Section 9.

7 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.

9.7

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 )

grad ( f

G ra dient
f =

fx , f y , fz

D iv e rgence div ( F )
F =

P Q R
,
,
P, Q, R =
+
+
= Px + Q y + R z
x y z
x
y
z

C url curl ( F )

F =

x
P

y
Q

= ( R y Q z ) i ( R x Pz ) j + ( Q x Py ) k
z
R

F = R y Q z , ( R x Pz ) , Q x Py

9.7

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

curl ( F ) = F =
x
xe z

y
4 yz 2

= 3 e z 8 yz 2 , 0 ( xe z ) , 0
z
3 ye z

3 e z 8 yz 2 , xe z , 0

9.7

grad ( scalar function ) = V ector F ield

div ( V ector F ield ) = scalar function
curl ( V ector 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 ) )
V ector F ield

V ector F ield

grad ( div ( F ) )

div ( div ( F ) )

scalar function

0

curl ( grad ( f ) ) vector
V ector F ield

curl ( div ( F ) )

scalar function

grad ( curl ( F ) )
V ector F ield

scalar function

0
curl ( curl ( F ) )

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

2 of the above are always zero.

V ector F ield

9.7

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

curl ( grad ( f ) ) = 0.

grad ( f ) = f x , f y , f z
i

curl ( grad ( f ) ) = f =
x
fx

y
fy

z
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

curl ( F ) = F =
x
P

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

y
Q

z
R

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

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

9.7