Griffiths Electrodynamics 4e: Problem 1.

26 Page 1 of 3

Problem 1.26
Calculate the Laplacian of the following functions:

(a) Ta = x2 + 2xy + 3z + 4.

(b) Tb = sin x sin y sin z.

(c) Tc = e−5x sin 4y cos 3z.

(d) v = x2 x̂ + 3xz 2 ŷ − 2xz ẑ.

Solution

Evaluate the Laplacian of a scalar function explicitly.

∇2 T = (∇ · ∇)T
 !  3 
3
X ∂ X ∂ 
= δi · δj T
∂xi ∂xj
i=1 j=1
 
3 X
3
X ∂ ∂ 
= (δi · δj ) T
∂xi ∂xj
i=1 j=1
 
3 X
3
X ∂ ∂ 
= δij T
∂xi ∂xj
i=1 j=1

3
!
X ∂ ∂
= T
∂xi ∂xi
i=1

3
X ∂2T
=
i=1
∂x2i

∂2T ∂2T ∂2T

= + +
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2

Part (a)

Use this formula to find the Laplacian of Ta .

∂2 2 ∂2 2 ∂2 2
∇2 Ta = (x + 2xy + 3z + 4) + (x + 2xy + 3z + 4) + (x + 2xy + 3z + 4)
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
∂ ∂ ∂
= (2x + 2y) + (2x) + (3)
∂x ∂y ∂z
= (2) + (0) + (0)

=2

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Griffiths Electrodynamics 4e: Problem 1.26 Page 2 of 3

Part (b)

Use this formula to find the Laplacian of Tb .

∂2 ∂2 ∂2
∇2 Tb = (sin x sin y sin z) + (sin x sin y sin z) + (sin x sin y sin z)
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
∂ ∂ ∂
= [(cos x) sin y sin z] + [sin x(cos y) sin z] + [sin x sin y(cos z)]
∂x ∂y ∂z
= [(− sin x) sin y sin z] + [sin x(− sin y) sin z)] + [sin x sin y(− sin z)]

= −3 sin x sin y sin z

Part (c)

Use this formula to find the Laplacian of Tc .

∂ 2 −5x ∂ 2 −5x ∂ 2 −5x

∇2 Tc = (e sin 4y cos 3z) + (e sin 4y cos 3z) + (e sin 4y cos 3z)
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
∂ ∂ −5x ∂ −5x
= [(−5e−5x ) sin 4y cos 3z] + [e (4 cos 4y) cos 3z] + [e sin 4y(−3 sin 3z)]
∂x ∂y ∂z
= [(25e−5x ) sin 4y cos 3z] + [e−5x (−16 sin 4y) cos 3z] + [e−5x sin 4y(−9 cos 3z)]

= (25 − 16 − 9)e−5x sin 4y cos 3z

=0

Part (d)

Evaluate the Laplacian of a vector function explicitly.

3
! 3 
X ∂ 2 X
∇2 v = 2
 δj v j 
i=1
∂x i j=1

3 X
3
X ∂ 2 vj
= δj
i=1 j=1
∂x2i

3 
∂ 2 v1 ∂ 2 v2 ∂ 2 v3
X 
= δ1 2 + δ2 2 + δ3 2
i=1
∂xi ∂xi ∂xi

∂ 2 v1 ∂ 2 v2 ∂ 2 v3
= δ1 + δ2 + δ 3
∂x21 ∂x21 ∂x21
∂ 2 v1 ∂ 2 v2 ∂ 2 v3
+ δ1 2 + δ2 2 + δ3 2
∂x2 ∂x2 ∂x2
2
∂ v1 2
∂ v2 ∂ 2 v3
+ δ1 2 + δ2 2 + δ3 2
∂x3 ∂x3 ∂x3

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Griffiths Electrodynamics 4e: Problem 1.26 Page 3 of 3

Write it in terms of x, y, and z.

 2
∂ vx ∂ 2 vx ∂ 2 vx

2
∇ v = x̂ + +
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
 2
∂ 2 vy ∂ 2 vy

∂ vy
+ ŷ + +
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
 2
∂ 2 vz ∂ 2 vz

∂ vz
+ ẑ + +
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2

For the special case that v = x2 x̂ + 3xz 2 ŷ − 2xzẑ, vx = x2 and vy = 3xz 2 and vz = −2xz.
 2
∂2 2 ∂2 2

2 ∂ 2
∇ v = x̂ (x ) + 2 (x ) + 2 (x )
∂x2 ∂y ∂z
 2
∂2 ∂2

∂ 2 2 2
+ ŷ (3xz ) + 2 (3xz ) + 2 (3xz )
∂x2 ∂y ∂z
 2
∂2 ∂2

∂
+ ẑ (−2xz) + (−2xz) + (−2xz)
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
 
∂ ∂ ∂
= x̂ (2x) + (0) + (0)
∂x ∂y ∂z
 
∂ 2 ∂ ∂
+ ŷ (3z ) + (0) + (6xz)
∂x ∂y ∂z
 
∂ ∂ ∂
+ ẑ (−2z) + (0) + (−2x)
∂x ∂y ∂z

= x̂ [(2) + (0) + (0)]

+ ŷ [(0) + (0) + (6x)]
+ ẑ [(0) + (0) + (0)]

= 2x̂ + 6xŷ + 0ẑ

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