∇

gradient, divergence and curl

Eddie Wilson
RE.Wilson@bristol.ac.uk

Department of Engineering Mathematics

University of Bristol

∇ – p.1/11
 Last time . . .
Differential calculus of functions f : Rm → R, m = 2, 3
Directional derivatives Dn̂ f given in terms of vector
gradient ∇f :
Dn̂ f = ∇f · n̂
where  
∂f /∂x
∇f := ∂f /∂y  for m = 3.
 
∂f /∂z

∇ – p.2/11
 Last time . . .
Differential calculus of functions f : Rm → R, m = 2, 3
Directional derivatives Dn̂ f given in terms of vector
gradient ∇f :
Dn̂ f = ∇f · n̂
where  
∂f /∂x
∇f := ∂f /∂y  for m = 3.
 
∂f /∂z

New questions:
What is ∇ ?
Can it be used in other ways?

∇ – p.2/11
 The vector ∇ (pronounced Del)
Vector gradient
   
∂f /∂x ∂/∂x
∇f := ∂f /∂y  = ∂/∂y  f
   
∂f /∂z ∂/∂z

∇ – p.3/11
 The vector ∇ (pronounced Del)
Vector gradient
   
∂f /∂x ∂/∂x
∇f := ∂f /∂y  = ∂/∂y  f
   
∂f /∂z ∂/∂z

Therefore might say

 
∂/∂x
∇ := ∂/∂y 
 
∂/∂z

Can ∇ be used in other ways?

∇ – p.3/11
 Divergence = ∇·
Suppose given vector field u : R3 → R3 .
u = u(x), u = (u, v, w)T , x = (x, y, z)T .

∇ – p.4/11
 Divergence = ∇·
Suppose given vector field u : R3 → R3 .
u = u(x), u = (u, v, w)T , x = (x, y, z)T .

Define the divergence ∇ · u (pronounced div u)

   
∂/∂x u(x, y, z)
∇ · u := ∂/∂y  ·  v(x, y, z) 
   
∂/∂z w(x, y, z)

∂u ∂v ∂w
= + + .
∂x ∂y ∂z

∇ – p.4/11
 Divergence = ∇·
Suppose given vector field u : R3 → R3 .
u = u(x), u = (u, v, w)T , x = (x, y, z)T .

Define the divergence ∇ · u (pronounced div u)

   
∂/∂x u(x, y, z)
∇ · u := ∂/∂y  ·  v(x, y, z) 
   
∂/∂z w(x, y, z)

∂u ∂v ∂w
= + + .
∂x ∂y ∂z

NB Similar definitions for f : Rn → Rn for n 6= 3.

∇ – p.4/11
 Curl = ∇×
Suppose given vector field u : R3 → R3 .
u = u(x), u = (u, v, w)T , x = (x, y, z)T .

∇ – p.5/11
 Curl = ∇×
Suppose given vector field u : R3 → R3 .
u = u(x), u = (u, v, w)T , x = (x, y, z)T .

Define ∇ × u (pronounced curl u)


∂/∂x u(x, y, z)








∇ × u := ∂/∂y × v(x, y, z)
∂/∂z w(x, y, z)


∂w/∂y − ∂v/∂z



= ∂u/∂z − ∂w/∂x .
∂v/∂x − ∂u/∂y

∇ – p.5/11
 Curl = ∇×
Suppose given vector field u : R3 → R3 .
u = u(x), u = (u, v, w)T , x = (x, y, z)T .

Define ∇ × u (pronounced curl u)


∂/∂x u(x, y, z)








∇ × u := ∂/∂y × v(x, y, z)
∂/∂z w(x, y, z)


∂w/∂y − ∂v/∂z



= ∂u/∂z − ∂w/∂x .
∂v/∂x − ∂u/∂y

NB No similar definition for f : Rn → Rn for n > 3.

∇ – p.5/11
 Fluid flow interpretation: I
>

Flow velocity u =
>
α(x, y, 0)T .
2
2

y
y 1
1

-2 -1 1 2
-2 -1 1 2 x
x

-1
-1

-2
-2

∇ – p.6/11
Page 1
 Fluid flow interpretation: I
>

Flow velocity u =
>
α(x, y, 0)T .
2
2

y
y 1
1

-2 -1 1 2
-2 -1 1 2 x
x

-1
-1

-2
-2

∇ · u = 2α, ∇ × u = 0.
∇ · u measures compression / expansion.
∇ · u = 0 indicates incompressible.

∇ – p.6/11
Page 1
 Fluid flow interpretation: II
> >

Flow velocity u = α(−y, x, 0)T .

2 2

y y
1 1

-2 -1 1 2 -2 -1 1 2
x x

-1 -1

-2 -2

∇ – p.7/11
Page 1 Page 1
 Fluid flow interpretation: II
> >

Flow velocity u = α(−y, x, 0)T .

2 2

y y
1 1

-2 -1 1 2 -2 -1 1 2
x x

-1 -1

-2 -2

∇ · u = 0, ∇ × u = (0, 0, 2α)T .
∇ × u measures rotation.
∇ × u = 0 indicates irrotational.

∇ – p.7/11
Page 1 Page 1
 Basic identities
curl grad = 0


∂/∂x fx









∇ × (∇f ) = ∂/∂y × fy
∂/∂z fz


fzy − fyz



 
= fxz − fzx = 0.
fyx − fxy

∇ – p.8/11
 Basic identities
curl grad = 0


∂/∂x fx









∇ × (∇f ) = ∂/∂y × fy
∂/∂z fz


fzy − fyz



 
= fxz − fzx = 0.
fyx − fxy

div curl = 0



∂/∂x ∂w/∂y − ∂v/∂z






∇ · (∇ × u) = ∂/∂y · ∂u/∂z − ∂w/∂x
∂/∂z ∂v/∂x − ∂u/∂y
= (wyx − vzx ) + (uzy − wxy ) + (vxz − uyz ) = 0.

∇ – p.8/11
 Homework sheet 2 Question 8
Suppose f : R3 → R, and F : R3 → R3 .

∇ × (∇f ) = 0

∇ · (∇ × F) = 0

∇ · (∇f ) = ∇2 f

∇ × (∇ × F) = −∇2 F + ∇(∇ · F)

(F · ∇)F = 12 ∇(F · F) + (∇ × F) × F

∇ – p.9/11
 Conservative force fields
Force field F(x).
If F = ∇φ, then F is conservative (−)φ is potential.

∇ – p.10/11
 Conservative force fields
Force field F(x).
If F = ∇φ, then F is conservative (−)φ is potential.

Example:
F = (2xy 3 , 1 + 3x2 y 2 , 3z 2 )T .
φ = x2 y 3 + y + z 3 + const.
NB ∇ × F = 0.

∇ – p.10/11
 Conservative force fields
Force field F(x).
If F = ∇φ, then F is conservative (−)φ is potential.

Example:
F = (2xy 3 , 1 + 3x2 y 2 , 3z 2 )T .
φ = x2 y 3 + y + z 3 + const.
NB ∇ × F = 0.

Example:
F = (z, x, y)T .
Is there any such φ?
∇ × F =?

∇ – p.10/11
 Coming soon . . .
more on the chain rule
∇ in other coordinate systems
integral calculus of vector functions

∇ – p.11/11