Vector Analysis (Continued) : EE 3513: Electromagnetic Fields and Waves

EE 3513: Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
Lecture 6:
Vector Analysis (continued)
Divergence and Curl
11/3/2021 Capital University of Science and Technology Electromagnetic Fields and Waves EE3513 1
Del: Vector Differential Operator

▪ The vector differential   
operator in three coordinate = aˆ x + aˆ y + aˆ z
x y z
systems are given as:
 1  
= aˆ  + aˆ + aˆ z
   z
 1  1 
= aˆ r + aˆ + aˆ
▪ The operator is used in: r r  r sin  
– Gradient V

– Divergence  • A

– Curl  A
– Laplacian  2V
1
Gradient of scalar field in 3D
▪ Gradient of a scalar field V in Cartesian,

cylindrical and spherical coordinates is given as:
V V V
V = aˆ x + aˆ y + aˆ z
x y z
V 1 V V
V = aˆ  + aˆ + aˆ z
   z
V 1 V 1 V
V = aˆ r + aˆ + aˆ
r r  r sin  
Concept of Gradient
▪ The expression for gradient is obtained as follows:
– Consider a scalar field in 3-D, the following expression is
obtained in calculus:
– Let
where dl is the differential displacement vector and θ is the

angle between G and dl.
2
Concept of Gradient
▪ Therefore the maximum value dV/dl is given as:
▪ Thus G has its magnitude and direction as those of the

maximum rate of change of V
Example: Gradient in two dimensions
3
Example: Gradient in 2D
▪ To see how this vector field relates to the surface height
ℎ(x,y), let’s place the vector field on top of topographic
plot:
▪ The gradient of a scalar
field provides a vector
field that states how
the scalar value is
changing throughout
space
– A change that has both
magnitude and direction.
4
▪ The vectors point in the
direction of maximum
change (i.e., they point
straight up the mountain!).
▪ The vectors always point
orthogonal to the
topographic contours (i.e.,
the contours of equal
surface height).
Directional Derivative vs Gradient

▪ The magnitude of V equals the maximum rate of change
in V per unit distance.
▪ V points in the direction of max. rate of change in V.
▪ V at any point is perpendicular to the constant V surface
that passes through that point dV
V = aˆ n
dn
▪ The projection (or component) of V in the direction of a
unit vector a is V • a and is called the directional
derivative of V along a. This is the rate of change of V in
the direction of a. dV
= V • aˆl
dl
5
Gradient of scalar field
▪ Properties of a Gradient Operator
– Addition
– Product
– High Order
Gradient of a Scalar Field: Example

▪ Example 3.3
▪ Example 3.4
6
Divergence of a vector field
▪ Consider a vector field that is a function of position (and
possibly of time as well):
  
A = A( R, t )
▪ The divergence of a vector field at a point is
– the net outward flux of the vector field per unit
volume in the limit as the volume around the point
shrinks to zero.
– It is a scalar quantity.
Divergence of a vector field
7
Divergence
Therefore front and back surfaces add to
Similarly:
Divergence
▪ Summing all the faces of the cube:
8
Divergence
▪ Divergence in Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical
coordinates:
9
Divergence
▪ Divergence of a vector field is a scalar field
▪ A 2D example
The vector field Contour plot of divergence

Example 3.6: divergence

▪ Determine the Divergence of following vector fields
10
Divergence theorem
▪ The divergence theorem, also known as the Gauss-
Ostrogradsky theorem is given as:
▪ The divergence theorem states total outward flux of a

vector field A through the closed surface S is the same as
the volume integral of the divergence of A.
▪ This theorem comes directly from the definition of
divergence.
Example 3.7: Divergence theorem

▪ If G(R) = 10e-2z(ρ aρ + az), determine the flux of G out of
the entire surface of the cylinder ρ = l, 0 < z < 1.
▪ Confirm the result using the divergence theorem.
11
Curl of a vector field
▪ Consider a vector field that is a function of position (and
possibly of time as well):   
A = A( R, t )

▪ The curl of a vector field   A at a point is
– A vector quantity,
– whose magnitude is equal to the maximum
circulation of the original vector field per unit area as
the area tends to zero,
– and whose direction is normal (in the sense of the
right-hand rule) to the area when the area is oriented
to maximize the circulation.
Where
similarly
12
Similarly
and
Combining all sides
Similarly , and
Curl
▪ Curl in Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical coordinates is
given as:
13
Stokes’s Theorem
▪ The surface integral of the curl of a vector field

over an open surface is equal to the net circulation
of the vector along the contour bounding the
surface.
14
Summary Divergence and Curl
Example Stoke’s Theorem
15
Laplacian Operator
▪ Laplacian Operator in Cartesian Coordinates
▪ Laplacian Operator in Cylindrical Coordinates
▪ Laplacian Operator in Spherical Coordinates
Null Identity: Curl of the Gradient

▪ Theorem:
– The curl of the gradient of any scalar field is
everywhere equal to zero.
▪ Corollary:
– If a vector field is conservative (or irrotational), then it
can be written as the gradient of a scalar field.
16
Null Identity: Divergence of the Curl
▪ Theorem:
– The divergence of the curl of any vector field is
everywhere equal to zero.
▪ Corollary:
– If a vector field is solenoidal, then it can be written as
the curl of another vector field.
Consequence of Helmholtz’s Theorem
▪ A vector field is determined to within an additive

constant if both its divergence and its curl are
specified everywhere.
– A general vector field can be represented as the sum of

a conservative (irrotational) part and a solenoidal part:
– Note that
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Consequence of Helmholtz’s Theorem (Cont’d)
▪ Furthermore,
▪ Hence, an arbitrary vector can always be written

as
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Vector Analysis (Continued) : EE 3513: Electromagnetic Fields and Waves

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Vector Analysis (Continued) : EE 3513: Electromagnetic Fields and Waves

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EE 3513: Electromagnetic Fields and Waves

Del: Vector Differential Operator

▪ Gradient of a scalar field V in Cartesian,

where dl is the differential displacement vector and θ is the

▪ Therefore the maximum value dV/dl is given as:

▪ Thus G has its magnitude and direction as those of the

Example: Gradient in two dimensions

Directional Derivative vs Gradient

Gradient of a Scalar Field: Example

Divergence of a vector field

Therefore front and back surfaces add to

The vector field Contour plot of divergence

Example 3.6: divergence

▪ The divergence theorem states total outward flux of a

Example 3.7: Divergence theorem

Curl of a vector field

Combining all sides

▪ The surface integral of the curl of a vector field

Example Stoke’s Theorem

▪ Laplacian Operator in Cylindrical Coordinates

▪ Laplacian Operator in Spherical Coordinates

Null Identity: Curl of the Gradient

Consequence of Helmholtz’s Theorem

▪ A vector field is determined to within an additive

– A general vector field can be represented as the sum of

▪ Hence, an arbitrary vector can always be written

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