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Divergence and Curl

1) The document discusses calculating the flux of a vector field through the faces of a 1x1x1 cube. It provides the vector field and walks through setting up the flux integrals for each face. 2) It then introduces the divergence of a vector field, which represents the net flow out of or into a point. Calculating the divergence is often easier than calculating individual flux integrals. 3) The Divergence Theorem states that the total flux through the bounding surface of a region is equal to the volume integral of the divergence over the region. This allows one to calculate flux via the easier divergence.

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133 views5 pages

Divergence and Curl

1) The document discusses calculating the flux of a vector field through the faces of a 1x1x1 cube. It provides the vector field and walks through setting up the flux integrals for each face. 2) It then introduces the divergence of a vector field, which represents the net flow out of or into a point. Calculating the divergence is often easier than calculating individual flux integrals. 3) The Divergence Theorem states that the total flux through the bounding surface of a region is equal to the volume integral of the divergence over the region. This allows one to calculate flux via the easier divergence.

Uploaded by

Ajith Krishnan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Math 233

Flux, Divergence, and Curl

Fall 2003

A Little more Flux: Lets look at the last problem from Mondays worksheet. Recall that you have a 1x1x1 cube defined by 1 x 2 , 1 y 2 , and 0 z 1 , and that you wish to find the flux if each face is oriented outward. Last time, you worked on doing this visually. This time, wed like to look at how to calculate it via a flux integral. Recall that the flux integral is defined as:
)dA F dA = ( F n
s s

where

is a unit vector pointing in the direction that the surface is oriented, and we have an integral n

describing the surface. Note that here, we have to calculate 4 separate integrals in order to find the total flux 1 for each surface of the cube that is outlined below (remember, the cube comes out of the page one unit towards you). We dont need to consider all 6 sides since the flux going out of the +z and z faces will be 0. Here is how you would set up one of these integrals. Go ahead and set up the other 3 and find the total flux. +xj The vector field is given by: F =yi The flux exiting the +x-most face is:

3 + x +0 ) dA = ( yi j ) (1i j ) dy dz = (F n 2
s z =0 y =1

z =1 y =2

The flux exiting the x-most face is:

The flux exiting the +y-most face is:

The flux exiting the y-most face is:


3 + x 1 ) dA = ( yi j ) (0i j ) dx dz = (F n 2
s z =0 x =1

z =1 x =2

My graphical solution was that there should be 0 net flux. Do the calculations support that conclusion?

This method of calculating the flux emanating from a volume is quite tedius. Wouldnt it be nice if there was an easier way? Ha! There is! Lets look to the next page to give us a clue how to find this new method!

The Divervgence of a Vector Field The divergence of a vector field is the flux density, or the net flow of the field out of a single point so it is a scalar quantity. Here is how to algebraically calculate the divergence: . + F2 j + F3k a. Given a vector field F ( x, y , z ) = F1i b. Remember the del operator in Cartesian coordinates:

i + j+ k x y z

c. Divergence is a scalar value denoted as either F or div F , F1 F2 F3 F = + + x y z

Divergence Factiods: - The divergence of a vector field is a scalar - The divergence is not the gradient of a scalar function (which yields a vector result). - Divergence measures the net field flow out of point - Positive divergence indicates a field source--more of the field is leaving than entering - Negative divergence indicates a field sink-- more of the field is entering than leaving - Zero divergence indicates field conservation--what goes in comes out--no sources or sinks.
1. Compute the divergence of the following vector fields: +y j +zk a) F ( x, y, z ) = xi

3 x 2 y j +3k b) F ( x, y, z ) = x 3i

c)

+ y cos( x ) F ( x, y , z ) = sin( x )i j +3 z k

evaluated at the point (0,0,1)

Why We Care: The Divergence Theorem If W is a solid region whose boundary S is a piecewise smooth (no holes) surface, and if F is defined
everywhere on an open region containing W and S, then

F dA = ( F )dV , where S is oriented


s W

outward. +xj and we have the cube Cool. Back to the example from last time: Here is our field: F =yi defined by 1 x 2 , 1 y 2 , and 0 z 1 . Lets look at the conditions we must satisfy on the theorem: What is W?

What is S? Is it smooth?

OK Lets go. What is the Divergence of F ?

Hmmm whats going to happen when you integrate this puppy?

Vector fields such as the one given are called divergence free vector fields and they play an important part in physics one of Maxwells Laws of Electromagnetism is that B = 0 for the magnetic field B . What can be said about the flux emanating from any volume placed in a divergence free vector field?

Yet another quick test for you to see how much work youve got to do. Go back and look at the other vector fields from Mondays worksheet and calculate the flux on our favorite cube. In case you dont have it handy, here are the other two vector fields: + y j j a. F =i + b. F =xi

The Curl of a Vector Field The circulation of a vector field is a measure of the net tendency of the vector field to point around a . The closed curve. The circulation density is the strength of the circulation around a unit vector n having the greatest curl of a vector field F at a single point is a vector pointing in the direction n circulation density. The magnitude of the curl is the circulation density around that direction. Here is how to algebraically calculate the curl: . + F2 j + F3k a. Given a vector field F ( x, y , z ) = F1i b. Remember the del operator in Cartesian coordinates:
=

c. Curl is a vector valued function denoted as either F or curl F , and: F3 F2 F1 F3 F2 F1 F = y z i + z x j + x k y

i + j+ k x y z

Curl Factiods: - The curl of a vector field is a vector valued function - The curl evaluated at a point gives the direction and magnitude of greatest circulation density - A vector field is curl free or irrotational if curl F = 0 everywhere. These vector fields are also called conservative vector fields or path-independent vector fields or gradient vector fields.
1. For each of the following vector fields, first try to determine geometrically the direction of the curl vector at the origin. Then, compute curlF ( 0,0,0) using the formula for F ( x, y, z ) . +( x + y ) j xj a. F ( x, y, z ) =( x y )i b. F ( x , y, z ) = xi
y y

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

-1

-1

-2

-2

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