VECTOR DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

INTRODUCTION:
Vector calculus is a branch of mathematics concerned with differential and integration of vector
field, primarily in 3-dimensional space R3.
It was developed by J. Willard Gibbs and Heaviside.
BASIC OBJECTS:
Scalar: A physical quantity which has magnitude only is called as a Scalar. Example: every real
number is a scalar
Vector: A physical quantity which has both magnitude and direction is called as a Vector.
Example: Velocity, Acceleration.
VECTOR POINT FUNCTION:
If to each point P(x, y, z) of a region R in the space , there is associated a unique vector F(P) or
F(x,y,z) then F is called a vector point function . The set of all points of the region R together with
the set of all values of the function F constitute a vector field over R
Example1 : ∇ = xi + yj + zk is a vector point function, which associates
with each point (x, y, z) a vector pointing away from the origin. This
represents a three –dimensional source field.

Example 2: in theoretical physics , there is associated with each point

in space an electric intensity vector , representing the force that would
be exerted per unit charge on a charged particle . if it were located at
that point . this electric field at any instant of time , constitute a vector
field .
Magnetic fields and gravitational fields also provide examples of vector
fields defined in space.
• SCALAR POINT FUNCTION:

• Consider any region R of space and suppose that to each point P(x,y,z) of the region in space there
corresponds by any law whatsoever , a scalar denoted by (P) or (x,y,z) . we then say that is a
scalar point function over the region R . The points of the region R together with the functional
values (p) will form a scalar field over R .

• Example 1: If P = (x, y) then (P) =x2+y2 is a scalar point function and it forms a two dimensional
scalar field.
• Example2 : if P=(x,y,z) then x2 + y2 + z2 is a scalar point function and it forms a three dimensional
scalar field.
• Example3 : Physical examples of a scalar field are,
• a. The mass density of the atmosphere.
• b. The temperature at each point in an insulated wall.
• c. The water pressure at each point in an ocean
• VECTOR OPERATIONS:
The basic algebraic operations in vector calculus are referred to as vector algebra, being
defined for a space and then globally applied to vector field. It consists of,
Scalar multiplications: Multiplication of scalar field and a vector field, yielding a vector
field, a v
Vector addition: Addition of two vector fields, yielding a vector field, v1 + v2
Dot product: Multiplication of two vector fields, yielding a scalar fields, v1.v2
Cross product: Multiplications of two vector fields, yielding a vector field, v1×v2.
There are also two triple products:
Scalar triplet product:
The dot product of a vector and a cross product of two vectors:
v1. (v2×v3)
v1 . (v2 × v3) = v2 . (v3 × v1 ) = v3 .( v1 × v2)
Vector tr iple pr oduct
The cross product of a vector and a cross product of two vectors:
v1 × (v2×v 3)
the following relationship holds :
v1 × (v2 × v3) = v2 (v1 . v3 ) – v 3(v1 . v 2) triple product expansion .

DIFFER E NT IAL OPE R AT OR S:

Vector calculus studies various differential operators defined on a

scalar and a vector fields, which are typically expressed in terms of
del operator ∇ , also known as nabla
The vector differential operator denoted by ∇ is defined by,
∇= i+ j+ k=∑ i
Where i, j, k are the unit vectors
Now, we define the following quantities which involve the above
operator,
 Gradient of a Scalar field
 Divergence of a Vector field
 Curl of the Vector field

G r adient of a scalar point function :

Definit ion :let (x, y, z) be a continuously differentiable scalar
point function. The gradient of is denoted by grad or ∇ , and it is
defined by,
Grad =∇ =( i+ j+ k)
From the definition of gradient we can see that ∇ or grad is
vector point function. Thus the gradient of a scalar point function is a
vector point function.
Note: Gradient of a constant scalar is the zero vectors.
PROPERTIES:
If ` f ` and ` g ` are the continuous and differentiable scalar point
functions then,
 ∇ (f ± g) = ∇f ± ∇g
Proof: we have ∇ (f ± g) = ∑ i (f ± g)
=( i+ j+ k) (f ± g)

= i+ j+ k

=( i+ j+ k) ± ( i + j+ k)
=∇f ± ∇g
  ∇ (f/g) = g ∇f- f ∇g/g 2 (g! = 0)
Proof: we have ∇ (f/g) = ∑ (i ) (f/g)

= ∑ 1/g 2 (g –f )i

= 1/g2 (g ∑ i– f∑ i)

= g ∇f – f ∇g / g2

 ∇ (f g) = f ∇g + g ∇f
Proof: we have, ∇ (f g) = ∑ ) (f g) i

= ∑ (f + g ) i

= f (∑ ) i + g (∑I )

= f ∇g + g ∇f
  ∇(c f) =c ∇f
Proof:
∇(c f) = ∑ (c f) i

= (cf)i + (cf) j + (cf) k

= c ( i + j + k )= c ∇f

SOME C ONSE QUENCE S:

1. Show that d = dr
Proof: let r = xi + yj + zk, then
dr = dxi + dyj + dzk
If is any scalar point function, then
d = (dx) + (dy) + (dz)

= ( i + j+ k). (i dx +j
dy +k dz)
=∇ . dr
2. Let r = r , where r = xi + yj + zk, then prove that,

a. ∇r = r / r
∇r = ∑ (r) i
Given, r = xi + yj + zk and r = r
Then, r =  x2 + y2 + z2 => r2 = x2 + y2 + z2
Differentiating above equation partially w.r.t
x, we get,
2r = 2x => = x/r -------------- (1)
Similarly, differentiating partially w r t y and z, we get
= y/ r ---------- (2) and =z/r ---------
(3)

Therefore, ∑ i = ∑ (x/r) i
= 1/r ∑ xi
= 1/r (xi +yj + zk)
=r/r
b. ∇rn = n rn-2 r
proof: ∇rn = ( i + j+ k) rn
=( i+ j+ k)

= (i nr n-1 + j nr n-1 + k nrn-1 )

= i nrn-1 x/r + j nrn-1 y/r + k nrn-1z/r
[from 1, 2 and 3]
= nrn-2(xi +yj +zk)
= nrn-2 r
DIVE RG ENCE OF A VE CT OR F UNC TION:

If f(x, y, z) be a continuously differentiable vector function, then

divergence of f is denoted by div f or ∇.f, and is defined by,
Div f = ∇.f = ( i + j + k).f

∇.f= ( i + j + k)
If f = f 1i + f 2j + f3k, then
∇.f = i+ j + k clearly,
the divergence of a vector function f is a scalar function.
If f is a constant vector, then ∇.f= 0
A vector point function f is said to be solenoid, if ∇.f = 0 (div f
= 0)
Clearly, a constant vector function is a solenoid.
CURL OF A VECTOR FUNCTION:

If f is a vector function, continuously differentiable, then curl of f is

denoted by curl f or ∇×f, and it is defined by,
Curl f = ∇×f = ×i + ×j+ ×k
If f = f1i +f 2j+f3k, then
∇×f = ( i + j+ k) × (f1i+f 2j+f3k)
= i j k

f1 f2 f3
= i+ j+
k
Clearly, the curl of a vector point function f is again a vector point
function.
if f is a constant function, then curl f = 0, i.e., ∇×f = 0
A vector function f is said to be irrational if ∇×f = 0
APPLICATION OF VECTOR CALCULUS:
Vector calculus has its applications in many fields , such as physics , engineering , biology ,
etc .., it also has a huge impact on our daily life - from microwave , cell phones , TV , and
car to medicines , economy etc ..,
Some of the applications are given below:
1.Linear approximations are used to replace complicated functions with linear functions
that are almost the same. Given a differentiable function f (x, y ) for( x , y) close to (a , b) by
the formula,
f , ≈f a, + ∂f/∂ a , -a + ∂f/∂ a , -b)
The right hand side is the equation of the plane tangent to the
graph of z = f(x , y) at (a, b)
2.Credit card companies uses calculus to set the minimum payments due on credit card
statements at the exact time.
• 3. Biologists use differential calculus to determine the exact rate of
growth in a bacterial culture when different variables such as
temperature and food source are changed.
• 4. A physics uses calculus to find the centre of mass, centre of mass
of distribution of mass in space is the unique point where the
weighted relative position of the distributed mass sums to zero. The
distribution of mass is balanced around the centre of mass and the
average of the weighted position coordinates of the distributed mass
defines its coordinates.
• We an onsider the hild’s to , whi h uses the prin iple of
centre of mass to keep balance on a finger.
• 5.A graphics artist uses calculus to determine how different 3-
dimensional models will behave when subjected to rapidly changing
conditions. This can create a realistic environment for movies or
videogames.