The Divergence of The Velocity: A Physical Meaning

In respect of uid dynamics, the divergence of the velocity eld is also interpreted as The Substantial
Derivative of The Volume, denoted by

V.

of a moving uid element, per unit volume.

is considered to be

It is physically:

The time rate of change of the volume

That is, if the volume of a very tiny moving uid element

the time rate of change of this element must be

per unit volume it becomes

D(V)
Dt

1 D(V)
V Dt

So we arrive to the expression

V =

1 D(V)
V Dt

(1)

How This is Derived

Let us consider an innitesimal control volume (otherwise known as a blob) moving with the ow, as
shown below.

n
V

dS

V t

Figure 1: (a) Control volume moving with ow (b) Blob at an instant in time
Let us also consider that at an instantenous time the 'blob' assume a position as shown in Figure

dS moving at the local velocity

dS alone during the time interval
height (V4t) n

(1-b). Let us also consider that an innitesimal element of the surface

V.
4t

The change in the volume of the blob

due to the movement of

should be equal to the long thin cylindre with base

4V

dS

and

[(V4t) n] dS

V4t dS

(2)

Over the same time increment, the total change in the volume of the blob is equal to the summation
of all the possible

dS

based cylindre caused by the local movement of

dS .

In the limit as

dS 0

this

summation is given by

(V4t) dS

(3)

S
If this integral is divided by

4t

then this is the time rate of change of the control volume

DV
Dt

1
(V4t) dS
4t S

= S V dS
=

=
We have denoted

DV
Dt

(4)

Vn dS

since we are using substantial derivative of

uid element is moving with the ow.

this is because the innitesimal

DV
Dt

Time rate of change of the control volume

as the volume moves with the ow

Vn dS

Applying the divergence theorem the above can be rewritten in terms of volume integral

DV
=
Dt

V dV

(5)

Now assuming the control volume to be innitesimal, we can state that the volume of the control
volume approaches the volume of an innitesimal uid element
becomes

D(V)
=
Dt
V,

then the above equation

( V) V

(6)

If the blob is so small that all of its surface is composed of

constant local velocity

V V ,

dS ,

i.e.,

S dS

and that

dS

moves at a

then we can remove the integrals from our equations

D(V)
Dt

V V

1 D(V)
V Dt

(7)

Notes
To a mathematician:

V =

To a uid dynamics student:

u v
w
+
+
x y
z

V =

"Time rate of change of the volume of a moving

uid element, per unit volume"

Both are true!