T and show that its divergence
is : () + div

23.

The divergence of is the scalar sum , ( ), . Expanding the product covariant

derivative we obtain,
div ( T ) = ( ), = , + ,
= (div ) + tr( T grad )
= (div ) + : (grad )
Recall that scalar product of two vectors is commutative so that
div ( T ) = : (grad ) + div

For a second-order tensor define curl , show that for

any constant vector , (curl ) = curl ( T )

24.

Express vector in the invariant form with covariant components as = .

It follows that
(curl ) = , ()
= ,
= ,
= ( ),
= ( ),
The last equality resulting from the fact that vector is a constant vector. Clearly,
(curl ) = curl ( T )
For any two vectors and , show that curl ( ) = [(grad ) ] +
(curl ) where is the skew tensor .

25.

Recall that the curl of a tensor is defined by curl , .

Clearly therefore,

curl ( ) = ( ), = ( , + , )
= , + ,
= ( ) ( , ) + ( , ) ( )
= ( )( , ) + ( , ) ( )
= ( )(grad ) + (curl ) = [(grad ) ] + (curl )
upon noting that the vector cross is a skew tensor.

26.

Show that curl ( ) = div( )

The vector = = and curl = , .

Therefore,
curl ( ) = ,
= ( ),

= ( ) ( ),
= ( ) ( , + , )
= [ , + , ( , + , )]
= [( ), ( ), ]

= div( )
since div( ) = ( ), ( ) = ( ), .

27.

Given a scalar point function and a second-order tensor field , show that
curl () = curl + (() ) T where [() ] is the skew tensor
,
curl () ( ),
= (, + , )
= , + ,
= ( , ) ( ) + ,
= curl + (() ) T

28.

For a second-order tensor field , show that div(curl ) = curl(div T )

Define the second order tensor as

curl , = .

The gradient of is .
, = ,

Clearly,

div(curl ) = , = ,
= , = curl(div T )

29.

Show that if defined in the space spanned by orthogonal coordinates , then

2 ( ) = 2 + 2 .
By definition, 2 ( ) = ( ), . Expanding, we have
( ), = ( , + , ), = ( + , )

= ( , + , , + , )
= ( , + , + , )
= , + , + ,
When the coordinates are orthogonal, this becomes,
2
+ 2
2

( )
where we have suspended the summation rule and is the square root of the
appropriate metric tensor component.

30.

In Cartesian coordinates, If the volume is enclosed by the surface , the

position vector = and is the external unit normal to each surface element,
1

show that 6 ( ) equals the volume contained in .

= =
By the Divergence Theorem,
( ) = [( )] = [ ( )]

= [ ( , + , )]

= ( + ), = 2 , = 2

= 6

31.

For any Euclidean coordinate system, show that div = curl

curl

Given the contravariant vector and with their associated vectors and ,
the contravariant component of the above cross product is .The
required divergence is simply the contraction of the covariant derivative of this
quantity:
( ), = , + ,
where we have treated the tensor as a constant under the covariant
derivative.
Cyclically rearranging the RHS we obtain,
( ), = , + , = , + ,
where we have used the anti-symmetric property of the tensor . The last
expression shows clearly that
div = curl curl
as required.

32.

For a general tensor field show that, curl(curl ) = [2 (tr )

T

div(div )] + grad(div ) + (grad(div )) grad(grad (tr)) 2 T

curl = ,
= .
curl = . ,
so that
curl = curl(curl ) = ,

= | | ,

( ) + ( )
=[
] ,

+ ( )

= [ . , .. , ]( ) + [
.. , . , ]( )

+ [ .. , .
. , ]( )

= [2 (tr ) div(div )] + (grad(div )) grad(grad (tr))

+ (grad(div )) 2 T

33.

When is symmetric, show that tr(curl ) vanishes.

curl = ,
tr(curl ) = ,

= , = ,
which obviously vanishes on account of the symmetry and antisymmetry in and
. In this case,
curl(curl )
= [2 (tr ) div(div )] grad(grad (tr)) + 2(grad(div ))
2
T

as (grad(div )) = grad(div ) if the order of differentiation is immaterial and

is symmetric.

For a scalar function and a vector show that the divergence of the vector
is equal to, +

34.

( ), = , + ,i
Hence the result.

35.

Show that curl = ( ) + ( div ) ( div ) ( )

Taking the associated (covariant) vector of the expression for the cross product in
the last example, it is straightforward to see that the LHS in indicial notation is,
( ),
Expanding in the usual way, noting the relation between the alternating tensors
and the Kronecker deltas,
( )

( ,

=
( , , )

, ) = |
| ( , , )

= ( )( , , )
=

= , , + , ,

= , , + , ,
Which is the result we seek in indicial notation.

36.

. In Cartesian coordinates let denote the magnitude of the position vector =

. Show that (a) , = , (b) , = (

, (c) , = , (d) If = , then , =

)

, = and div () = .

() =
, =

( )

1
=

=
[ + ] = .

( )

(
)=
( )=

1
=
( )3

1
3 ( )2 2
( ) , =
=
= .
( )3 ( )3

() , =

=
( )2
( )2

( ) = so that

1 1
, =
=

= 2 = 3

Consequently,

( 2 )) +
( 3 )
3 (

(, ) =
( )=

3
6
( 3 )
3
( ) + (
) 3 + (3 2 )

3

=
=
= 3 + 5
6
6

3 3 3 2
, = 3 + 5 = 3 + 5 = 0.

1
1
3
1
div ( ) = ( ) , = , + ( ) = + ( ( )
)

,

3
1
3 3 1 2
= + [ ( 2 ) ] = 3 = =

, =

37.

For vectors , and , show that ( )( )( ) = ( )

( ) .

The tensor ( ) = similarly, ( ) = and

( ) = . Clearly,
( )( )( ) = ( )( )( )
= ( )
= ( )
= ( )

= ( ) ( )
= ( ) + ( )
= [ ( ) ( ) ]

38.

Show that [, , ] = tr[( )( )( )]

In the above we have shown that ( )( )( ) = [ ( )
( ) ]

Because the vector cross is traceless, the trace of [( ) ] = 0. The trace of

the first term, ( ) is obviously the same as [, , ] which completes
the proof.

39.

Show that ( )( ) = ( ) and that tr[( )( )] =

2( )
( )( ) = ( )( )
= ( ) = ( )

= [
] ( )
= ( ) ( ) = ( )

Obviously, the trace of this tensor is 2( )

40.

The position vector in the above example = . Show that (a) div = , (b)
div ( ) = , (c) div = 3, and (d) grad = and (e) curl ( ) =
grad = ,
= =
div = ,

= = = 3. = = grad( )
= ( ), = ( , + , )
= ( + ) = ( + )
= 4 = 4
curl( ) = ( ),
= ( , + , )
= ( + )
= + = =

41.

Define the magnitude of tensor as, || = tr(T ) Show that

||

= ||

By definition, given a scalar , the derivative of a scalar function of a tensor ()

is
()

: = lim
( + )
0

for any arbitrary tensor .

In the case of () = ||,

||

| + |
: = lim
0

| + | = tr( + )( + )T = tr(T + T + T + 2 T )
Note that everything under the root sign here is scalar and that the trace
operation is linear. Consequently, we can write,

tr (T ) + tr ( T ) + 2tr ( T )
2:
| + | = lim
lim
=
0
0 2tr(T + T + T + 2 T )
2:

=
:
||
So that,
||

: =
:
||

or,
||

=
||

as required since is arbitrary.

42.

Show that

3 ()

det()

= the cofactor of .

Clearly = det() T = 3 () T . Details of this for the contravariant

components of a tensor is presented below. Let
1
det() || =
3!
Differentiating wrt , we obtain,

= [
+
+
]

3!

= [ + + ]
3!
1
= [ + + ]
3!
1
= [ c ]
2!
Which is the cofactor of [ ] or

43.

For a scalar variable , if the tensor = () and , Show that

() = det() tr( )
det

Let 1 so that, = . In component form, we have = .

Therefore,

1 2 3
(
)
det =
( ) = (1 2 3 + 1 2 3 + 1 2 3 )

= (1 2 3 + 1 2 3 + 1 2 3 )
= [(11 1 + 12 2 + 13 3 ) 2 3 + 1 ( 12 1 + 22 2
+ 23 3 ) 3 + 1 2 ( 13 1 + 32 2 + 33 3 )]
All the boxed terms in the above equation vanish on account of the contraction of
a symmetric tensor with an antisymmetric one.
(For example, the first boxed term yields, 12 2 2 3
Which is symmetric as well as antisymmetric in and . It therefore vanishes. The
same is true for all other such terms.)


det() = [(11 1 )2 3 + 1 (22 2 )3 + 1 2 (33 3 )]

1 2 3
=
= tr( 1 ) det()

as required.

44.

Without breaking down into components, establish the fact that det()
=

Start from Liouvilles Theorem, given a scalar parameter such that = ( ),

(det()) = det() tr [( ) ] = [det() ] : ( )

By the simple rules of multiple derivative,

(det()) = [ (det())]: ( )

It therefore follows that,

[
Hence

(det()) [det() ]]: ( ) = 0


(det()) = [det() ] =

45.

[Gurtin 3.4.2a] If T is invertible, show that (log det()) =

(log det()) det()

(log det()) =

det()

1
1
=
=
det()
det()
det()
=

46.

[Gurtin 3.4.2a] If is invertible, show that (log det( 1 )) =

(log det( 1 )) det( 1 ) 1

1
(log det( )) =

det( 1 )
1

1
=
( 2 )
1
det( )
1
=
det( 1 ) ( 2 )
1
det( )
=

47.

Given that is a constant tensor, Show that tr() = T

In invariant components terms, let = A and let = S .

= A S ( )( )
= A S ( )
= A S ( )
tr() = A S ( )

= A S = A S

tr() =
tr()

S
A S
=

S
=
as required.

T
( : )
= A = =

48.

Given that and are constant tensors, show that tr( T ) = T

First observe that tr( T ) = tr( T ). If we write, T , it is obvious

from the above that tr() = T . Therefore,

tr( T ) = ( T ) = T

49.

Given that and are constant tensors, show that tr( T T ) = T

Observe that tr( T T ) = tr( T T ) = tr[( T )T ] = tr[( T )T ]

[The transposition does not alter trace; neither does a cyclic permutation. Ensure
you understand why each equality here is true.] Consequently,

T T)
(
tr =
tr[( T )T ] = [( T )T ] = T

50.

Let be a symmetric and positive definite tensor and let 1 (), 2 ()and3 ()

be the three principal invariants of show that (a)

2 ()

1 ()

= 1 () and (c)

3 ()

1 ()

= 3 () 1

can be written in the invariant component form as,

1 () 1 ()
=

Recall that 1 () = tr() = hence

1 () 1 ()

=
=

=
which is the identity tensor as expected.

= the identity tensor, (b)

2 ()

in a similar way can be written in the invariant component form as,

2 () 1 1 ()

=
[

where we have utilized the fact that 2 () = 2 [tr 2 () tr( 2 )]. Consequently,
2 () 1

=
[

= [ + ]
2
1

= [ + ] = ( )
2
= 1 ()
1
det() || =
3!
Differentiating wrt , we obtain,

= [
+
+
]

3!

= [ + + ]
3!
1
= [ + + ]
3!
1
= [ c ]
2!
Which is the cofactor of [ ] or

51.

For a tensor field , The volume integral in the region , (grad ) =

where is the outward drawn normal to the boundary of .

Show that for a vector field
(div ) =

Replace by the vector field we have,

(grad ) =

Taking the trace of both sides and noting that both trace and the integral are
linear operations, therefore we have,
(div ) = tr(grad )

= tr( )

52.

Show that for a scalar function Hence the divergence theorem

becomes,(grad ) =
Recall that for a vector field, that for a vector field
(div ) =

if we write, = where is an arbitrary constant vector, we have,

(div[]) =

For the LHS, note that, div[] = tr(grad[])

grad[] = ( ),
= ,
The trace of which is,

, = ,

= , = grad
For the arbitrary constant vector , we therefore have that,
(div[]) = grad =

grad =

53.

Show that Stokes Theorem leads to

= (grad ) : ( )

In the classical form Stokes Theorem states that,

= curl

Now curl = , so that

curl = , = ,
= ( , ): ( )
= (grad ): ( )
Hence

= curl

= (grad ): ( )

As required.

54.

Establish the following Identities using Stokes Theorem:

( ) = [(grad ) + ( curl ) ]

= [(div ) (grad ) ]

To establish the first equation, observe that = curl can be used

to show that for any tensor

= (curl )

Now let = = . But curl = , The

transpose of this,
(curl )T = ,
Clearly,
(curl )T = , ( )

= ( ), ( )

= ( , + , )( )

= ( , + , )( )

= ( , + , )

= [(grad ) + ( curl )]

As required.
To establish the second result, we allow = = . As before, we
have that,
(curl )T = , ( )

= ( ), ( )

= ( ) , ( )

= , ,

= [(div ) (grad ) ]

Because (grad )T = , ( ) = , .