Griffiths Electrodynamics 4e: Problem 1.

16 Page 1 of 2

Problem 1.16
Sketch the vector function
r̂
v=
,
r2
and compute its divergence. The answer may surprise you...can you explain it?

Solution

Below is a sketch of the vector field in a small box. The hue and length of a vector indicate its
magnitude.

To compute the divergence of this completely radial vector function, it’s easiest to use the formula
in spherical coordinates inside the front cover, plugging in vr = 1/r2 , vθ = 0, and vφ = 0. This
hasn’t been developed yet in the textbook, so it will be done in Cartesian coordinates. Rewrite
the vector function.
r̂ r xx̂ + yŷ + zẑ
v= = 3 = 2
r2 r (x + y 2 + z 2 )3/2
x y z
= 3/2
x̂ + 2 3/2
ŷ + 2 ẑ
(x2 y22
+ +z ) 2 2
(x + y + z ) (x + y + z 2 )3/2
2

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Griffiths Electrodynamics 4e: Problem 1.16 Page 2 of 2

And then take the divergence.

 
∂ x
∇·v =
∂x (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )3/2
 
∂ y
+
∂y (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )3/2
 
∂ z
+
∂z (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )3/2
 
1 3 x
= − · 2x
(x2 + y 2 + z 2 )3/2 2 (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )5/2
 
1 3 y
+ − · 2y
(x2 + y 2 + z 2 )3/2 2 (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )5/2
 
1 3 z
+ − · 2z
(x2 + y 2 + z 2 )3/2 2 (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )5/2
3 x2 + y 2 + z 2
= − 3
(x2 + y 2 + z 2 )3/2 (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )5/2
3 3
= 3/2
− 2
(x2 + y2 2
+z ) (x + y + z 2 )3/2
2

=0

See part (b) of Problem 1.39 to see what’s wrong with this argument and what the divergence
really is.

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