54 LECTURE 5.

VECTOR OPERATORS: GRAD, DIV AND CURL

0.1

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
4

2 4
2
0
0
−2
−2
−4 −4

Figure 5.2:

so


If we move


  a tiny amount within
  the surface, that is in any tangential direction, there is no change in
 . So for any  in the surface
,
( ( ( (
%)
 
( 
#
(
This can only be satisfied if

   
is NORMAL to a surface of constant

.

gradU

Surface of constant U Surface of constant U

These are called Level Surfaces
Figure 5.3:

5.3 The divergence of a vector field

The divergence computes a scalar quantity from a vector field by differentiation.