Tutorial 9

Q1. The air pressure in a particular room varies from point to point and is given
by j(r, j, .) = 3r
2
+r
2
.
2
exp(2j),where (r, j, .) describes a general point
(with reference to a Cartesian coordinate system).
(a) At the point (1, 0, 2), calculate the rate of change of pressure per unit
distance in the direction of the vector i2j + 2k.
(b) At (1, 0, 2), nd all directions along which the rate of change of pressure
per unit distance is zero. (Give the directions using vectors in the form
ai + /j + ck.)
(c) At (1, 0, 2), nd the direction along which the rate of increase in the
pressure per unit distance is the greatest. What is the greatest rate of
increase in the pressure per unit distance at (1, 0, 2)?
Solution. We need j|
()=(102)
in all the parts.
j =
0j
0r
i +
0j
0j
j +
0j
0.
k
= [6r + 2r.
2
exp(2j)]i 2r
2
.
2
exp(2j)j + 2r
2
. exp(2j)k
= 14i 8j + 4k at (r, j, .) = (1, 0, 2)
(a) The vector i2j+2k has magnitude
p
1
2
+ (2)
2
+ 2
2
= 3. The required
rate is given by

14i 8j + 4k

1
3
i
2
3
j +
2
3
k

=
38
3
.
(b) The rate of change of pressure in the direction of the unit magnitude
vector n is given by nj and is zero if n is perpendicular to j.
At (1, 0, 2), j is given by 14i 8j + 4k.
Thus, for the directions, we need to nd all vectors perpendicular to 14i
8j + 4k.
Let ai + /j + ck be a vector perpendicular to 14i 8j + 4k. It follows that
14a 8/ + 4c = 0.
The directions are given by vectors ai +/j +ck such that 14a 8/ +4c = 0
(with a
2
+ /
2
+ c
2
6= 0, so that we wont have a = / = c = 0).
(c) For maximum rate, we need to maximise nj. The rate nj is max-
imum if n and j are in the same direction. Thus, at (1, 0, 2), the direction of
14i 8j + 4k gives the maximum rate of change of pressure. The maximum is
given by
n j = |n||j| cos(0) = |j| =

14i 8j + 4k

=
p
14
2
+ (8)
2
+ 4
2
= 2

69.
1
Q2. Find the straight line which is normal to the surface . = 1 + 2r
2
+ 3j
2
at the point (1, 2, 15).(Hint. First nd a vector which is parallel to the
straight line.)
Solution.
Any vector which is normal to the surface at (1, 2, 15) should be parallel to
the straight line.
A normal vector to the surface at (1, 2, 15) is given by
(. 2r
2
3j
2
)

()=(1215)
=

4ri 6jj +k

()=(1215)
= 4i 12j +k.
Thus, the required straight line is given by the parametric equations
r = 1 4t
j = 2 12t
. = 15 + t
where t is a free parameter.
Q3. Past year examination question, semester 1 2004/2005. If F and G are
vector functions of r, j and . such that their components have rst order
partial derivatives, prove or disprove that
div(F G) = G curl(F) F curl(G).
Solution. Let F= ji + j + rk and G= ni + j + nk.
It follows that
F G = (n r)i + (rn jn)j + (j n)k
and
div(F G) =
0
0r
(n r) +
0
0j
(rn jn) +
0
0.
(j n)
=
0n
0r
+ n
0
0r
+ r
0n
0j
+ n
0r
0j
+ j
0
0.
+
0j
0.
r
0
0r

0r
0r
j
0n
0j
n
0j
0j

0n
0.
n
0
0.
= n[
0r
0j

0
0.
] + [
0j
0.

0r
0r
] + n[
0
0r

0j
0j
]
j[
0n
0j

0
0.
] [
0n
0.

0n
0r
] r[
0
0r

0n
0j
]
2
= [n, , n] [
0r
0j

0
0.
,
0j
0.

0r
0r
,
0
0r

0j
0j
]
[j, , r] [
0n
0j

0
0.
,
0n
0.

0n
0r
,
0
0r

0n
0j
].
Now from the picture for working out [j, , r], that is,
we have
curl(F) = [
0r
0j

0
0.
,
0j
0.

0r
0r
,
0
0r

0j
0j
]
curl(G) = [
0n
0j

0
0.
,
0n
0.

0n
0r
,
0
0r

0n
0j
].
It follow then that
div(F G) = G curl(F) F curl(G).
Q4. If the velocity eld of a uid ow is given by q= c, where c is a scalar
function of r, j and ., show that the ow is irrotational, that is, show
that the uid particles have zero rotational velocity. (Note. As pointed
out during the lecture, q gives the rotational velocity of the uid
particles. You may assume that the function c has second order partial
derivatives.)
Solution. The rotational velocity is given by
q = (c)
= [
0r
0j

0
0.
,
0j
0.

0r
0r
,
0
0r

0j
0j
]
where j = 0c,0r, = 0c,0j and r = 0c,0. (if we follow the picture in
Question 3).
3
Thus,
q = (c)
= [
0
0j
(
0c
0.
)
0
0.
(
0c
0j
),
0
0.
(
0c
0r
)
0
0r
(
0c
0.
),
0
0r
(
0c
0j
)
0
0j
(
0c
0r
)]
= [0, 0, 0] (after using the results
0
2
c
0r0j
=
0
2
c
0j0r
etc etc).
5. Find value(s) of the constant j such that c(r, j, .) = (r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)

satises
2
c = 0 at all points (r, j, .) except possibly at (0, 0, 0).
Solution.
2
c = 0 can be written out in full as
0
2
c
0r
2
+
0
2
c
0j
2
+
0
2
c
0.
2
= 0.
From c(r, j, .) = (r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)

, we obtain
0c
0r
= 2jr(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
1
,
0c
0j
= 2jj(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
1
,
0c
0j
= 2j.(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
1
,
and
0
2
c
0r
2
= 4j(j 1)r
2
(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
2
+ 2j(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
1
,
0
2
c
0j
2
= 4j(j 1)j
2
(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
2
+ 2j(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
1
,
0
2
c
0.
2
= 4j(j 1).
2
(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
2
+ 2j(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
1
.
Thus,
2
c = 0 gives
4j(j 1)r
2
(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
2
+ 2j(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
1
+4j(j 1)j
2
(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
2
+ 2j(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
1
+4j(j 1).
2
(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
2
+ 2j(r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
1
= 0
which can simplied to
[4j(j 1) + 6j](r
2
+ j
2
+ .
2
)
1
= 0.
The above equation is true for r, j and . (except possibly at (0, 0, 0)) if
the constant j is selecetd such that
4j(j 1) + 6j = 0 j(4j + 2) = 0 j = 0, j = 1,2.
4
6. If F and G are vector functions of r, j and . such that their components
have rst order partial derivatives, prove or disprove that
(F) G
= (1
1
0G
1
0r
+ 1
2
0G
2
0r
+ 1
3
0G
3
0r
)i + (1
1
0G
1
0j
+ 1
2
0G
2
0j
+ 1
3
0G
3
0j
)j
+(1
1
0G
1
0.
+ 1
2
0G
2
0.
+ 1
3
0G
3
0.
)k F( G)
(if F = [1
1
, 1
2
, 1
3
] and G = [G
1
, G
2
, G
3
])
(Note. F is a vector dierential operator.)
Solution. First work out the operator (F ) (draw a picture). You
should get
F= [1
2
0
0.
1
3
0
0j
, 1
3
0
0r
1
1
0
0.
, 1
1
0
0j
1
2
0
0r
].
Next work out (F) G (draw a picture). You should get
(F) G
= [(1
3
0
0r
1
1
0
0.
)G
3
(1
1
0
0j
1
2
0
0r
)G
2
,
(1
1
0
0j
1
2
0
0r
)G
1
(1
2
0
0.
1
3
0
0j
)G
3
,
(1
2
0
0.
1
3
0
0j
)G
2
(1
3
0
0r
1
1
0
0.
)G
1
]
= [1
1
0G
1
0r
+ 1
2
0G
2
0r
+ 1
3
0G
3
0r
1
1
0G
1
0r
1
1
0G
2
0j
1
1
0G
3
0.
,
1
1
0G
1
0j
+ 1
2
0G
2
0j
+ 1
3
0G
3
0j
1
2
0G
1
0r
1
2
0G
2
0j
1
2
0G
3
0.
,
1
1
0G
1
0.
+ 1
2
0G
2
0.
+ 1
3
0G
3
0.
1
3
0G
1
0r
1
3
0G
2
0j
1
3
0G
3
0.
]
= [(1
1
0G
1
0r
+ 1
2
0G
2
0r
+ 1
3
0G
3
0r
),(1
1
0G
1
0j
+ 1
2
0G
2
0j
+ 1
3
0G
3
0j
),
(1
1
0G
1
0.
+ 1
2
0G
2
0.
+ 1
3
0G
3
0.
)]
(1
1
, 1
2
, 1
3
)(
0G
1
0r
+
0G
2
0j
+
0G
3
0.
)
= (1
1
0G
1
0r
+ 1
2
0G
2
0r
+ 1
3
0G
3
0r
)i + (1
1
0G
1
0j
+ 1
2
0G
2
0j
+ 1
3
0G
3
0j
)j
+(1
1
0G
1
0.
+ 1
2
0G
2
0.
+ 1
3
0G
3
0.
)k F( G).
5
7. Past year examination question, semester 2 2004/2005. The vector func-
tions F(r, .) and G(r, .) are related to the scalar function j(r, .) by
F(r, .) =
0j
0.
i
0j
0r
k and G(r, .) = jj.
Assume that the rst and second order partial derivatives of j exist. (Note
that all the functions involved are independent of j.)
(a) Evaluate div(F).
(b) If curl(F) = G, show that div(grad(j)) = j.
Solution. (a)
div(F) =
0
0r
(
0j
0.
) +
0
0j
(0) +
0
0.
(
0j
0r
)
=
0
2
j
0r0.

0
2
j
0.0r
= 0.
(b) From denition of curl, we have
curl(F) = (
0
0j
(
0j
0r
)
0
0.
(0))i + (
0
0.
(
0j
0.
)
0
0r
(
0j
0r
))j
+(0
0
0j
(
0j
0.
))k
= 0i + (
0
2
j
0.
2
+
0
2
j
0r
2
)j + 0k
since
0
0j
(
0j
0.
) = 0 and
0
0j
(
0j
0r
) = 0
as j is independent of j.
From curl(F) = G, we conclude that
0
2
j
0.
2
+
0
2
j
0r
2
= (j).
Now
div(grad(j)) = [
0
0r
,
0
0j
,
0
0.
] [
0j
0r
,
0j
0j
,
0j
0.
]
= [
0
0r
,
0
0j
,
0
0.
] [
0j
0r
, 0,
0j
0.
]
=
0
0r
(
0j
0r
) +
0
0j
(0) +
0
0.
(
0j
0.
)
=
0
2
j
0.
2
+
0
2
j
0r
2
= j.
6
8. Past year examination question, semester 1 2005/2006. Let c and c be
scalar functions of the Cartesian coordinates r, j and .. Assuming that
c and c are partially dierentiable (at least twice) with respect to the
Cartesian coordinates, prove or disprove:
curl(c grad(c)) = grad(c) grad(c) .
Solution. Now
c grad(c) = [c
0c
0r
, c
0c
0j
, c
0c
0.
].
From denition of curl (draw a picture, if you cannot see it), we nd that
curl(c grad(c))
= [c
0c
0r
, c
0c
0j
, c
0c
0.
]
= [
0
0j
(c
0c
0.
)
0
0.
(c
0c
0j
),
0
0.
(c
0c
0r
)
0
0r
(c
0c
0.
),
0
0r
(c
0c
0j
)
0
0j
(c
0c
0r
)]
= [c
0
2
c
0j0.
+
0c
0j
0c
0.
c
0
2
c
0.0j

0c
0.
0c
0j
,
c
0
2
c
0.0r
+
0c
0.
0c
0r
c
0
2
c
0r0r

0c
0r
0c
0.
,
c
0
2
c
0r0j
+
0c
0r
0c
0j
c
0
2
c
0j0r

0c
0j
0c
0r
]
= [
0c
0j
0c
0.

0c
0.
0c
0j
,
0c
0.
0c
0r

0c
0r
0c
0.
,
0c
0r
0c
0j

0c
0j
0c
0r
].
If we work out grad(c)grad(c) (draw a picture), we nd that
grad(c) grad(c) = [
0c
0r
,
0c
0j
,
0c
0.
] [
0c
0r
,
0c
0j
,
0c
0.
]
= [
0c
0j
0c
0.

0c
0.
0c
0j
,
0c
0.
0c
0r

0c
0r
0c
0.
,
0c
0r
0c
0j

0c
0j
0c
0r
]
= curl(c grad(c)).
7