3.

0 VECTOR CALCULUS
3.1 Vector valued function and space curve

Definition of Vector Field

A vector field over a plane region R is a function ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 that assigns a vector 𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦)to each
point in R.
A vector field over a solid region Q in space is a function ⃗⃗⃗𝐹 that assigns a vector
𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) to each point in Q.

Example:
Sketch some vectors in the vector field given by:
⃗⃗⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦) = −𝑦𝑖⃗ + 𝑥𝑗⃗
𝐹

Magnitude of vector, ‖𝐹 ‖ = √(−𝑦)2 + 𝑥 2 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2

For vector magnitude 1, 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 1 → circle radius 1

For vector magnitude 2, 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 4 → circle radius 2
For vector magnitude 3, 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 9 → circle radius 3… and so on..

To sketch some vectors, choose some points and plot the corresponding vectors on the
circle.
Point Vector
(1,0) ⃗⃗⃗ (1,0) = 𝑗⃗
𝐹
(0,1) ⃗⃗⃗ (0,1) = −𝑖⃗
𝐹
(-1,0) ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (−1,0) = −𝑗⃗
(0,-1) ⃗⃗⃗ (0, −1) = 𝑖⃗
𝐹

These vectors in the vector field is shown.

Other examples of vector fields are:

⃗⃗⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥𝑗⃗

𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑦𝑖⃗ − 𝑥𝑗⃗
𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥𝑖⃗ + 3𝑦𝑗⃗
Gradient, Divergence and Curl

Gradient

Let 𝑓 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧). The gradient of 𝑓 or “grad f”, denoted by ∇𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is the vector

⃗
∇𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑖 + 𝑓𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑗 + 𝑓𝑧 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑘

or ⃗
∇𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑓𝑥 𝑖 + 𝑓𝑦 ⃗𝑗 + 𝑓𝑧 𝑘
or ∇𝑓 = < 𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 , 𝑓𝑧 >
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
or ∇𝑓 = 𝑖+ 𝑗+ ⃗
𝑘
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

If ∅ = ∅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is a scalar function, then the gradient

of ∅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is:

⃗
∇∅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ∅𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑖 + ∅𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑗 + ∅𝑧 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑘
or ∇∅ = < ∅𝑥 , ∅𝑦 , ∅𝑧 >

[Note: Gradient is a vector]

Example
1. Find the gradient of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑦 ln 𝑥 + 𝑥𝑦 2 at the point (1,2).
𝑦
𝑓𝑥 = + 𝑦 2 , 𝑓𝑦 = ln 𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦
𝑥

∇𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑓𝑥 𝑖 + 𝑓𝑦 ⃗𝑗
𝑦
= ( + 𝑦 2 ) 𝑖 + (ln 𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦) 𝑗
𝑥

at (1,2), ∇𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 6 𝑖 + 4⃗𝑗

2. If ∅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 + 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 2, define grad ∅ at the point (1,3,2).

∅𝑥 = 2𝑥𝑦𝑧 3 + 𝑦 2 𝑧 2
∅𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝑧 3 + 2𝑥𝑦𝑧 2
∅𝑧 = 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧
Hence, ∇∅ = < ∅𝑥 , ∅𝑦 , ∅𝑧 >
∇∅ =< 2𝑥𝑦𝑧 3 + 𝑦 2 𝑧 2 , 𝑥 2 𝑧 3 + 2𝑥𝑦𝑧 2 , 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 >
 and ∇∅| = < 84, 32, 72 > or ⃗
84 𝑖 + 32⃗𝑗 + 72 𝑘
(1,3,2)

Unit vector normal to surface ∅(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛)

A unit vector that is normal to a given surface ∅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is given by:

∇∅
𝑛⃗ = ‖∇∅‖ , where ‖∇∅‖ is the length of ∇∅

<∅𝑥 ,∅𝑦 ,∅𝑧 >

𝑛⃗ =
√𝑥 2 +𝑦2 +𝑧 2

Example
Find the unit normal vector to the surface 𝑥 3 𝑦 + 4𝑥𝑧 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 + 2 = 0 at P(1,3,-1).

Let ∅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥 3 𝑦 + 4𝑥𝑧 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 + 2

∅𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 4𝑧 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑧
∅𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑦𝑧
∅𝑧 = 8𝑥𝑧 + 𝑥𝑦 2
Hence, ∇∅ = < ∅𝑥 , ∅𝑦 , ∅𝑧 >
∇∅ =< 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 4𝑧 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑧 , 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑦𝑧 , 8𝑥𝑧 + 𝑥𝑦 2 >

∇∅| = < 4, −5, 1 >

(1,3,−1)

‖∇∅‖ = √42 + (−5)2 + 12 = √42

<∅𝑥 ,∅𝑦 ,∅𝑧 > <4,−5,1> 4 −5 1

𝑛⃗ = = = 〈 , , 〉
√𝑥 2 +𝑦2 +𝑧 2 √42 √42 √42 √42

or = 〈0.6172, −0.7715, 0.1543〉

Divergence
The divergence of a vector field ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑀 𝑖 + 𝑁⃗𝑗 over a plane is given by
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦) = ∇ •⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑑𝑖𝑣 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦)
𝜕 𝜕
=( 𝑖+ 𝑗) • (𝑀 𝑖 + 𝑁⃗𝑗 )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁
= +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝑑𝑖𝑣 ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 = 𝑀𝑥 + 𝑁𝑦

The divergence of a vector field 𝐹

⃗⃗⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑀 𝑖 + 𝑁⃗𝑗 + 𝑃 𝑘⃗ over a space is given by
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ∇ •⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑑𝑖𝑣 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
=( 𝑖+ 𝑗+ 𝑘 ⃗ )
⃗ ) • (𝑀 𝑖 + 𝑁⃗𝑗 + 𝑃 𝑘
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝜕𝑀 𝜕𝑁 𝜕𝑃
= + +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑀𝑥 + 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑃𝑧
𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝐹

If 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝐹
⃗⃗⃗ = 0, then 𝐹
⃗⃗⃗ is said to be divergence free.

[Note: Divergence is a scalar]

Example
1. Find the divergence at (2,1,-1) for the vector field ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧𝑖 + 𝑥 2 𝑧⃗𝑗 + 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑘⃗
𝑀 = 𝑥 3𝑦2𝑧 → 𝑀𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧
𝑁 = 𝑥 2𝑧 → 𝑁𝑦 = 0
𝑃 = 𝑥 2𝑦 → 𝑃𝑧 = 0

The divergence of ⃗⃗⃗

𝐹 is
𝑑𝑖𝑣 ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 = 𝑀𝑥 + 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑃𝑧 = 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧
at (2,1,-1), 𝑑𝑖𝑣 ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 = 3(2)2 (1)2 (−1) = −12

2. a) If field 𝐴 = 𝑥 2 𝑧𝑖 − 2𝑦 3 𝑧 2 ⃗𝑗 + 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧𝑘⃗, find 𝑑𝑖𝑣 ⃗⃗⃗

𝐴 at the point P(1,-1,1).
𝑀 = 𝑥 2𝑧 → 𝑀𝑥 = 2𝑥𝑧
𝑁 = −2𝑦 3 𝑧 2 → 𝑁𝑦 = −6𝑦 2 𝑧 2
𝑃 = 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 → 𝑃𝑧 = 𝑥𝑦 2
 The divergence of ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 is
⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑀𝑥 + 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑃𝑧 = 2𝑥𝑧 + −6𝑦 2 𝑧 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2
𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝐹
at (1,-1,1), 𝑑𝑖𝑣 ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 = 2(1)(1) + −6(−1)2 (1)2 + (1)𝑦(−1)2 = −3

2 𝜕2 𝜕2 𝜕2
b) Show that ∇ • ∇∅ = ∇2 ∅ where ∅ is a scalar function and ∇ = + 2 +
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 2
is a Laplacian operator.

∂ ∂ ∂ ∂∅ ∂∅ 𝜕∅
∇ • ∇∅ = ( 𝑖+ 𝑗+ 𝑘⃗) • ( 𝑖 + 𝑗 + 𝑘⃗ )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕2 ∅ 𝜕2 ∅ 𝜕2 ∅
= + +
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2
𝜕2 𝜕2 𝜕2
=( + + )∅
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2
2
= ∇ ∅ proven

c) Given that ∅ = 2𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 . Find

3 2 4
∇ • ∇∅.
∇∅ = < ∅𝑥 , ∅𝑦 , ∅𝑧 >
= 〈6𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 4 , 4𝑥 3 𝑦𝑧 4 , 8𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 3 〉

∇ • ∇∅ = ∇2 ∅
= ∅𝑥𝑥 + ∅𝑦𝑦 + ∅𝑧𝑧
= 12𝑥𝑦2 𝑧4 + 4𝑥3 𝑧4 + 24𝑥3 𝑦2 𝑧2

Curl
The curl of vector field ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑀 𝑖 + 𝑁⃗𝑗 + 𝑃 𝑘 is given by:

Curl 𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ∇  ⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗ 𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)

𝑖 𝑗 ⃗𝑘
=|∂ ∂ ∂|
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑀 𝑁 𝑃
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
= 𝑖| 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧| − 𝑗 | 𝜕𝑥 ⃗
𝜕𝑧| + 𝑘 | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦|
𝑁 𝑃 𝑀 𝑃 𝑀 𝑁
∂P 𝜕N ∂P 𝜕M ∂N 𝜕M
=(
𝜕𝑦
−
𝜕𝑧
) 𝑖 − (𝜕𝑥 − 𝜕𝑧
) 𝑗 + ( 𝜕𝑥 − 𝜕𝑦
) 𝑘⃗
If curl 𝐹 = 0, then 𝐹 is irrotational.
Example
1. Determine if the vector field ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 2𝑥𝑦 𝑖 + (𝑥 2 + 𝑧 2 )⃗𝑗 + 2𝑦𝑧 𝑘 is
irrotational.
Curl ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ∇  ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)

𝑖 𝑗 ⃗𝑘
=| ∂ ∂ ∂
|
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
2𝑥𝑦 𝑥2 + 𝑧2 2𝑦𝑧
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
= 𝑖 | 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 | − 𝑗 | 𝜕𝑥 ⃗
𝜕𝑧 | + 𝑘 | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 |
𝑥2 + 𝑧2 2𝑦𝑧 2𝑥𝑦 2𝑦𝑧 2𝑥𝑦 𝑥2 + 𝑧2

= (2𝑧 − 2𝑧)𝑖 − (0 − 0)𝑗 + (2𝑥 − 2𝑥 )𝑘⃗

=0
Since 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 0, ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 is irrotational.

2. If ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗ , find 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝐹

𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥 2 𝑦 𝑖 − 2𝑥𝑧⃗𝑗 + 2𝑦𝑧 𝑘 ⃗⃗⃗⃗

Curl ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ∇  ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)

𝑖 𝑗 ⃗𝑘
=| ∂ ∂ ∂ |
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑥 2𝑦 −2𝑥𝑧 2𝑦𝑧
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
= 𝑖 | 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 | − 𝑗 | 𝜕𝑥 ⃗
𝜕𝑧 | + 𝑘 | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 |
−2𝑥𝑧 2𝑦𝑧 𝑥 2𝑦 2𝑦𝑧 𝑥 2𝑦 −2𝑥𝑧

= (2𝑧 + 2𝑥 )𝑖 − (0 − 0)𝑗 + (−2𝑧 − 𝑥 2 )𝑘⃗

= (2𝑧 + 2𝑥 )𝑖 − (−2𝑧 − 𝑥 2 )𝑘⃗

3. Find the divergence and curl of the vector field

⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥 2 𝑦 𝑖 + 2𝑦 3 𝑧⃗𝑗 + 3𝑧 𝑘⃗
𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝐹⃗⃗⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ∇ •⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)
= 𝑀𝑥 + 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑃𝑧
= 2𝑥𝑦 + 6𝑦 2 𝑧 + 3
 Curl ⃗⃗⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ∇  ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹 𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)

𝑖 𝑗 ⃗𝑘
=| ∂ ∂ ∂
|
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑥 2 𝑦 2𝑦 3 𝑧 3𝑧
⃗
= (−2𝑦 3 )𝑖 − (𝑥 2 )𝑘

𝑦𝑥
4. If 𝐹 ⃗
⃗⃗⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 4𝑥 2 𝑧 𝑖 − 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧⃗𝑗 + 2𝑦𝑧 2 𝑘 and ∅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 + sin 𝑧,
2
find:
a) 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 ∅
b) 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙(𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 ∅)
c) 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 ⃗⃗⃗
𝐹

Answer: (D.I.Y)
𝑦 𝑥 𝑥𝑦
a) 〈𝑦𝑒 𝑥𝑦 + sin 𝑧 , 𝑥𝑒 𝑥𝑦 + sin 𝑧 , cos 𝑧 〉
2 2 2
b) 0
c) (2𝑧 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 )𝑖 + (4𝑥 2 )𝑗 − (𝑦 2 𝑧)𝑘⃗

5. If ∅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑧 2 𝑒 2𝑥−𝑦 − 4𝑥𝑧 2

a) 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 ∅
b) 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙(𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 ∅)

Answer: (D.I.Y)
a) 〈2𝑧 𝑒 2 2𝑥−𝑦
− 4𝑧2 , −𝑧 2 𝑒 2𝑥−𝑦 , 2𝑧𝑒 2𝑥−𝑦 − 8𝑥𝑧 〉
b) 0