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Module 3 – ELECTRODYNAMICS
Session 2 : Gradient, divergence and Curl
Gradient:
Let us consider a function of three variables T(x,y,z). This function depends on three variables
and can vary with different magnitude in different directions. A theorem on partial derivative
states that –
( ) ( ) ( )
This gives how T changes when we alter all three variables by infinitesimal amounts dx, dy and
dz. Above equation is reminiscent of a dot product –
( ̂ ̂ ̂) ( ̂ ̂ ̂)
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗
Where ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ is a gradient of T. ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ is a vector quantity with three
components.
Significance of gradient :
Like any vector, gradient has a magnitude and direction. To understand the significance, let us
write the above dot product as –
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗ |
Where is angle between ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ .
If we fix the magnitude |⃗⃗⃗ | and search in various directions for different values of , maximum
change in T will occur for . It means that for a fixed distance |⃗⃗⃗ |,
change in T i.e. dT is maximum in the same direction of ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ .
Thus, the gradient ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ points in the direction of maximum increase of the function T. Also, the
magnitude |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | gives us the slope (i.e. rate of increase) along this direction.
If the value of the function is decreasing along the given direction, the gradient is negative.
If the value of the function is increasing along the given direction, the gradient is positive.
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Ex.1 Find the gradient of √ (magnitude of a position vector)
Soln: ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂
(√ ) (√ ) (√ )
̂ ̂ ̂
̂ ̂ ̂
√ √ √
̂ ̂ ̂
̂
√
The distance from origin increases most rapidly along the direction of .
Ex.2 Find the gradient of ( ) at point (1,-2,-1).
Soln: ( )
( )
( )
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂
( )̂ ( )̂ ( ) ̂
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | ( )( )̂ ( ( ) ( ) ( ) )̂ ( ) ( ) ̂
( )
̂ ̂ ̂
The operator (del operator)
The gradient has a formal appearance of a vector ⃗ acting on a scalar T.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ i.e. ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ )
Here, ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) is called as ‘del’.
This ‘del’ is not a vector. It does not multiply a function; rather it is an instruction to differentiate
what follows. It does not have any meaning until we provide it with a function to act upon.
To be precise, ⃗ is not a vector that multiplies T. ⃗ is a vector operator that acts on T.
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The operator ⃗⃗ can act in three ways –
1. On a scalar function T - i.e. ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ (the gradient)
2. On a vector function ⃗ via dot product - ⃗ ⃗ (the divergence)
3. On a vector function ⃗ via cross product - ⃗ ⃗ (the curl)
3.7 The Divergence
When the operator ⃗ act on a vector function ⃗ , via dot product, we get divergence
of a vector function ⃗ .
⃗ ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) ( ̂ ̂ ̂)
⃗ ⃗ ( )
The divergence of a vector function is a scalar. The divergence of a scalar function can not be
written and it is meaningless.
Significance of divergence :
Divergence ⃗ ⃗ is a measure of how much the vector ⃗ spreads out (diverges) from the given
point.
⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ ⃗ ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) ( ̂ ̂ ̂)
This vector function ⃗ ⃗ ( )
has a large positive
divergence.
⃗ ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ ⃗ ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) ( ̂ ̂ ̂)
This vector function ( ) ( ) ( )
⃗ ⃗ ( )
has large negative
divergence
⃗ ̂ ⃗ ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) ( ̂ ̂ ̂)
K is constant.
This vector has zero ⃗ ⃗ ( )
divergence
⃗ ̂ ⃗ ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) ( ̂ ̂ ̂)
This vector has ⃗ ⃗ ( )
positive divergence.
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Ex.1 If ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ and ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ calculate their divergence.
Soln: ⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) ( ̂ ̂ ̂)
⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ( )
⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) ( ̂)
⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ( )
Ex.2 If ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ , find divergence of ⃗ .
Soln: ⃗ ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) ( ̂ ̂ ̂)
( ) ( ) ( )
⃗ ⃗ ( )
Ex.3 If ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ , Find ⃗ ⃗ at point (1,-1,1)
Soln: ⃗ ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) ( ̂ ̂ ̂)
( ) ( ) ( )
⃗ ⃗ ( )
⃗ ⃗| ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( )
( )
The Curl :
When the operator ⃗ act on a vector function ⃗ via cross product, we get curl of a
vector function ⃗ .
⃗ ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂ ) ( ̂ ̂ ̂)
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̂ ̂ ̂
⃗ ⃗ | |
⃗ ⃗ ̂( ) ̂( ) ̂( )
The curl of a vector function is a vector.
Significance of the curl
⃗ ⃗ is a measure of how much the vector ⃗ curls around the given point. Zero curl means there
is no rotation.
Ex.1 If ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ , calculate its curl.
Soln: ̂ ̂ ̂
⃗ ⃗ | |
⃗ ⃗ ̂( ) ̂( ) ̂( )
Ex.2 Calculate curl of ⃗ if ⃗ ̂ ̂.
̂ ̂ ̂
⃗ ⃗ | |
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
⃗ ⃗ ̂( ) ̂( ) ̂( )
⃗ ⃗ ̂( ) ̂( ) ̂( ( )) ̂
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Ex.3 Calculate curl of ⃗ ̂.
̂ ̂ ̂
⃗ ⃗ | |
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
⃗ ⃗ ̂( ) ̂( ) ̂( )
⃗ ⃗ ̂( ) ̂( ) ̂( )) ̂
Ex.4 Show that divergence of a curl is zero.
Let us consider ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂.
̂ ̂ ̂
Curl of ⃗ is given by - ⃗ ⃗ | |
⃗ ⃗ ̂( ) ̂( ) ̂( )
Divergence of Curl of ⃗ is given by -
⃗ (⃗ ⃗) (̂ ̂ ̂ )
(̂ ( ) ̂( ) ̂( ))
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
Thus divergence of a curl is zero.
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