D ivergence Theorem ;

D ivergence of a Vector
Example: If B = 10 e-2z ( a + az),

determine the flux of B out of the

entire surface of the cylinder = 1 ,
0 z 1. Confirm the result using
the divergence theorem.
Hint:

D ivergence Theorem ;
D ivergence of a Vector
Example: Determine the flux of D =

2 cos2 a + z sin a over the

closed surface of the cylinder 0 z
1, = 4. Verify the divergence
theorem for this case.

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
Recall that the circulation of a vector field A

around a closed path L is defined as the

integral A . dl

The curl of A is an axial (or rotational)

vector whose magnitude is the maximum

circulation of A per unit area as the area
tends to zero and whose direction is the
normal direction of the area when the area
is oriented so as to make the circulation
maximum.

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem

curl A x A

d
l
L

lim
an

S0
S

max

where the area S is bounded by the

curve L and an is the unit vector
normal to the surface S and is
determined using the right-hand rule.

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
Consider the differential area in the

yz-plane shown below.

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
The line integral is obtained as

Expanding the field component in a

Taylor series expansion about the

center point P(xo,yo,zo) for the xcomponent of the curl of A:
For side ab, dl = dy ay and z = zo dz/2:

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
For side bc, dl = dz az and y = yo + dy/2:

For side cd, dl = -dy ay and z = zo +

dz/2:

For side da, dl = -dz az and y = yo dy/2:

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
Noting that S = dy dz, the

magnitude of the curl (x-component)

is given by:

Correspondingly,

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
The definition of the curl of a vector

field is independent of the coordinate

system.

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem

Curl properties:
The curl of a vector field is another vector field.
The curl of a scalar field V, X V, makes no sense.
X (A + B) = X A + X B
X (A X B) = A( B) B( A) + (B )A (A

)B
X (VA) = V X A + V X A

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
The divergence of the curl of a vector

field vanishes, that is, ( X A) = 0.

The curl of the gradient of a scalar field
vanishes, that is, X V = 0.

The curl provides the maximum

value of the circulation of the field

per unit area (or circulation density)
and indicates the direction along
which this maximum value occurs.

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
The curl of a vector field A at a point

P may be regarded as a measure of

the circulation or how much the field
curls around P.
(a) shows that the curl at P points
out of the slide and (b) shows that
curl at P is zero.

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
Stokess theorem: The circulation of a
vector field A around a (closed) path L
is equal to the surface integral of the
curl of A over the open surface S
bounded by L provided that A and X
A are continuous on S.

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
Stokess theorem:

The direction of dl and dS must be chosen

using the right-hand rule or right-handed

screw rule.
Note that whereas the divergence theorem
relates a surface integral to a volume integral,
Stokes's theorem relates a line integral
(circulation) to a surface integral.

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
Example: Find the curl of the vector

fields from the previous example.

Example: If D = cos a + sin a,
confirm Stokess theorem for the
path shown.

C url of a Vector;
Stokess Theorem
Example: For a vector field A in

cartesian coordinates, show that the

divergence of the curl of a vector
field vanishes. Show also that the
curl of the gradient of a scalar field
vanishes.

Laplacian of a Scalar
Laplacian is a single operator which

is the composite of gradient and

divergence operators.
The Laplacian of a scalar field V,
written as 2V is the divergence of
the gradient of V.
In Cartesian coordinates,

Laplacian of a Scalar
Note that the Laplacian of a scalar

field is another scalar field.

In circular cylindrical coordinates,

In spherical coordinates,

Laplacian of a Scalar
Example: Find the Laplacian of the

following scalar fields:

a. V = ez sin 2x cosh y
b. U = 2 z cos 2
c. W = 10r sin2 cos
d. U = x 2 y + xyz
e. V = z sin + z 2 cos 2 + 2
f. f = cos sin In r + r 2

Laplacian of a Scalar
A scalar field V is said to be harmonic in a

given region if its Laplacian vanishes in that

region:
2V = 0
The solution for V in the previous equation
(known as Laplaces equation) is
harmonic (it is of the form of sine or cosine).
Since the Laplacian operator is a scalar
operator, the Laplacian of a vector is also
possible to define.

Laplacian of a Vector
Laplacian of a vector is defined by:
It is the gradient of the divergence of

A minus the curl of the curl of A.