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The Nabla Operator: Z Z y y X X

The nabla operator (∇) is a vector operator used to represent derivatives in calculus. It can be used to calculate the gradient, divergence, and curl of scalar and vector fields. The gradient applied to a scalar field produces a vector field pointing in the direction of steepest ascent. The divergence applied to a vector field produces a scalar representing how a vector field spreads out. The curl applied to a vector field produces another vector field representing how vectors circulate or rotate around a point. Product rules are provided for applying the nabla operator to products of scalar and vector fields. Second derivative identities involving the gradient, divergence, and curl are also presented.

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390 views2 pages

The Nabla Operator: Z Z y y X X

The nabla operator (∇) is a vector operator used to represent derivatives in calculus. It can be used to calculate the gradient, divergence, and curl of scalar and vector fields. The gradient applied to a scalar field produces a vector field pointing in the direction of steepest ascent. The divergence applied to a vector field produces a scalar representing how a vector field spreads out. The curl applied to a vector field produces another vector field representing how vectors circulate or rotate around a point. Product rules are provided for applying the nabla operator to products of scalar and vector fields. Second derivative identities involving the gradient, divergence, and curl are also presented.

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Pqr Stu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

THE NABLA OPERATOR

Nabla is a vector operator. Calculations are just like with vectors, except that it actually
operates on what follows (not just multiplies it).
r

= x + y
+ z
x
y
z
1) Gradient: Nabla applied to a scalar:
r
S
S
S
S = x
+ y
+ z
x
y
z
Direction: direction of steepest ascent
Magnitude: rate of ascent
2) Divergence: Scalar product of nabla operator and a vector:
r r

v = x + y
+ z (xv x + y v y + zv z )
y
z
x
v y v z
v
+
= x +
x
y
z
3) Curl: Vector product of nabla operator and a vector:

r r
v y
v
v
v v
v
+ y x z + z y x
v = x z
z
y
x x
z
y

Product rules:
1) Gradient: The gradient can be applied to scalars only. A product that is a scalar can be
(i) a product of two scalars (f,g):
r
r
r
( fg ) = fg + gf

(1)

r r
(ii) a scalar product of two vectors ( A, B ):
r r r
r r r
r r r
r r r
r r v
( A B ) = A ( B ) + B ( A) + ( A ) B + ( B ) A

(2)

2) Divergence: The divergence is applied to vectors. A product that is a vector can be


r
(i) a product of one scalar (f) and one vector ( A ):

r
r r
r
r r
( fA) = f ( A) + A (f )

(3)

r r
(ii) a vector product of two vectors ( A, B ):
r r r
r r r
r r r
( A B ) = B ( A) A ( B )

(4)

3) Curl: The curl is applied to vectors. As for the divergence there are two possible
products:
(i)
(ii)

r
r
r r
r
( fA) = f ( A) A (f )
r r
r r r r r r
r
r
r r r
r
( A B ) = ( B ) A ( A ) B + A( B ) B ( A)

(5)
(6)

Second derivatives:
1) Divergence of gradient:
r r

S
S

S
+ y
+ z
(S ) = x + y
+ z x
y
z
y
z x
x
2
2
2
S S S
= 2 + 2 + 2
z
y
x
r2
S
Laplacian of S
2) Curl of gradient:
r r
(S ) = 0

3) Gradient of the divergence:

(7)

r r r
r r
( v ) 2 v

4) Divergence of curl:
r r r
( v ) = 0

(8)

r
r r
r r r
r
( v ) = ( v ) 2 v

(9)

5) Curl of curl:

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