Summary of Vector Calculus
Gradient
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
grad 𝑓 = 𝛁𝑓, 𝛁= 𝒊+ 𝒋+ 𝒌
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
Let 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐 be the equation of the surface. Gradient 𝛁𝑔 (𝑝) represents the normal to the
surface 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐 at the point 𝑝.
gradient 𝛁𝑓 points in the direction in which 𝑓 increases most rapidly.
Directional Derivative (rate of change of 𝑓 along the vector b)
𝐷𝑏 𝑓 = 𝛁𝑓 ⋅ 𝐛, 𝐛 is the unit vector
Conservative vector field
𝑭 = 𝛁𝑓
divergence of a vector field (rate of expansion of compression of a vector filed)
div 𝑭 = 𝛁 ⋅ 𝑭
curl of a vector field (tendency of rotation)
curl 𝑭 = 𝛁 × 𝑭
Line Integral
𝑏
𝑑𝐫
∫ 𝐅 ∙ 𝑑𝐫 = ∫ 𝐅(𝑥(𝑡), 𝑦(𝑡), 𝑧(𝑡)) ∙ 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡
𝐶 𝑎
OR
∫ 𝐅 ∙ 𝑑𝐫 = ∫ F1 𝑑𝑥 + F2 𝑑𝑦 + F3 𝑑𝑧
𝐶 𝐶
Path Independence
𝑏
The vector field 𝐅 is conservative in D (F = 𝛁 𝑓) iff for all points 𝑎 and 𝑏 in D the value of ∫𝑎 𝐅 ∙
𝑑𝐫 is independent of the path joining 𝑎 and 𝑏 in 𝐷.
∫ 𝐅 ∙ 𝑑𝐫 = 𝑓(𝑏) − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝐶
Surface Integral of a scalar function: Let g(x, y, z) = 0 be the equation of the surface.
|𝛁𝑔|
∬ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) 𝑑𝜎 = ∬ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
|𝛁𝑔 ∙ 𝒑|
𝑺 𝑹𝒙𝒚
Note: Replace z in terms of x and y from g(x, y, z) =0 in the integrand of right hand side integral.
Here 𝑹𝒙𝒚 is the projection of the surface S on the xy plane. This can also be done by projecting S on
the yz or xz planes. The vector 𝒑 is the unit normal to 𝑹𝒙𝒚 , hence in this case 𝒑 = 𝒌.
Surface Integral of a vector function (Flux): Let g(x, y, z) = 0 be the equation of the surface.
𝛁𝑔 |𝛁𝑔|
∬ 𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) ∙ 𝐧 𝑑𝜎 = ∬ 𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) ∙ 𝑑𝐴
|𝛁𝑔| |𝛁𝑔 ∙ 𝒑|
𝑺 𝑹
Special Case: Area of the surface S:
|𝛁𝑔|
∬ 𝑑𝜎 = ∬ 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
|𝛁𝑔 ∙ 𝒑|
𝑺 𝑹𝒙𝒚
Stokes Theorem:
∮ 𝑭 ∙ 𝑑𝐫 = ∬(𝛁 × 𝐅) ∙ 𝐧 𝑑𝜎
𝑪 𝑆
Green Theorem:
∂𝐅𝟐 ∂𝐅𝟏
∮ 𝑭 ∙ 𝑑𝐫 = ∬(𝛁 × 𝐅) ∙ 𝐤 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = ∬ ( − ) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦
𝑪 𝑆 𝐷
Gauss Divergence Theorem:
∬ 𝐅 ∙ 𝐧 𝑑𝜎 = ∭ 𝛁 ∙ 𝐅 𝑑𝑉
𝑆 𝑉
Summary of Vector Calculus
Gradient
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
grad 𝑓 = 𝛁𝑓, 𝛁= 𝒊+ 𝒋+ 𝒌
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
Let 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐 be the equation of the surface. Gradient 𝛁𝑔 (𝑝) represents the normal to the
surface 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐 at the point 𝑝.
gradient 𝛁𝑓 points in the direction in which 𝑓 increases most rapidly.
Directional Derivative (rate of change of 𝑓 along the vector b)
𝐷𝑏 𝑓 = 𝛁𝑓 ⋅ 𝐛, 𝐛 is the unit vector
Conservative vector field
𝑭 = 𝛁𝑓
divergence of a vector field (rate of expansion of compression of a vector filed)
div 𝑭 = 𝛁 ⋅ 𝑭
curl of a vector field (tendency of rotation)
curl 𝑭 = 𝛁 × 𝑭
Line Integral
𝑏
𝑑𝐫
∫ 𝐅 ∙ 𝑑𝐫 = ∫ 𝐅(𝑥(𝑡), 𝑦(𝑡), 𝑧(𝑡)) ∙ 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡
𝐶 𝑎
OR
∫ 𝐅 ∙ 𝑑𝐫 = ∫ F1 𝑑𝑥 + F2 𝑑𝑦 + F3 𝑑𝑧
𝐶 𝐶
Path Independence
𝑏
The vector field 𝐅 is conservative in D (F = 𝛁 𝑓) iff for all points 𝑎 and 𝑏 in D the value of ∫𝑎 𝐅 ∙
𝑑𝐫 is independent of the path joining 𝑎 and 𝑏 in 𝐷.
∫ 𝐅 ∙ 𝑑𝐫 = 𝑓(𝑏) − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝐶
Surface Integral of a scalar function: Let g(x, y, z) = 0 be the equation of the surface.
|𝛁𝑔|
∬ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) 𝑑𝜎 = ∬ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
|𝛁𝑔 ∙ 𝒑|
𝑺 𝑹𝒙𝒚
Note: Replace z in terms of x and y from g(x, y, z) =0 in the integrand of right hand side integral.
Here 𝑹𝒙𝒚 is the projection of the surface S on the xy plane. This can also be done by projecting S on
the yz or xz planes. The vector 𝒑 is the unit normal to 𝑹𝒙𝒚 , hence in this case 𝒑 = 𝒌.
Surface Integral of a vector function (Flux): Let g(x, y, z) = 0 be the equation of the surface.
𝛁𝑔 |𝛁𝑔|
∬ 𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) ∙ 𝐧 𝑑𝜎 = ∬ 𝐅(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) ∙ 𝑑𝐴
|𝛁𝑔| |𝛁𝑔 ∙ 𝒑|
𝑺 𝑹
Special Case: Area of the surface S:
|𝛁𝑔|
∬ 𝑑𝜎 = ∬ 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
|𝛁𝑔 ∙ 𝒑|
𝑺 𝑹𝒙𝒚
Stokes Theorem:
∮ 𝑭 ∙ 𝑑𝐫 = ∬(𝛁 × 𝐅) ∙ 𝐧 𝑑𝜎
𝑪 𝑆
Green Theorem:
∂𝐅𝟐 ∂𝐅𝟏
∮ 𝑭 ∙ 𝑑𝐫 = ∬(𝛁 × 𝐅) ∙ 𝐤 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = ∬ ( − ) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦
𝑪 𝑆 𝐷
Gauss Divergence Theorem:
∬ 𝐅 ∙ 𝐧 𝑑𝜎 = ∭ 𝛁 ∙ 𝐅 𝑑𝑉
𝑆 𝑉
