VECTOR CALCULUS

CURVES IN SPACE:
If 𝑟̅ is a position of a point P(x, y, z) on a curve x = f1 (t), y = f2 (t), z = f3 (t), then r̅ = xi + yj + zk
where x = f1 (t), y = f2 (t), z = f3 (t) , is the vector equation of the curve in space.

𝑑𝑟̅
TANGENT VECTOR: If r̅ = 𝑓 ̅ (𝑡) is a given curve then 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑟̅̇ is a vector, tangent to the curve at P (t).

VELOCITY AND ACCELERATION:

Let the position vector r̅ of a particle moving along a curve be given by r̅ (t) = x (t)i + y (t)j + z(t)k
where x (t), y (t), z (t) are function of t
dr̅
Velocity is the rate of change of displacement with respect to time, the velocity 𝐯̅ is given by v̅ = dt = 𝑟̅̇
This velocity vector v̅ is in the direction of the tangent to the path of the particle at time t and its magnitude is the
speed v.
̅ is given by
Since acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time, the acceleration 𝐀
2
̅ = dv̅ = d 2r̅ = r̅̈
A dt dt

STANDARD RESULTS:
If 𝑎̅, 𝑏̅, 𝑐̅ are differentiable vector function of a scalar variable t and Φ is a scalar function of t then
𝑑 𝑑𝑎̅ 𝑑𝑏̅ 𝑑 𝑑𝑏̅ 𝑑𝑎̅
(i) 𝑑𝑡
(𝑎̅ ± 𝑏̅) = 𝑑𝑡
± 𝑑𝑡 (ii) 𝑑𝑡
(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅) = 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑑𝑡 + 𝑏̅ ∙ 𝑑𝑡
𝑑 𝑑𝑏 𝑑𝑎̅̅ 𝑑 𝑑𝑎̅ 𝑑Φ
(iii) (𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅) = 𝑎̅ × + × 𝑏̅ (iv) (Φ𝑎̅) =Φ + 𝑎̅
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑 𝑑𝑎̅ 𝑑𝑏̅ 𝑑𝑐̅
(v) 𝑑𝑡
[𝑎̅ 𝑏̅ 𝑐̅] = [ 𝑑𝑡 𝑏̅ 𝑐̅] + [𝑎̅ 𝑑𝑡
𝑐̅] + [𝑎̅ 𝑏̅ 𝑑𝑡
]
𝑑 𝑑𝑎̅ 𝑑𝑏̅ 𝑑𝑐̅
(vi) 𝑑𝑡
[𝑎̅ × (𝑏̅ × 𝑐̅)] = 𝑑𝑡
× (𝑏̅ × 𝑐̅) + 𝑎̅ × ( 𝑑𝑡 × 𝑐̅) + 𝑎̅ × (𝑏̅ × 𝑑𝑡 )

SOME SOLVED EXAMPLES:

𝑑 𝑑
1. If 𝑎̅ = 4𝑡 2 𝑖 + 2𝑡𝑗 − 𝑡 3 𝑘, 𝑏̅ = sin 𝑡 𝑖 + cos 𝑡 𝑗, find (i) 𝑑𝑡
(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅) (ii) 𝑑𝑡
(𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅)
𝑑 𝑑𝑏 ̅ 𝑑𝑎̅
Solution: (i) 𝑑𝑡
(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅) = 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑑𝑡 + 𝑑𝑡 ∙ 𝑏̅
= (4𝑡 2 𝑖 + 2𝑡𝑗 − 𝑡 3 𝑘) ∙ (cos 𝑡 𝑖 − sin 𝑡 𝑗 + 0𝑘)
+(8𝑡𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 3𝑡 2 𝑘) ∙ (sin 𝑡 𝑖 + cos 𝑡 𝑗 + 0𝑘)
= 4𝑡 2 cos 𝑡 − 2𝑡 sin 𝑡 + 8𝑡 sin 𝑡 + 2 cos 𝑡
= 4𝑡 2 cos 𝑡 + 6𝑡 sin 𝑡 + 2 cos 𝑡
𝑑 𝑑𝑏̅ 𝑑𝑏̅
(ii) 𝑑𝑡
(𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅) = 𝑎̅ × 𝑑𝑡 + 𝑑𝑡 × 𝑏̅
= (4𝑡 2 𝑖 + 2𝑡𝑗 − 𝑡 3 𝑘) × (cos 𝑡 𝑖 − sin 𝑡 𝑗 + 0𝑘)

17
 +(8𝑡𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 3𝑡 3 𝑘) ∙ (sin 𝑡 𝑖 + cos 𝑡 𝑗 + 0𝑘)
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
2 3
= | 4𝑡 2𝑡 −𝑡 | + | 8𝑡 2 −3𝑡 2 |
cos 𝑡 − sin 𝑡 0 sin 𝑡 cos 𝑡 0
3 3 2
= (−𝑡 sin 𝑡)𝑖 − (𝑡 cos 𝑡)𝑗 + (−4𝑡 sin 𝑡 − 2𝑡 cos 𝑡)𝑘
+(3𝑡 2 cos 𝑡)𝑖 − (3𝑡 2 sin 𝑡) + (8𝑡 cos 𝑡 − 2 sin 𝑡)𝑘
= (−𝑡 3 sin 𝑡 + 3𝑡 2 cos 𝑡)𝑖 − (𝑡 3 cos 𝑡 + 3𝑡 2 sin 𝑡)𝑗
+(−4𝑡 2 sin 𝑡 + 6𝑡 cos 𝑡 − 2 sin 𝑡)𝑘

𝑑2 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑2 𝑟
2. If 𝑟 = 𝑎 sinh 𝑡 + 𝑏 cosh 𝑡, where 𝑎, 𝑏 are constants, prove that (i) =𝑟 (ii) × = constant
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 2
𝑑𝑟
Solution: We have 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑎̅ cosh 𝑡 + 𝑏̅ sinh 𝑡
𝑑2 𝑟
𝑑𝑡 2
= 𝑎 sinh 𝑡 + 𝑏 cosh 𝑡 = 𝑟
𝑑𝑟 𝑑2 𝑟
Further 𝑑𝑡 × 𝑑𝑡 2 = (𝑎̅ cosh 𝑡 + 𝑏̅ sinh 𝑡) × (𝑎 sinh 𝑡 + 𝑏 cosh 𝑡)
2 2
= 𝑎̅ × 𝑎̅ sinh 𝑡 cosh 𝑡 + 𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅ cosh 𝑡 + 𝑏̅ × 𝑎̅ sinh 𝑡 + 𝑏̅ × 𝑏̅ sinh 𝑡
But 𝑎̅ × 𝑎̅ = 0, 𝑏̅ × 𝑏̅ = 0 and 𝑏̅ × 𝑎̅ = −𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅
𝑑𝑟 𝑑2 𝑟 2 2
∴ 𝑑𝑡
× 𝑑𝑡 2 = 𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅ (cosh 𝑡 − sinh 𝑡) = 𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅, a constant

𝑑𝑎 𝑑𝑏 𝑑
3. If 𝑑𝑡
= 𝑢 × 𝑎 and 𝑑𝑡
= 𝑢 × 𝑏, prove that 𝑑𝑡 (𝑎 × 𝑏) = 𝑢 × (𝑎 × 𝑏)
𝑑 𝑑𝑏 𝑑𝑎̅ ̅
Solution: We have 𝑑𝑡 [𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅] = 𝑎̅ × 𝑑𝑡 + 𝑑𝑡 × 𝑏̅
= 𝑎̅ × (𝑢̅ × 𝑏̅) + (𝑢̅ × 𝑎̅) × 𝑏̅
= (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅)𝑢̅ − (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑢̅)𝑏̅ + (𝑢̅ ∙ 𝑏̅)𝑎̅ − (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅)𝑢̅
= (𝑢̅ ∙ 𝑏̅)𝑎̅ − (𝑢̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)𝑏̅
= 𝑢̅ × (𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅)

𝑑 𝑑𝑏 𝑑𝑎
4. Verify the result 𝑑𝑡 (𝑎 × 𝑏) = 𝑎 × 𝑑𝑡 + 𝑑𝑡 × 𝑏 for 𝑎 = 5𝑡 2 𝑖 + 𝑡 𝑗 − 𝑡 3 𝑘, 𝑏 = sin 𝑡 𝑖 − cos 𝑡 𝑗
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
3 3 2
Solution: 𝑎 × 𝑏 = | 5𝑡 2 𝑡 −𝑡 3 | = (−𝑡 cos 𝑡)𝑖 − (𝑡 sin 𝑡)𝑗 − (5𝑡 cos 𝑡 + 𝑡 sin 𝑡)𝑘
sin 𝑡 − cos 𝑡 0
𝑑
∴ 𝑑𝑡
(𝑎 × 𝑏) = (−3𝑡 2 cos 𝑡 + 𝑡 3 sin 𝑡)𝑖 − (3𝑡 2 sin 𝑡 + 𝑡 3 cos 𝑡)𝑗
−(10𝑡 cos 𝑡 − 5𝑡 2 sin 𝑡 + sin 𝑡 + 𝑡 cos 𝑡)𝑘 ………… (1)
𝑑𝑎 𝑑𝑏
Now, 𝑑𝑡 = 10𝑡𝑖 + 𝑗 − 3𝑡 2 𝑘, 𝑑𝑡 = cos 𝑡𝑖 + sin 𝑡𝑗 + 0𝑘
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝑑𝑏 3 3 2
𝑎 × 𝑑𝑡 = | 5𝑡 2 𝑡 −𝑡 3 | = (𝑡 sin 𝑡)𝑖 − (𝑡 cos 𝑡)𝑗 + (5𝑡 sin 𝑡 − 𝑡 cos 𝑡)𝑘
cos 𝑡 sin 𝑡 0

18
 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝑑𝑎 2 2
𝑑𝑡
× 𝑏 = | 10𝑡 1 −3𝑡 2 | = (−3𝑡 cos 𝑡)𝑖 − (3𝑡 sin 𝑡)𝑗 − (10𝑡 cos 𝑡 + sin 𝑡)𝑘
sin 𝑡 − cos 𝑡 0
𝑑𝑏 𝑑𝑎
∴𝑎× + × 𝑏 = (𝑡 3 sin 𝑡 − 3𝑡 2 cos 𝑡)𝑖 − (𝑡 3 cos 𝑡 + 3𝑡 2 sin 𝑡)𝑗
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
−(−5𝑡 2 sin 𝑡 + 𝑡 cos 𝑡 + 10𝑡 cos 𝑡 + sin 𝑡)𝑘 ………… (2)
𝑑 𝑑𝑎 𝑑𝑏
From (1) and (2), we get, 𝑑𝑡
(𝑎 × 𝑏) = 𝑑𝑡
× 𝑏 + 𝑎 × 𝑑𝑡

POINT FUNCTION:
A variable quantity, which depends for its value upon the coordinates of the point of a region, say (x, y, z)
in space, is called a Point Function. There are two types of point function:

SCALAR POINT FUNCTION:

If to each point P of a region R in space there corresponds a definite scalar (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) , then 𝛷 is called a scalar
point function in region R. The region R so defined is called a scalar field.
Examples: Density of a body, temperature of a body at any instant

VECTOR POINT FUNCTIONS:

If to each point P of a region R in space there corresponds a definite vector F(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) , then F is called a
vector point function in region R. The region R so defined is called a vector field.
Examples: The velocity of a moving fluid at any instant, Gravitational force are vector point function.

VECTOR OPERATOR DEL 𝛁 (OR NABLA):

∂ ∂ ∂
The vector differential operator del is written as ∇ is defined by ∇= i +j + k
∂x ∂y ∂z

GRADIENT:
If 𝛷(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)is a scalar point function then the gradient of 𝛷 written as ∇𝛷 or grad𝛷 is defind by
∂𝛷 ∂𝛷 ∂𝛷
grad Φ = ∇𝛷 = i +j +k
∂x ∂y ∂z

∂𝛷 ∂𝛷 ∂𝛷 ∂𝛷
Remark: We also denote grad 𝛷 as, grad Φ = ∇𝛷 = ∑ i =i +j +k
∂x ∂x ∂y ∂z

Note: (1) grad Φ is a vector point function

∂𝛷 ∂𝛷 ∂𝛷
(2) If 𝛷 is a constant then ∂x
= ∂y
= ∂z
=0 ∴ grad 𝛷 = 0̅.

19
Results: (1) ∇(Φ ± Ψ) = ∇Φ ± ∇Ψ
(2) ∇(ΦΨ) = Φ(∇Ψ) + (∇Φ)Ψ
∂f(u) ∂f(u) ∂f(u)
(3) ∇f(u) = i ∂x
+ j ∂y + k ∂z
= f ′ (u)∇u

DIVERGENCE:
Let 𝐹̅ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑓1 𝑖̅ + 𝑓2 𝑗̅ + 𝑓3 𝑘̅ be a vector point function defined in a certain region of space, where the
components 𝑓1 , 𝑓2 , 𝑓3 are functions of x, y, z then the divergence of 𝐹̅ written as ∇ ∙ 𝐹̅ or 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝐹̅ is defined by
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝑓1 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓3
𝑑𝑖𝑣𝐹̅ = ∇ ∙ 𝐹̅ = ( 𝑖̅ + 𝑗̅ + 𝑘̅ ) ∙ (𝑓1 𝑖̅ + 𝑓2 𝑗̅ + 𝑓3 𝑘̅ ) = + +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

Note: ∇ ∙ 𝐹̅ is a scalar point function

CURL :
Let 𝐹̅ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑓1 𝑖̅ + 𝑓2 𝑗̅ + 𝑓3 𝑘̅ be a vector point function defined in a certain region of space then the curl of 𝐹̅ ,
written as ∇ × 𝐹̅ or curl 𝐹̅ is defined by
𝑖̅ 𝑗̅ 𝑘̅
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Curl𝐹̅ = ∇ × 𝐹̅ = ( 𝑖̅ + 𝑗̅ + 𝑘̅ ) × (𝑓1 𝑖̅ + 𝑓2 𝑗̅ + 𝑓3 𝑘̅ )= | |
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑓3

Note: ∇ × 𝐹̅ is a vector point function

1. Gradient of Scalar Point Function is Vector Point Function

Divergence of Vector Point Function is Scalar Point
2.
Function
3. Curl of Vector Point Function is Vector Point Function

SOME SOLVED EXAMPLES:

𝑟
1. Prove that ∇𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) and hence, find f(r) if ∇f(r) = 2r 4 r
𝑟
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
Solution: We have ∇Φ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧

Here, Φ = 𝑓(𝑟) and 𝑓 is a function of 𝑟 and 𝑟 is function of (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)

𝑑𝑓 𝜕𝑟 𝑑𝑓 𝜕𝑟 𝑑𝑓 𝜕𝑟
∴ ∇𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑖 𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝑥
But 𝑟 2 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ∴ 2𝑟 = 𝜕𝑥 = 2𝑥 ∴ 𝜕𝑥 = 𝑟
𝜕𝑟 𝑦 𝜕𝑟 𝑧
Similarly, 𝜕𝑦 = 𝑟 , 𝜕𝑧
=𝑟

20
 𝑓′ (𝑟) 𝑓′ (𝑟)
∴ ∇𝑓(𝑟) = (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘) = 𝑟̅
𝑟 𝑟
Comparing this with the given expression. i.e. comparing
𝑟 𝑟
∇𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) 𝑟 with ∇𝑓(𝑟) = 2𝑟 4 𝑟 = 2𝑟 5 𝑟
we see that 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) = 2𝑟 5
Here, by integration
2𝑟 6 𝑟6
∴ 𝑓(𝑟) = 6
+𝑐 = 3
+𝑐

1 𝑟
2. Prove that ∇ (𝑟) = − 𝑟3
1 1
Solution: Here, 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟 ∴ 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) = − 𝑟2
𝑟
But ∇𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)
𝑟
1 1 𝑟 𝑟
∴ ∇ (𝑟 ) = − 𝑟 2 𝑟 = − 𝑟 3
Alternatively we have
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∇Φ = 𝑖 + 𝑗 + 𝑘
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
1
Here, Φ = 𝑟 and 𝑟 2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2
𝑑Φ 1
∴ =− and
𝑑𝑟 𝑟2
𝜕𝑟 𝑥 𝜕𝑟 𝑦 𝜕𝑟 𝑧
∴ = , = , =
𝜕𝑥 𝑟 𝜕𝑦 𝑟 𝜕𝑦 𝑟
𝑑Φ 𝜕𝑟 𝑑Φ 𝜕𝑟 𝑑Φ 𝜕𝑟 1 𝑥 1 𝑦 1 𝑧 1 𝑟̅
∴ ∇Φ = ∙ 𝑖 + ∙ 𝑗 + ∙ 𝑘 =− ∙ 𝑖 − ∙ 𝑗 − ∙ 𝑘 =− (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘) = −
𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑧 𝑟2 𝑟 𝑟2 𝑟 𝑟2 𝑟 𝑟3 𝑟3

3. Prove that ∇𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 𝑟

𝑟
Solution: We know, from 3(a), ∇𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)
𝑟
Here, 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟 𝑛 ∴ 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) = 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1

𝑟
∴ ∇𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑟 = 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 𝑟
Alternatively we have
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∇Φ = 𝜕𝑥
𝑖 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑗 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑘

Here Φ = 𝑟 𝑛 and 𝑟 2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2
𝑑Φ 𝜕𝑟 𝑥 𝜕𝑟 𝑦 𝜕𝑟 𝑧
∴ = 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 and = , = , =
𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑥 𝑟 𝜕𝑦 𝑟 𝜕𝑧 𝑟
𝑑Φ 𝜕𝑟 𝑑Φ 𝜕𝑟 𝑑Φ 𝜕𝑟
∴ ∇Φ = ∙ 𝑖
𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑥
+ ∙ 𝑗
𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑦
+ ∙ 𝑘
𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑧
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
= 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 ( ) 𝑖 + 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 ( ) 𝑗 + 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 ( ) 𝑘
𝑟 𝑟 𝑟
= 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)
= 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 𝑟

21
 2
4. Find ∇(𝑒 𝑟 )
2 2
Solution: Here, 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑒 𝑟 ∴ 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) = 𝑒 𝑟 ∙ 2𝑟
𝑟 2 𝑟 2
∴ ∇𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) 𝑟 = 𝑒 𝑟 ∙ 2𝑟 ∙ 𝑟 = 2𝑒 𝑟 𝑟̅
Alternatively we have
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∇Φ = 𝜕𝑥
𝑖 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑗 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑘
2
Here Φ = 𝑒 𝑟 ∙ 2𝑟 and 𝑟 2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2
𝑑Φ 2 𝜕𝑟 𝑥 𝜕𝑟 𝑦 𝜕𝑟 𝑧
∴ 𝑑𝑟
= 𝑒 𝑟 ∙ 2𝑟 and 𝜕𝑥 = 𝑟 , 𝜕𝑦 = 𝑟 , 𝜕𝑧 = 𝑟
𝑑Φ 𝜕𝑟 𝑑Φ 𝜕𝑟 𝑑Φ 𝜕𝑟
∴ ∇Φ = ∙ 𝑖
𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑥
+ ∙ 𝑗
𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑦
+ ∙ 𝑘
𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑧
2 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧
= 𝑒 𝑟 ∙ 2𝑟 (𝑟 ) 𝑖 + 𝑒 𝑟 ∙ 2𝑟 ( 𝑟 ) 𝑗 + 𝑒 𝑟 ∙ 2𝑟 (𝑟) 𝑘
2 (𝑥𝑖+𝑦𝑗+𝑧𝑘)
= 2𝑒 𝑟 𝑟 ∙ 𝑟
𝑟2
= 2𝑒 ∙ 𝑟̅

𝑟
5. Find Φ(𝑟) such that ∇Φ = − 𝑟5 and Φ(2) = 3

Solution: We have ∇Φ = −𝑟(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )−5⁄2 [∵ 𝑟 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ]

= −(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )−5⁄2 (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘) ………….. (1)

𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
But ∇Φ = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 ………….. (2)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

Comparing (1) and (2), we get,

𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
𝜕𝑥
= −𝑥(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )−5⁄2 , 𝜕𝑦 = −𝑦(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )−5⁄2 , 𝜕𝑧 = −𝑧(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )−5⁄2
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
But 𝑑Φ = 𝜕𝑥
𝑑𝑥 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑦 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑑𝑧 = −(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )−5⁄2 (𝑥𝑑𝑥 + 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + 𝑧𝑑𝑧)

Now put 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 𝑡
∴ 2(𝑥𝑑𝑥 + 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + 𝑧𝑑𝑧) = 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡
∴ 𝑑Φ = −𝑡 −5⁄2 ∙
2
1 𝑡 −3⁄2 𝑡 −3⁄2
Integrating, Φ = − 2 (−3⁄2) + 𝑐 = 3
+𝑐
1
= 3 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )−3⁄2 + 𝑐
1 1
= ∙ +𝑐
3 𝑟3
But by data Φ(𝑟) = 3 when 𝑟 = 2
1 1 71
∴3=3∙8+𝑐 ∴ 𝑐 = 24
1 1 71 1 1 71
∴Φ= ∙ + = ( + )
3 𝑟3 24 3 𝑟3 8

22
6. If 𝑢 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧, 𝑣 = 𝑥 + 𝑦, 𝑤 = −2𝑥𝑧 − 2𝑦𝑧 − 𝑧 2 , show that ∇𝑢 . [∇𝑣 × ∇𝑤] = 0
Solution: ∇𝑢 = 𝑖 + 𝑗 + 𝑘, ∇𝑣 = 𝑖 + 𝑗, ∇𝑤 = −2𝑧𝑖 − 2𝑧𝑗 − (2𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 2𝑧)𝑘
1 1 1
∇𝑢 . [∇𝑣 × ∇𝑤] = | 1 1 0 |=0
−2𝑧 −2𝑧 −2𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 2𝑧
(Since first two columns are identicarl)

7. If 𝛷 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 , 𝛹 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑧 2 + 𝑧 2 𝑥 2 , find ∇[∇Φ ∙ ∇Ψ]

Solution: ∇Φ = 2𝑥𝑖 + 2𝑦𝑗 + 2𝑧𝑘
∇Ψ = (2𝑥𝑦 2 + 2𝑥𝑧 2 )𝑖 + (2𝑦𝑥2 + 2𝑦𝑧 2 )𝑗 + (2𝑧𝑥2 + 2𝑧𝑦 2 )𝑘
∴ ∇Φ ∙ ∇Ψ = 4𝑥2 (𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) + 4𝑦 2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑧 2 ) + 4𝑧 2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) = 8(𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑧 2 + 𝑧 2 𝑥 2 )
∴ ∇(∇Φ ∙ ∇Ψ) = 16𝑥(𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )𝑖 + 16𝑦(𝑧 2 + 𝑥 2 )𝑗 + 16𝑧(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )𝑘

8. If 𝛷 = 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 + 𝑧 3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧, find (a) 𝑟 . ∇𝛷 (b) div 𝐹 (c) curl 𝐹 where 𝐹 = ∇𝛷 .

𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
Solution: (a) ∇Φ = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

∴ 𝐹 = 𝑖(3𝑥2 − 3𝑦𝑧) + 𝑗(3𝑦 2 − 3𝑥𝑧) + 𝑘(3𝑧 2 − 3𝑥𝑦)

But 𝑟̅ = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘
∴ 𝑟̅ ∙ ∇Φ = 𝑥(3𝑥2 − 3𝑦𝑧) + 𝑦(3𝑦 2 − 3𝑥𝑧) + 𝑧(3𝑧 2 − 3𝑥𝑦) = 3(𝑥3 + 𝑦3 + 𝑧3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧) = 3Φ
(b) div 𝐹̅ = ∇ ∙ (∇Φ)
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝜕𝑥 (3𝑥2 − 3𝑦𝑧) + 𝜕𝑦 (3𝑦 2 − 3𝑥𝑧) + 𝜕𝑧 (3𝑧 2 − 3𝑥𝑦) = 6𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 6𝑧 = 6(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧)
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
(c) Curl 𝐹 = | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 |
3(𝑥2 − 𝑦𝑧) 3(𝑦 − 𝑥𝑧) 3(𝑧 − 𝑥𝑦)
2 2

= 𝑖(−3𝑥 + 3𝑥) + 𝑗(3𝑦 − 3𝑦) + 𝑘(−3𝑧 + 3𝑧) = 0

9. If f = (𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1)𝑖 + 𝑗 − (𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑘, prove that 𝑓. Curl 𝑓 = 0

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Solution: Curl 𝑓 = | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
| = 𝑖(−1) − 𝑗(−1) + 𝑘(−1) = −𝑖 + 𝑗 − 𝑘
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1 1 −𝑥 − 𝑦
∴ 𝑓 ̅ ∙ curl𝑓 ̅ = [(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1)𝑖 + 𝑗 − (𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑘] ∙ [−𝑖 + 𝑗 − 𝑘]
= −(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1) + 1 + (𝑥 + 𝑦) = 0

10. If 𝑟1 and 𝑟2 are vectors joining the fixed points 𝐴 (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 ) and B (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , 𝑧2 ) to a variable point
P (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) then prove that (a) ∇ ∙ (𝑟1 × 𝑟2 ) = 0, (b) ∇ × (𝑟1 × 𝑟2 ) = 2(𝑟1 − 𝑟2 ).
Solution: (a) We have 𝑟1 = (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )𝑖 + (𝑦 − 𝑦1 )𝑗 + (𝑧 − 𝑧1 )𝑘
and 𝑟2 = (𝑥 − 𝑥2 )𝑖 + (𝑦 − 𝑦2 )𝑗 + (𝑧 − 𝑧2 )𝑘

23
 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
Now, 𝑟1 × 𝑟2 = |𝑥 − 𝑥1 𝑦 − 𝑦1 𝑧 − 𝑧1 |
𝑥 − 𝑥2 𝑦 − 𝑦2 𝑧 − 𝑧2
= 𝑖[(𝑦 − 𝑦1 )(𝑧 − 𝑧2 ) − (𝑦 − 𝑦2 )(𝑧 − 𝑧1 )] + 𝑗[… … . ] + 𝑘[… … . ]
= 𝑖Φ1 + 𝑗Φ2 + 𝑘Φ3 say
𝜕Φ1 𝜕Φ2 𝜕Φ3
∴ ∇ ∙ (𝑟1 × 𝑟2 ) = 𝜕𝑥
+ 𝜕𝑦
+ 𝜕𝑧
𝜕Φ1 𝜕Φ2 𝜕Φ3
But 𝜕𝑥
= 0, 𝜕𝑦
= 0, 𝜕𝑧
=0

∴ ∇ ∙ (𝑟1 × 𝑟2 ) = 0
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
(b) ∇ × (𝑟1 × 𝑟2 ) = | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
|
(𝑦 − 𝑦1 )(𝑧 − 𝑧2 ) − (𝑦 − 𝑦2 )(𝑧 − 𝑧1 ) … … … . ………..
𝜕
= 𝑖 [𝜕𝑦 {(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )(𝑦 − 𝑦2 ) − (𝑥 − 𝑥2 )(𝑦 − 𝑦1 )}
𝜕
− {(𝑧 − 𝑧1 )(𝑥 − 𝑥2 ) − (𝑧 − 𝑧2 )(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )}] + 𝑗[… … . ] + 𝑘[… … . ]
𝜕𝑧
= 𝑖[{(𝑥 − 𝑥1 ) − (𝑥 − 𝑥2 )} − {(𝑥 − 𝑥2 ) − (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )}] + 𝑗[… . ] + 𝑘[… . ]
= 𝑖[2(𝑥 − 𝑥1 ) − 2(𝑥 − 𝑥2 )] + 𝑗[… … . ] + 𝑘[… … . ]
= 2[𝑖(𝑥 − 𝑥1 ) + 𝑗(𝑦 − 𝑦1 ) + 𝑘(𝑧 − 𝑧1 )] − 2[𝑖(𝑥 − 𝑥2 ) + 𝑗(𝑦 − 𝑦2 ) + 𝑘(𝑧 − 𝑧2 )]
= 2(𝑟1 ) − 2(𝑟2 )
= 2(𝑟1 − 𝑟2 )

11. Prove that ∇ . (∇ × 𝐹) = 0 where 𝐹 is a vector point function

Solution: Let 𝐹 = 𝐹1 𝑖 + 𝐹2 𝑗 + 𝐹3 𝑘
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹1 𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹1
Then ∇ × 𝐹 = |𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
| = 𝑖( − )+ 𝑗( − )+ 𝑘( − )
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝐹1 𝐹2 𝐹3
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹1
∴ ∇ ∙ (∇ × 𝐹) = (𝜕𝑥 𝑖 + 𝜕𝑦
𝑗 + 𝜕𝑧 𝑘) ∙ [( 𝜕𝑦3 − 𝜕𝑧
)𝑖 + ( 𝜕𝑧1 − 𝜕𝑥
)𝑗 + ( 𝜕𝑥2 − 𝜕𝑦
) 𝑘]
𝜕2 𝐹 𝜕2 𝐹 𝜕2 𝐹 𝜕2 𝐹 𝜕2 𝐹 𝜕2 𝐹
= 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦3 − 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑧2 + 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧1 − 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥3 + 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑧2 − 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧1 = 0

12. If 𝑢𝐹 = ∇𝑣 where u and v are scalar fields and 𝐹 is a vector field, prove that 𝐹 ∙ curl 𝐹 = 0.
Solution: Let 𝐹 = 𝐹1 𝑖 + 𝐹2 𝑗 + 𝐹3 𝑘. By data 𝑢𝐹 = ∇𝑣
𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣
∴ 𝑢𝐹1 𝑖 + 𝑢𝐹2 𝑗 + 𝑢𝐹3 𝑘 = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣
∴ 𝑢𝐹1 = , 𝑢𝐹2 = , 𝑢𝐹3 =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
1 𝜕𝑣 1 𝜕𝑣 1 𝜕𝑣
∴ 𝐹1 = 𝑢 𝜕𝑥 , 𝐹2 = 𝑢 𝜕𝑦 , 𝐹3 = 𝑢 𝜕𝑧

24
 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹1 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹1
curl 𝐹̅ = |𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
| = 𝑖 ( 𝜕𝑦3 − 𝜕𝑧
)− 𝑗 ( 𝜕𝑥3 − 𝜕𝑧
) + 𝑘 ( 𝜕𝑥2 − 𝜕𝑦
)
𝐹1 𝐹2 𝐹3
1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 1 𝜕2 𝑣 1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 1 𝜕2 𝑣
= 𝑖 [{− 𝑢2 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 + 𝑢 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧} − {− 𝑢2 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑢 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧}] + 𝑗[… … . ] + 𝑘[… … . ]
1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
= 𝑖 𝑢2 ( 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 − 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 ) + 𝑗[… … . ] + 𝑘[… … . ]
1 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
∴ 𝐹 ∙ curl 𝐹 = 𝑢3 𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 − 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 ) + [… … . ] + [… … . ] = 0

(The terms are cancelled because of symmetry)

OR If 𝑭 = 𝜱𝛁𝒇 where 𝜱 & f are scalar point functions and 𝑭 is a vector point function, prove that
𝑭 . (𝛁 × 𝑭) = 𝟎

13. If Φ1 and Φ2 are scalar functions, then prove that, ∇ × (Φ1 ∇Φ2 ) = ∇Φ1 × ∇Φ2 .
𝜕Φ2 𝜕Φ2 𝜕Φ2
Solution: We have ∇Φ2 = 𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕Φ2 𝜕Φ2 𝜕Φ2
∴ Φ1 ∇Φ2 = 𝑖Φ1 𝜕𝑥
+ 𝑗Φ1 𝜕𝑦
+ 𝑘Φ1 𝜕𝑧
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
∴ ∇ × (Φ1 ∇Φ2 ) = || 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 ||
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
Φ1 𝜕𝑥2 Φ1 𝜕𝑦2 Φ1 𝜕𝑧2
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ2 𝜕2 Φ 𝜕Φ1 𝜕Φ2 𝜕2 Φ
= 𝑖 [ 𝜕𝑦1 ∙ 𝜕𝑧
+ Φ1 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧2 − 𝜕𝑧
∙ 𝜕𝑦 − Φ1 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧2 ] + 𝑗[… … . ] + 𝑘[… … . ]
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ2 𝜕Φ1 𝜕Φ2
= 𝑖 [ 𝜕𝑦1 ∙ 𝜕𝑧
− 𝜕𝑧
∙ 𝜕𝑦 ] + 𝑗[… … . ] + 𝑘[… … . ]
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕Φ1 𝜕Φ1 𝜕Φ1
= || 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 || = ∇Φ1 × ∇Φ2
𝜕Φ2 𝜕Φ2 𝜕Φ2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

IDENTIFIES INVOLVING GRAD, DIV, CURL:

1. 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 (𝛷 ± 𝛹) = 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝛷 ± 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝛹
∇(𝛷 ± 𝛹) = ∇𝛷 ± ∇𝛹
2. 𝑑𝑖𝑣 ( 𝑓 ̅ ± 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑓 ̅ ± 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑔̅
∇ ∙ ( f̅ ± g̅) = ∇ ∙ f̅ ± ∇ ∙ g̅
3. 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑙 (𝑓 ̅ ± 𝑔̅ ) = 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑓 ̅ ± 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑔̅
∇ × (f̅ ± g̅) = ∇ × f̅ ± ∇ × g̅
4. 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 (𝛷𝛹) = 𝛷 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝛹 + 𝛹 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝛷
∇(ΦΨ) = Φ ∇Ψ + Ψ ∇Φ where Φand Ψ are scalar functions

25
5. 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 (𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑓 ̅ × (𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 ̅𝑔) + 𝑔̅ × (𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙𝑓 ̅) + (𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝛻)𝑔̅ + (𝑔̅ ∙ 𝛻)𝑓 ̅
∇(𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑓 ̅ × (∇ × 𝑔̅ ) + 𝑔̅ × (∇ × 𝑓 ̅) + (𝑓 ̅ ∙ ∇)𝑔̅ + (𝑔̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓 ̅
6. 𝑑𝑖𝑣 (𝛷𝑓 ̅) = 𝛷𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑓 ̅ + 𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝛷
∇ ∙ (𝛷𝑓 ̅) = 𝛷(∇ ∙ 𝑓 ̅) + 𝑓 ̅ ∙ (∇𝛷)
7. 𝑑𝑖𝑣 (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑔̅ ∙ 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙𝑓 ̅ − 𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙𝑔̅
∇ ∙ (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑔̅ ∙ (∇ × 𝑓 ̅) − 𝑓 ̅ ∙ (∇ × 𝑔̅ )
8. 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑓 ̅𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑔̅ − 𝑔̅ 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑓 ̅ + (𝑔̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓 ̅ − (𝑓 ̅ ∙ ∇)𝑔̅
∇ × (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑓 ̅(∇ ∙ 𝑔̅ ) − 𝑔̅ (∇ ∙ 𝑓 ̅) + (𝑔̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓 ̅ − (𝑓 ̅ ∙ ∇)𝑔̅
9. 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 (𝛷𝑓 ̅) = 𝛷(𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙𝑓 ̅) + (𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝛷) × 𝑓 ̅
∇ × (𝛷𝑓 ̅) = 𝛷(∇ × 𝑓 ̅) + (∇ 𝛷) × 𝑓 ̅

Sigma Notation: Differentiation Formula:

𝜕 𝑑 𝑑𝑓̅ 𝑑𝑔̅
∇= ∑ 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑥
(𝑓 ̅ ± 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑑𝑥 ± 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝛷 𝑑 𝑑𝑔̅ 𝑑𝑓̅
∇Φ = ∑ 𝑖
𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑥
(𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑓 ̅ ∙
𝑑𝑥
+
𝜕𝑥
∙ 𝑔̅
𝜕𝑓 ̅ 𝑑 𝑑𝑔̅ 𝑑𝑓 ̅
∇ ∙ f̅ = ∑ 𝑖̅ ∙ (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑓 ̅ × + × 𝑔̅
𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑓 ̅ 𝑑 𝑑𝑓̅ 𝑑𝛷
∇ × f̅ = ∑ 𝑖̅ × 𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑥
(𝛷𝑓 ̅) = 𝛷 𝑑𝑥 + 𝜕𝑥 𝑓 ̅

SOME SOLVED EXAMPLES:

1. If 𝑎 is a constant vector and 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘 , prove that,
1
(i) 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑎 = 0 (ii) 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑎 = 0 (iii) 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑟 = 𝑟 𝑟 (iv) 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑟 = 3 (v) 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑟 = 0
Solution: (i) Let 𝑎 = 𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘 where 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 are constants
𝜕𝑎1 𝜕𝑎2 𝜕𝑎3
∴ ∇ ∙ 𝑎̅ = + + =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝑎 𝜕𝑎2 𝜕𝑎 𝜕𝑎3 𝜕𝑎 𝜕𝑎1
(ii) ∇ × 𝑎̅ = | | = 𝑖 ( 𝜕𝑦3 − 𝜕𝑧
)+ 𝑗 ( 𝜕𝑧1 − 𝜕𝑥
)+ 𝑘 ( 𝜕𝑥2 − 𝜕𝑧
) =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 1 1
(iii) grad 𝑟 = (𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧) √𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 𝑟 𝑖 + 𝑟 𝑗 + 𝑟 𝑘 = 𝑟 (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘) = 𝑟 𝑟
𝑓′ (𝑟)𝑟̅
Aliter: 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟
put 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟 ∴ 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) = 1
(1)𝑟̅ 𝑟̅
∴ 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟
=𝑟
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
(iv) div 𝑟 = (𝜕𝑥 𝑥) + (𝜕𝑦 𝑦) + (𝜕𝑥 𝑧) = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3

26
 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
(v) curl 𝑟 = | | =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧

2. If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constant vectors and 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘, prove that, ∇(𝑎 . 𝑟) = 𝑎

Solution: Let 𝑎 = 𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘 and 𝑏 = 𝑏1 𝑖 + 𝑏2 𝑗 + 𝑏3 𝑘
𝑎 . 𝑟 = (𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘) ∙ (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘) = 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
∴ ∇(𝑎 . 𝑟) = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧) + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧) + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧 (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)

= 𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘 = 𝑎̅

3. If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constant vectors and 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘, prove that, 𝑑𝑖𝑣 (𝑎 × 𝑟) = 0.

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
Solution: 𝑎 × 𝑟 = |𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 | = (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦)𝑖 + (𝑎3 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑧)𝑗 + (𝑎1 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑥)𝑘
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑑𝑖𝑣 (𝑎 × 𝑟) = 𝜕𝑥 (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦) + 𝜕𝑦 (𝑎3 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑧) + 𝜕𝑧 (𝑎1 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑥) = 0

Aliter:
Assuming the result that ∇ ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟) can be looked upon as a scalar triple product treating ∇ as
a vector we have
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑑𝑖𝑣(𝑎 × 𝑟) = ∇ ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟) = |𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 |
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝜕𝑥 (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦) + 𝜕𝑦 (𝑎3 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑧) + 𝜕𝑧 (𝑎1 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑥) = 0

Aliter:
div (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) = 𝑟̅ ∙ curl 𝑎̅ − 𝑎̅ ∙ curl 𝑟̅
= 𝑟̅ ∙ 0̅ − 𝑎̅ ∙ 0̅ [∵ curl 𝑎̅ = 0̅, curl 𝑟̅ = 0̅]
= 0̅

4. If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constant vectors and 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘, prove that, 𝑑𝑖𝑣 (𝑎 . 𝑟)𝑎 = 𝑎2
Solution: 𝑎 ∙ 𝑟 = 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧
∴ (𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎̅ = (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)𝑎1 𝑖 + (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)𝑎2 𝑗 + (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)𝑎3 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕
∴ div (𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎̅ = 𝜕𝑥 [𝑎1 (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)] + 𝜕𝑦 [𝑎2 (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)]
𝜕
+ [𝑎 (𝑎 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)]
𝜕𝑧 3 1
= 𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 + 𝑎3 2 = 𝑎2
Aliter:
𝜕
div [(𝑎 . 𝑟)𝑎] = ∑ 𝑖 ∙ 𝜕𝑥 [(𝑎 . 𝑟)𝑎]

27
 𝜕 𝜕
= ∑ 𝑖 ∙ {𝜕𝑥 (𝑎 . 𝑟)} 𝑎̅ + ∑ 𝑖 ∙ (𝑎 . 𝑟) 𝜕𝑥 𝑎̅
𝜕 𝜕𝑎̅
= ∑𝑖 ∙ { (𝑎 . 𝑟)} 𝑎̅ [∵ 𝜕𝑥 = 0]
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑎̅ 𝜕𝑟̅
= ∑𝑖 ∙ [ ∙ 𝑟̅ + 𝑎̅ ∙ ] 𝑎̅
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑟̅ 𝜕𝑎̅
= ∑ 𝑖 ∙ [𝑎̅ ∙ ] 𝑎̅ [∵ 𝜕𝑥 = 0]
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑟̅ 𝜕
But 𝜕𝑥 = 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘) = 𝑖
∴ div [(𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎] = ∑ 𝑖 ∙ [𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑖] 𝑎̅ = ∑ 𝑖 ∙ 𝑎1 𝑎̅ = ∑ 𝑎1 2 = 𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 + 𝑎3 2 = 𝑎2
Aliter:
div [(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )𝑎̅] = (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ ) div 𝑎̅ + 𝑎̅ ∙ grad(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )
= (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )0 + 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑎̅ [∵ div 𝑎̅ = 0 & grad(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ ) = 𝑎̅]
= 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑎̅
= 𝑎2
Aliter:
Let 𝑎 = 𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘 and 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘, then
𝑎 ∙ 𝑟 = 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧 = Φ, say
∴ ∇ ∙ {(𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎} = (𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)∇ ∙ 𝑎 + 𝑎 ∙ ∇(𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)
𝜕𝑎 𝜕𝑎2 𝜕𝑎3 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
= (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧) ( 𝜕𝑥1 + 𝜕𝑦
+ 𝜕𝑧
)+ (𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘) ∙ (
𝜕𝑥
+ 𝜕𝑦 + 𝜕𝑧
)
𝜕𝑎 𝜕𝑎2 𝜕𝑎3
= (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧) ( 𝜕𝑥1 + 𝜕𝑦
+ 𝜕𝑧
)+ (𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘) ∙ (𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘)

= 0 + 𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 + 𝑎3 2 = 𝑎2

5. If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constant vectors and 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘, prove that, 𝑑𝑖𝑣 (𝑎 × (𝑟 × 𝑎)) = 2𝑎2
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
Solution: 𝑟×𝑎 =|𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 | = (𝑎3 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑧)𝑖 + (𝑎1 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑥)𝑗 + (𝑎2 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑦)𝑘
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
∴ 𝑎̅ × (𝑟 × 𝑎) = | 𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 |
𝑎3 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑧 𝑎1 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑥 𝑎2 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑦
= [𝑎2 (𝑎2 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑦) − 𝑎3 (𝑎1 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑥)]𝑖 + [… … . ]𝑗 + [… … . ]𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
∴ div [𝑎̅ × (𝑟 × 𝑎)] = 𝜕𝑥 [𝑎2 (𝑎2 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑦) − 𝑎3 (𝑎1 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑥)] + 𝜕𝑦 [… … ] + 𝜕𝑧 [… … ]

= (𝑎2 2 + 𝑎3 2 ) + (𝑎3 2 + 𝑎1 2 ) + (𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 )

= 2(𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 + 𝑎3 2 ) = 2𝑎2
Aliter:
div [𝑎̅ × (𝑟 × 𝑎)] = div [(𝑎 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟 − (𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎]
= div [𝑎2 𝑟 − (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)𝑎]
𝜕
= ∑ 𝑖 ∙ 𝜕𝑥 [(𝑎2 𝑟̅ ) − (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)𝑎̅]
= ∑ 𝑖 ∙ [𝑎2 − 𝑎1 𝑎̅]

28
 = ∑ 𝑎2 − ∑ 𝑎1 2
= 𝑎2 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 2 − 𝑎2 2 − 𝑎3 2
= 3𝑎2 − 𝑎2 = 2𝑎2
Aliter:
div [𝑎̅ × (𝑟̅ × 𝑎̅)] = div [(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)𝑟̅ − (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )𝑎̅]
= div [𝑎2 𝑟̅ − (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )𝑎̅]
= div (𝑎2 𝑟̅ ) − div [(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )𝑎̅]
Now div (𝑎2 𝑟̅ ) = 𝑎2 div 𝑟̅ + 𝑟̅ ∙ grad(𝑎2 )
= 𝑎2 3 + 𝑟̅ × 0̅
= 3𝑎2
div [(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )𝑎̅] = (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ ) div 𝑎̅ + 𝑎̅ ∙ grad(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )
= (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )0 + 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑎̅ [∵ grad(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ ) = 𝑎̅]
= 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑎̅
= 𝑎2
∴ div [𝑎̅ × (𝑟̅ × 𝑎̅)] = 3𝑎2 − 𝑎2 = 2𝑎2

6. If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constant vectors and 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘, prove that, 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙(𝑎 × 𝑟) = 2𝑎

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
Solution: 𝑎 × 𝑟 = |𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 | = (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦)𝑖 + (𝑎3 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑧)𝑗 + (𝑎1 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑥)𝑘
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
∴ Curl (𝑎 × 𝑟) = | |
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦 𝑎3 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑧 𝑎1 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑥
= 𝑖(𝑎1 + 𝑎1 ) − 𝑗(−𝑎2 − 𝑎2 ) + 𝑘(𝑎3 + 𝑎3 )
= 2𝑎1 𝑖 + 2𝑎2 𝑗 + 2𝑎3 𝑘
= 2𝑎
Aliter:
curl (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) = 𝑎̅(div 𝑟̅ ) − 𝑟̅ (div 𝑎̅) + (𝑟̅ ∙ ∇)𝑎̅ − (𝑎̅ ∙ ∇)𝑟̅
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑎̅(3) − 𝑟̅ (0) + (𝑥 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑧 𝜕𝑧) 𝑎̅ − (𝑎1 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝜕𝑧)

= 3𝑎̅ − 0̅ + 0̅ − (𝑎1 𝑖̅ + 𝑎2 𝑗̅ + 𝑎3 𝑘̅)

= 3𝑎̅ − 𝑎̅
= 2𝑎̅

𝑎×𝑟
7. If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constant vectors and 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘, prove that, ∇ . ( 𝑟
) =0

29
 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑎×𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
Solution: ∇∙( 𝑟
) = ∇ ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟) = |𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 |
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝑟 𝑟 𝑟
𝜕 𝑎2 𝑧−𝑎3 𝑦 𝜕 𝑎 𝑥−𝑎 𝑧 𝜕 𝑎 𝑦−𝑎 𝑥
= 𝜕𝑥 ( 𝑟
) + 𝜕𝑦 ( 3 𝑟 1 ) + 𝜕𝑧 ( 1 𝑟 2 )
1 𝜕𝑟
= − 𝑟2 (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦) 𝜕𝑥 + ⋯ + ⋯
𝑥
= −(𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦) 𝑟3 + ⋯ + ⋯
1
= − 𝑟3 [(𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦)𝑥 + (𝑎3 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑧)𝑦 + (𝑎1 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑥)𝑧]
=0
Aliter:
𝑎̅×𝑟̅ 𝑟̅
div ( 𝑟
) = div (𝑎̅ × 𝑟)
𝑟̅ 𝑟̅
= 𝑟 ∙ curl 𝑎̅ − 𝑎̅ ∙ curl 𝑟
𝑟̅ 1 1
= 𝑟 ∙ 0̅ − 𝑎̅ ∙ (𝑟 curl 𝑟̅ + [grad (𝑟)] × 𝑟̅ ) ∵ curl 𝑎̅ = 0̅
−1
1 ( 2 )𝑟̅ 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)𝑟̅
= 0̅ − 𝑎̅ ∙ [𝑟 0̅ + ( 𝑟
𝑟
)× 𝑟̅ ] ∵ curl 𝑟̅ = 0̅ & 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟

1
= 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟3 (𝑟̅ × 𝑟̅ )
1
= 𝑎̅ ∙ (0̅) = 𝑎̅ ∙ 0̅ = 0 ∵ 𝑟̅ × 𝑟̅ = 0̅
𝑟3
Aliter:
𝑎̅×𝑟̅ 1 1
div ( 𝑟
) = 𝑟 div(𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) + (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) ∙ grad (𝑟)
1
1 (− 2)𝑟̅
𝑟
= 𝑟 0 + (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) ∙ [ 𝑟
]

𝑓′ (𝑟)𝑟̅
∵ div(𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) = 0 & 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟
1
=− (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) ∙ 𝑟̅
𝑟3
1
= − 𝑟3 0 by box product property
=0

10. If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constant vectors and 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘, prove that, ∇ × [(𝑟 × 𝑎) × 𝑏] = 𝑏 × 𝑎
Solution: By vector triple product we have (𝑟 × 𝑎) × 𝑏 = (𝑟 ∙ 𝑏)𝑎 − (𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)𝑟
∴ ∇ × [(𝑟 × 𝑎) × 𝑏] = ∇ × [(𝑟 ∙ 𝑏)𝑎] − ∇ × [(𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)𝑟] ………….. (1)
Now let 𝑎 = 𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘, 𝑏̅ = 𝑏1 𝑖 + 𝑏2 𝑗 + 𝑏3 𝑘
∴ (𝑟 ∙ 𝑏)𝑎 = (𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑏3 𝑧)(𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘) = 𝑓1 𝑖 + 𝑓2 𝑗 + 𝑓3 𝑘 say

30
 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓2
∴ ∇ × (𝑟 ∙ 𝑏)𝑎 = |𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
| = 𝑖 ( 𝜕𝑦3 − 𝜕𝑧
)+ 𝑗(… … . ) + 𝑘(… … . )
𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑓3
But 𝑓1 = (𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑏3 𝑧)𝑎1 , 𝑓2 = (𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑏3 𝑧)𝑎2 , 𝑓3 = (𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑏3 𝑧)𝑎3
𝜕𝑓3 𝜕𝑓2
∴ 𝜕𝑦
= 𝑏2 𝑎3 , 𝜕𝑧
= 𝑏3 𝑎2 and so on
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
) ) )
∴ ∇ × (𝑟 ∙ 𝑏)𝑎 = 𝑖(𝑏2 𝑎3 − 𝑏3 𝑎2 + 𝑗(… … + 𝑘(… … . = |𝑏1 𝑏2 𝑏3 | = 𝑏 × 𝑎
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3
Further, ∇ × [(𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)𝑟] = (𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)∇ × 𝑟 = 0̅
Hence, the result
Aliter:
By vector triple product we have (𝑟 × 𝑎) × 𝑏 = (𝑟 ∙ 𝑏)𝑎 − (𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)𝑟
∴ ∇ × [(𝑟 × 𝑎) × 𝑏] = ∇ × [(𝑟 ∙ 𝑏)𝑎] − ∇ × [(𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)𝑟]
= [∇(𝑟 ∙ 𝑏) × 𝑎 + (𝑟 ∙ 𝑏)∇ × 𝑎] − [∇(𝑎 ∙ 𝑏) × 𝑟 + (𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)∇ × 𝑟]
∵ 𝑎̅ is constant, ∇ × 𝑎̅ = 0.
Because 𝑎̅, 𝑏̅ are constants, 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅ = a constant
∴ ∇(𝑎 ∙ 𝑏) = 0 , ∇ × 𝑟̅ = 0̅ and ∇(𝑟 ∙ 𝑏) = 𝑏̅
∴ ∇ × [(𝑟 × 𝑎) × 𝑏] = 𝑏̅ × 𝑎̅
Aliter:
∇ × [(𝑟̅ × 𝑎̅) × 𝑏̅] = curl [(𝑟̅ × 𝑎̅) × 𝑏̅]
= curl [(𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑏̅)𝑎̅ − (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅)𝑟̅ ]
= curl[(𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑏̅)𝑎̅] − curl[(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅)𝑟̅ ]
= [(𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑏̅)curl 𝑎̅ + grad (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑏̅) × 𝑎̅] − [(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅)curl 𝑟̅ + grad (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅) × 𝑟̅ ]
= [0̅ + 𝑏̅ × 𝑎̅] − [0̅ + 0̅]
∵ curl 𝑎̅ = 0, curl 𝑟̅ = 0
= 𝑏̅ × 𝑎̅ [ ]
grad (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅) = 0, grad (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑏̅) = 𝑏̅

11. If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constant vectors and 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘, prove that, ∇ × [𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟)] = 3𝑟 × 𝑎
Solution: We have 𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟) = (𝑟 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎 − (𝑟 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟
But 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘, 𝑎 = 𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘
∴ 𝑟 ∙ 𝑟 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 and 𝑟 ∙ 𝑎 = 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧
∴ 𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟) = (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )𝑎̅ − (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)𝑟
= (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )(𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘) − (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)(𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)
= (𝑎1 𝑥2 + 𝑎1 𝑦2 + 𝑎1 𝑧2 )𝑖 + (𝑎2 𝑥2 + 𝑎2 𝑦2 + 𝑎2 𝑧2 )𝑗 + (𝑎3 𝑥2 + 𝑎3 𝑦2 + 𝑎3 𝑧2 )𝑘
+(−𝑎1 𝑥2 − 𝑎2 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑎3 𝑥𝑧)𝑖 + (−𝑎1 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑦 2 − 𝑎3 𝑦𝑧)𝑗
+(−𝑎1 𝑥𝑧 − 𝑎2 𝑦𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑧 2 )𝑘

31
 = (𝑎1 𝑦 2 − 𝑎1 𝑧 2 − 𝑎2 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑎3 𝑥𝑧)𝑖 + (𝑎2 𝑥2 + 𝑎2 𝑧 2 − 𝑎1 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑎3 𝑦𝑧)𝑗
+(𝑎3 𝑥2 + 𝑎3 𝑦 2 − 𝑎1 𝑥𝑧 − 𝑎2 𝑦𝑧)𝑘
= 𝑓1 𝑖 + 𝑓2 𝑗 + 𝑓3 𝑘 say
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓2
∴ ∇ × [𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟)] = |𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
| = 𝑖 ( 𝜕𝑦3 − 𝜕𝑧
) + 𝑗(… … . ) + 𝑘(… … . )
𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑓3
= 𝑖[2𝑎3 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑧 − 2𝑎2 𝑧 + 𝑎3 𝑦] + 𝑗(… … . ) + 𝑘(… … . )
= 3𝑖(𝑎3 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑧) + 𝑗(… … . ) + 𝑘(… … . )
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
But 𝑟̅ × 𝑎̅ = | 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 | = 𝑖(𝑎3 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑧) + 𝑗(𝑎1 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑥) + 𝑘(𝑎2 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑦)
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3
Hence, ∇ × [𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟)] = 3𝑟 × 𝑎
Aliter:
𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟) = (𝑟 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎 − (𝑟 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟
= 𝑟 2 𝑎 − (𝑟 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟
∴ ∇ × [𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟)] = ∇ × (𝑟 2 𝑎̅) − ∇ × [(𝑟 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟]
= ∇(𝑟 2 ) × 𝑎̅ + 𝑟 2 ∇ × 𝑎̅ − ∇(𝑟 ∙ 𝑎) × 𝑟̅ − (𝑟 ∙ 𝑎)∇ × 𝑟̅
∵ ∇𝑟 2 = 2𝑟 , Since 𝑎 is constant, ∇ × 𝑎 = 0 , ∇(𝑟 ∙ 𝑎) = 𝑎̅, ∇ × 𝑎 = 0
∴ ∇ × [𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟)] = 2𝑟 × 𝑎 + 0 − 𝑎 × 𝑟 − 0
= 2𝑟 × 𝑎 + 𝑟 × 𝑎
= 3𝑟 × 𝑎
Aliter:
∇ × [𝑟̅ × (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ )] = curl [(𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )𝑎̅ − (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)𝑟̅ ]
= curl[𝑟 2 𝑎̅ − (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)𝑟̅ ]
= curl(𝑟 2 𝑎̅) − curl[(𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)𝑟̅ ]
= [𝑟 2 (curl 𝑎̅) + (grad 𝑟 2 ) × 𝑎̅] − [(𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)(curl 𝑟̅ ) + (grad (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)) × 𝑟̅ ]
2𝑟𝑟̅
= [𝑟̅ (0̅) + ( 𝑟
) × 𝑎̅] − [(𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)(0̅) + 𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ]
= 2(𝑟̅ × 𝑎̅) − 𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅
= 2(𝑟̅ × 𝑎̅) + (𝑟̅ × 𝑎̅)
= 3(𝑟̅ × 𝑎̅)
= 3𝑟̅ × 𝑎̅ [∵ 𝑚𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅ = 𝑎̅ × 𝑚𝑏̅ = 𝑚(𝑎̅ × 𝑏̅)]

1 3(𝑎 . 𝑟)(𝑏 . 𝑟) 𝑎. 𝑏
13. If 𝑎 , 𝑏 are constant vectors and r and 𝑟 have usual meanings, prove that 𝑎 . ∇ (𝑏 . ∇ 𝑟) = 𝑟5
− 𝑟3
1 𝑟̅ 1
Solution: ∇ 𝑟 = − 𝑟3 = − 𝑟3 (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)
1 1 1
∴ 𝑏̅ ∙ ∇ (𝑟) = (𝑏1 𝑖 + 𝑏2 𝑗 + 𝑏3 𝑘) ∙ [− 𝑟3 (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)] = − 𝑟3 (𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑏3 𝑧) = Φ say

32
 1 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∴ ∇ (𝑏 . ∇ 𝑟) = ∇Φ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧
………….. (1)
𝜕Φ 𝜕 𝑏 𝑥+𝑏 𝑦+𝑏 𝑧
Now, 𝜕𝑥
= 𝜕𝑥 [− (𝑥12 +𝑦22+𝑧2 )33⁄2 ]
3⁄2 1⁄2
(𝑥 2 +𝑦2 +𝑧 2 ) ∙𝑏1 −(𝑏1 𝑥+𝑏2 𝑦+𝑏3 𝑧)∙(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 ) 𝑥
=− (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )3
𝑏1 3(𝑏1 𝑥+𝑏2 𝑦+𝑏3 𝑧)𝑥
= − (𝑥 2 +
+𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )3⁄2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )5⁄2
𝑏 3(𝑏1 𝑥+𝑏2 𝑦+𝑏3 𝑧)𝑥
= − 𝑟13 + 𝑟5
𝜕Φ 𝑏 3(𝑏1 𝑥+𝑏2 𝑦+𝑏3 𝑧)𝑦 𝜕Φ 𝑏 3(𝑏1 𝑥+𝑏2 𝑦+𝑏3 𝑧)𝑧
Similarly, 𝜕𝑦 = − 𝑟 23 + 𝑟5
, 𝜕𝑥
= − 𝑟33 + 𝑟5

Hence, from (1)

1 1 3
∴ ∇ (𝑏 . ∇ 𝑟) = − 𝑟 3 (𝑏1 𝑖 + 𝑏2 𝑗 + 𝑏3 𝑘) + 𝑟5 (𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑏3 𝑧)(𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)

∵ 𝑏 ∙ 𝑟 = (𝑏1 𝑖 + 𝑏2 𝑗 + 𝑏3 𝑘) ∙ (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘) = (𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑏3 𝑧)

1 𝑏̅ 3(𝑏 ∙𝑟)𝑟̅
∴ ∇ (𝑏 . ∇ 𝑟) = − 𝑟 3 + 𝑟5
1 3(𝑎 . 𝑟)(𝑏 . 𝑟) 𝑎. 𝑏
∴ 𝑎 . ∇ (𝑏 . ∇ 𝑟) = 𝑟5
− 𝑟3
Aliter:
1 −𝑟 2 𝑟̅ 𝑟̅ 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)𝑟̅
∇ (𝑟 ) = = − 𝑟3 using ∇𝑓(𝑟) =
𝑟 𝑟
1 −𝑎̅∙𝑟̅
𝑎̅ ∙ ∇ (𝑟 ) = 𝑟3
1 −𝑎̅∙𝑟̅
∇ [𝑎̅ ∙ ∇ (𝑟 )] = ∇ ( )
𝑟3
1 1
= − [∇ (𝑟 3 ) (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ ) + 𝑟 3 ∇(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )]
−3𝑟 −4 𝑟̅ 1
= − [( ) (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ ) + 𝑟 3 𝑎̅]
𝑟

[∵ ∇(𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ ) = ∇(𝑎1 𝑥1 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧) = 𝑖̅(𝑎1 ) + 𝑗̅(𝑎2 ) + 𝑘̅(𝑎3 ) = 𝑎̅]

𝑎̅ 3𝑟̅
= − [𝑟 3 − 𝑟 5 (𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )]
𝑎̅ 3(𝑎̅∙𝑟̅ )
= − 𝑟3 + 𝑟̅
𝑟5
1 −𝑏̅ ∙𝑎̅ 3(𝑎̅∙𝑟̅ )
𝑏̅ ∙ ∇ [𝑎̅ ∙ ∇ (𝑟 )] = 𝑟 3 + 𝑟 5 (𝑏̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )

(𝑎 . 𝑟) 𝑎 𝑛(𝑎 . 𝑟)𝑟
14. If 𝑎 , 𝑏 are constant vectors and r and 𝑟 have usual meanings, prove that ∇ [ 𝑟𝑛
] = 𝑟𝑛 − 𝑟 𝑛+2
𝑎. 𝑟 (𝑎1 𝑖+𝑎2 𝑗+𝑎3 𝑘)∙(𝑥𝑖+𝑦𝑗+𝑧𝑘) 𝑎1 𝑥+𝑎2 𝑦+𝑎3 𝑧
Solution: We have 𝑟𝑛
= 𝑟𝑛
= 𝑟𝑛
𝑎. 𝑟 𝑎1 𝑥+𝑎2 𝑦+𝑎3 𝑧
Let Φ = 𝑟𝑛
= 𝑟𝑛
𝜕Φ 𝑟 𝑛 𝑎1 −(𝑎1 𝑥+𝑎2 𝑦+𝑎3 𝑧)𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 ∙𝑥 𝑎 𝑛(𝑎1 𝑥+𝑎2 𝑦+𝑎3 𝑧)𝑥
∴ 𝜕𝑥
= 𝑟 2𝑛
= 𝑟𝑛1 − 𝑟 𝑛+2
𝜕Φ 𝑎 𝑛(𝑎1 𝑥+𝑎2 𝑦+𝑎3 𝑧)𝑦 𝜕Φ 𝑎 𝑛(𝑎1 𝑥+𝑎2 𝑦+𝑎3 𝑧)𝑧
Similarly, 𝜕𝑦 = 𝑟𝑛2 − 𝑟 𝑛+2
and 𝜕𝑧
= 𝑟𝑛3 − 𝑟 𝑛+2

33
 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∴ ∇Φ = 𝜕𝑥
𝑖 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑗 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑘
1 𝑛
= (𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘) − [(𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)(𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)]
𝑟𝑛 𝑟 𝑛+2
But 𝑎 . 𝑟 = (𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘)(𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘) = 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧
𝑎 𝑛(𝑎 . 𝑟)𝑟
∴ ∇Φ = 𝑟𝑛 − 𝑟 𝑛+2

16. If 𝛷 = (𝑟 × 𝑎) ∙ (𝑟 × 𝑏), prove that ∇𝛷 = 𝑏 × (𝑟 × 𝑎) + 𝑎 × (𝑟 × 𝑏) where 𝑎, 𝑏 are constant vectors.

Solution: Let 𝑎 = 𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘, 𝑏̅ = 𝑏1 𝑖 + 𝑏2 𝑗 + 𝑏3 𝑘, 𝑟̅ = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
∴𝑟×𝑎 =|𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 | and 𝑟 × 𝑏 = | 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧|
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 𝑏1 𝑏2 𝑏3
∴ 𝑟 × 𝑎 = 𝑖(𝑎3 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑧) + 𝑗(𝑎1 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑥) + 𝑘(𝑎2 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑦)
and 𝑟 × 𝑏 = 𝑖(𝑏3 𝑦 − 𝑏2 𝑧) + 𝑗(𝑏1 𝑧 − 𝑏3 𝑥) + 𝑘(𝑏2 𝑥 − 𝑏1 𝑦)
∴ (𝑟 × 𝑎) ∙ (𝑟 × 𝑏) = (𝑎3 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑧)(𝑏3 𝑦 − 𝑏2 𝑧) + (𝑎1 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑥)(𝑏1 𝑧 − 𝑏3 𝑥)
+(𝑎2 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑦)(𝑏2 𝑥 − 𝑏1 𝑦) ………….. (1)
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∴ ∇Φ = 𝜕𝑥
𝑖 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑗 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑘

= [(𝑎1 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑥)(−𝑏3 ) + (𝑏1 𝑧 − 𝑏3 𝑥)(−𝑎3 ) + (𝑎2 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑦)𝑏2 + (𝑏2 𝑥 − 𝑏1 𝑦)𝑎2 ]𝑖

+[… … ]𝑗 + [… … ]𝑘
= [−𝑎1 𝑏3 𝑧 + 𝑎3 𝑏3 𝑥 − 𝑎3 𝑏1 𝑧 + 𝑎3 𝑏3 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑥 − 𝑎2 𝑏1 𝑦]𝑖
+[… … ]𝑗 + [… … ]𝑘
= [2(𝑎2 𝑏2 + 𝑎3 𝑏3 )𝑥 − 𝑎1 (𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑏3 𝑧) − 𝑏1 (𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)]𝑖 + [… … ]𝑗 + [… … ]𝑘 ……….. (2)
But 𝑎 × (𝑏 × 𝑐) = (𝑎 ∙ 𝑐)𝑏 − (𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)𝑐
∴ 𝑏 × (𝑟 × 𝑎) = (𝑏 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟 − (𝑏 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎
and 𝑎 × (𝑟 × 𝑏) = (𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)𝑟 − (𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)𝑏
∴ 𝑏 × (𝑟 × 𝑎) + 𝑎 × (𝑟 × 𝑏) = 2(𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)𝑟 − (𝑏 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎 − (𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)𝑏
= 2(𝑎1 𝑏1 + 𝑎2 𝑏2 + 𝑎3 𝑏3 )𝑟̅ − (𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑏3 𝑧)𝑎̅
−(𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)𝑏 ……….. (3)
Now, we add 2𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑥 to the first term and subtract 𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑥 from the second and third terms of (2)
∴ ∇Φ = [2(𝑎1 𝑏1 + 𝑎2 𝑏2 + 𝑎3 𝑏3 )𝑥 − (𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 + 𝑏3 𝑧)𝑎1 − (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)𝑏1 ]𝑖
+[… … ]𝑗 + [… … ]𝑘 ……….. (4)
From (3) and (4) it can be seen that the result is proved
Aliter:
Use formula ∇(𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑔̅ ) = 𝑓 ̅ × (∇ × 𝑔̅ ) + 𝑔̅ × (∇ × 𝑓 ̅) + (𝑓 ̅ ∙ ∇)𝑔̅ + (𝑔̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓 ̅

𝑟 2
17. Prove that ∇ {∇ ∙ 𝑟} = − 𝑟3 𝑟
Solution: We have 𝑟̅ = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘

34
 𝑟 𝑥𝑖 𝑦𝑗 𝑧𝑘
Now, let 𝑓 ̅ = 𝑟 = + +
√𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 √𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 √𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2
𝑟 𝜕𝑓1 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓3
∴∇∙𝑟 = 𝜕𝑥
+ 𝜕𝑦
+ 𝜕𝑧

𝜕𝑓1 √𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 ∙(1)−𝑥∙𝑥⁄√𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 𝑟2 − 𝑥2 𝑟2 −𝑥2

Now, = = 3⁄2 =
𝜕𝑥 (𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 ) (𝑟2 ) 𝑟3

Similarly, we get two more results

𝑟 (𝑟2 −𝑥2 )+(𝑟2 −𝑦2 )+(𝑟2 −𝑧2 ) 3𝑟 2 −(𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 ) 2 2
∴∇∙𝑟 = 𝑟3
= 𝑟3
=𝑟=
√𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2

𝑟 2
∇ (∇ ∙ ) = ∇( )
𝑟 √𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2
𝜕 −1⁄2
= 2 [𝑖 ∙ 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) + 𝑗(… … . ) + 𝑘(… … . )]
1 −3⁄2
= 2 [𝑖 ∙ (− 2) (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) ∙ 2𝑥 + 𝑗(… … . ) + 𝑘(… … . )]
𝑥𝑖 𝑦𝑗 𝑧𝑘 2
= −2 [𝑟3 + 𝑟3 + 𝑟3 ] = − 𝑟3 𝑟̅
Aliter:
𝑟̅ 1 1 1
∇ ∙ 𝑟 = div (𝑟 𝑟̅ ) = 𝑟 (div 𝑟̅ ) + 𝑟̅ ∙ (grad 𝑟 )
1
1 − 2 𝑟̅ 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)𝑟̅
𝑟
= 𝑟 (3) + 𝑟̅ ∙ ( ) ∵ div 𝑟̅ = 3 and 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑓(𝑟) =
𝑟 𝑟

3 1
= 𝑟 − 𝑟 3 (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )
3 1 3 1 2
= 𝑟 − 𝑟 3 (𝑟 2 ) = 𝑟 − 𝑟 = 𝑟
1
𝑟̅ 2 2(− 2 )𝑟̅ −2
𝑟
∇ (∇ ∙ 𝑟) = ∇ (𝑟 ) = = 𝑟̅
𝑟 𝑟3

1 𝑛(𝑛−2)
18. Prove that ∇ ∙ (𝑟∇ 𝑟𝑛 ) = 𝑟 𝑛+1
−𝑛⁄2
Solution: 𝑟 −𝑛 = (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )
𝑛
1 𝑛 − −1
∴ ∇ (𝑟𝑛 ) = (− 2 ) (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) 2
∙ (2𝑥)𝑖 + (… . . )𝑗 + (… . . )𝑘 = −𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)
1
∴ 𝑟∇ (𝑟𝑛 ) = −𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑖 − 𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−1 𝑦 𝑗 − 𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−1 𝑧 𝑘
1 𝜕
∴ ∇ ∙ [𝑟∇ (𝑟𝑛 )] = −𝑛 𝜕𝑥 {𝑟 −𝑛−1 𝑥} − (… … . ) − (… … . )
𝜕𝑟
= −𝑛 [(−𝑛 − 1)𝑥𝑟 −𝑛−2 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑟 −𝑛−1 ∙ 1] − (… … . ) − (… … . )
𝑥2 1
= −𝑛 [(−𝑛 − 1) 𝑟𝑛+3 + 𝑟𝑛+1 ] − (… … . ) − (… … . )
(𝑛+1) 3
= −𝑛 [− 𝑟 𝑛+3
(𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) + 𝑟𝑛+1 ]
𝑛+1 3 𝑛(𝑛−2)
= −𝑛 [− 𝑟𝑛+1 + 𝑟𝑛+1 ] = 𝑟 𝑛+1
Aliter:

35
 1 −𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−1 −𝑛 f′ (r)r̅
∇ (𝑟 𝑛) = 𝑟̅ = 𝑟 𝑛+2 𝑟̅ ∵ gradf(r) =
𝑟 r
1 −𝑛
𝑟∇ (𝑟 𝑛) = 𝑟 𝑛+1 𝑟̅
1 1
∇ ∙ (𝑟∇ 𝑟 𝑛) = div (𝑟∇ 𝑟 𝑛)
−𝑛
= div (𝑟 𝑛+1 𝑟̅ )
−𝑛 −𝑛
= 𝑟 𝑛+1 div 𝑟̅ + 𝑟̅ ∙ grad (𝑟 𝑛+1 )
−𝑛 −𝑛(−(𝑛+1))𝑟 −𝑛−1−1 f′ (r)r̅
= 𝑛+1
3 + 𝑟̅ ∙ ( 𝑟̅ ) ∵ div r̅ = 3 and gradf(r) =
𝑟 𝑟 r
−3𝑛 𝑟 −𝑛−2
= 𝑟 𝑛+1 + 𝑛(𝑛 + 1) (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )
𝑟
−3𝑛 𝑛(𝑛+1)
= 𝑟 𝑛+1 + (𝑟 2 )
𝑟 𝑛+3
−3𝑛 𝑛(𝑛+1)
= 𝑟 𝑛+1 + 𝑟 𝑛+1
𝑛
= 𝑟 𝑛+1 [−3 + (𝑛 + 1)]
𝑛(𝑛−2)
= 𝑟 𝑛+1

20. Prove that div grad 𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑛(𝑛 + 1)𝑟 𝑛−2

f′ (r)r̅
Solution: grad 𝑟 𝑛 = 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 𝑟̅ ∵ gradf(r) = r
𝑛 {𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 (𝑥𝑖
∴ div grad 𝑟 = ∇ ∙ + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)}
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑛 [𝜕𝑥 (𝑟 𝑛−2 ∙ 𝑥) + 𝜕𝑦 (𝑟 𝑛−2 ∙ 𝑦) + 𝜕𝑧 (𝑟 𝑛−2 ∙ 𝑧)]
𝜕𝑟
= 𝑛 [𝑟 𝑛−2 + 𝑥 ∙ (𝑛 − 2) ∙ 𝑟 𝑛−3 + ⋯]
𝜕𝑥
𝑥
= 𝑛 [𝑟 𝑛−2 + 𝑥 ∙ (𝑛 − 2) ∙ 𝑟 𝑛−3 𝑟 + ⋯ + ⋯ ]

= 𝑛[3𝑟 𝑛−2 + (𝑛 − 2)𝑟 𝑛−4 ∙ (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )]

= 𝑛[3𝑟 𝑛−2 + (𝑛 − 2)𝑟 𝑛−2 ]
= 𝑛(𝑛 + 1)𝑟 𝑛−2
Aliter:
𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑟̅ f′ (r)r̅
∇ ∙ (∇𝑟 𝑛 ) = ∇ ∙ ( ) ∵ gradf(r) =
𝑟 r

=∇∙ (𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 𝑟̅ )

= 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 (∇ ∙ 𝑟̅ ) + 𝑟̅ ∙ ∇(𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 )
= 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 div 𝑟̅ + 𝑟̅ ∙ grad (𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 )
𝑛(𝑛−2)𝑟 𝑛−3 𝑟̅ f′ (r)r̅
= 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 3 + 𝑟̅ ∙ ∵ div r̅ = 3 and gradf(r) =
𝑟 r
𝑛−2 𝑛−4 (𝑟̅
= 3𝑛𝑟 + 𝑛(𝑛 − 2)𝑟 ∙ 𝑟̅ )
= 3𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 + 𝑛(𝑛 − 2)𝑟 𝑛−4 𝑟 2

36
 = 3𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 + 𝑛(𝑛 − 2)𝑟 𝑛−2
= (3 + 𝑛 − 2)𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2
= 𝑛(𝑛 + 1)𝑟 𝑛−2

𝑎×𝑟
21. Prove that ∇ ∙ ( 𝑟𝑛 ) = 0
𝑎×𝑟
Solution: LHS = ∇ ∙ ( 𝑟𝑛 )
= ∇ ∙ [𝑟 −𝑛 (𝑎 × 𝑟)]
= (∇𝑟 −𝑛 ) ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟) + 𝑟 −𝑛 (∇ ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟))
f′ (r)r̅
= (−𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 𝑟̅ ) ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟) + 𝑟 −𝑛 (∇ ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟)) ∵ gradf(r) = r
= − 𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 (𝑟 ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟)) + 𝑟 −𝑛 0 ∵ 𝑑𝑖𝑣 (𝑎 × 𝑟) = 0
=0+0=0

𝑎×𝑟 (2−𝑛)𝑎 𝑛(𝑎 . 𝑟)𝑟

22. Prove that ∇ × ( 𝑟𝑛 ) = 𝑟𝑛
+ 𝑟 𝑛+2
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝑎×𝑟 1 1 1 1
Solution: We have
𝑟𝑛
= |𝑎
𝑟𝑛 1
𝑎2 𝑎3 | = 𝑛 (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦)𝑖 + 𝑛 (𝑎3 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑧)𝑗 + 𝑛 (𝑎1 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑥)𝑘
𝑟 𝑟 𝑟
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
(𝑎×𝑟) 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝑎1 𝑦−𝑎2 𝑥 𝜕 𝑎 𝑥−𝑎 𝑧
∴∇× = | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 | = 𝑖[ ( ) − ( 3 𝑛 1 )] + 𝑗[… … ] + 𝑘[… … ]
𝑟𝑛 𝜕𝑦 𝑟𝑛 𝜕𝑧 𝑟
𝑎2 𝑧−𝑎3 𝑦 𝑎3 𝑥−𝑎1 𝑧 𝑎1 𝑦−𝑎2 𝑥
𝑟𝑛 𝑟𝑛 𝑟𝑛
𝜕𝑟
∵ 𝑟 2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ∴ 2𝑟 𝜕𝑥 = 2𝑥
𝜕𝑟 𝑥 𝜕𝑟 𝑦 𝜕𝑟 𝑧
∴ = , = , =
𝜕𝑥 𝑟 𝜕𝑦 𝑟 𝜕𝑧 𝑟
𝑦 1 𝑧 1
= 𝑖 [{−𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−1 ∙ ( 𝑟 ) (𝑎1 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑥) + 𝑟𝑛 (𝑎1 )} − {−𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−1 ∙ (𝑟) (𝑎3 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑧) + 𝑟𝑛 (−𝑎1 )}]
+𝑗[… … … ] + 𝑘[… … … ]
𝑛 𝑎 𝑛 𝑎
= 𝑖 [− 𝑟𝑛+2 (𝑎1 𝑦 2 − 𝑎2 𝑥𝑦) + 𝑟𝑛1 + 𝑟𝑛+2 (𝑎3 𝑥𝑧 − 𝑎1 𝑧 2 ) + 𝑟𝑛1 ] + 𝑗[… … … ] + 𝑘[… … … ]
2𝑎 𝑛 𝑛
= 𝑖 [ 𝑟𝑛1 − 𝑟𝑛+2 𝑎1 (𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) + 𝑟𝑛+2 (𝑎2 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑥𝑧)] + 𝑗[… … … ] + 𝑘[… … … ]
𝑛
Adding 𝑎 𝑥2
𝑟 𝑛+2 1
to the third term and subtracting it from the second term,
2𝑎 𝑛𝑎 𝑛
= 𝑖 [ 𝑟𝑛1 − 𝑟𝑛+2
1
(𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) + 𝑟𝑛+2 (𝑎1 𝑥2 + 𝑎2 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑥𝑧)] + 𝑗[… … … ] + 𝑘[… … … ]
2𝑎 1 2 𝑛𝑎 𝑛
= 𝑖 [ 𝑟𝑛1 − 𝑟𝑛+2 𝑟 + 𝑟𝑛+2 𝑥(𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)] + 𝑗[… … … ] + 𝑘[… … … ]
(2−𝑛) 𝑛
= (𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘) + (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)(𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)
𝑟𝑛 𝑟 𝑛+2
(2−𝑛) 𝑛
= 𝑟𝑛
𝑎̅ + 𝑟𝑛+2 (𝑎 . 𝑟)𝑟
Aliter:
𝑎×𝑟
LHS = ∇ × ( 𝑟𝑛 ) = ∇ × [𝑟 −𝑛 (𝑎 × 𝑟)]

37
 = (∇𝑟 −𝑛 ) × (𝑎 × 𝑟) + 𝑟 −𝑛 (∇ × (𝑎 × 𝑟))
f′ (r)r̅
= (−𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 𝑟) × (𝑎 × 𝑟) + 𝑟 −𝑛 2𝑎 ∵ gradf(r) = & 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙(𝑎 × 𝑟) = 2𝑎
r
= −𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 (𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟)) + 2𝑟 −𝑛 𝑎
= −𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 [(𝑟 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎 − (𝑟 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟] + 2𝑟 −𝑛 𝑎̅ ∵ 𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟) = (𝑟 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎 − (𝑟 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟
2
But 𝑟 ∙ 𝑟 = 𝑟
∴ LHS = − 𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 𝑟 2 𝑎̅ + 𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 (𝑟 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟 + 2𝑟 −𝑛 𝑎̅
= (2 − 𝑛)𝑟 −𝑛 𝑎̅ + 𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 (𝑟 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟
(2−𝑛)𝑎 𝑛(𝑎 . 𝑟) 2
= 𝑟𝑛
+ 𝑟 𝑛+2
𝑟 = RHS

Aliter:
𝑎̅×𝑟̅ 𝑎̅×𝑟̅
LHS = ∇ × ( 𝑟 𝑛 ) = curl ( 𝑟 𝑛 )
1 1
= 𝑟 𝑛 curl (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) + (grad 𝑟 𝑛) × (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ )
1 −𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−1 −𝑛
but curl (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) = 2𝑎̅ & grad (𝑟 𝑛) = 𝑟̅ = 𝑟 𝑛+2 𝑟̅
𝑟
1 −𝑛𝑟̅
LHS = 2𝑎̅ + ( ) × (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ )
𝑟𝑛 𝑟 𝑛+2
2𝑎̅ 𝑛
= 𝑟 𝑛 − 𝑟 𝑛+2 [𝑟̅ × (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ )]
2𝑎̅ 𝑛
= 𝑟 𝑛 − 𝑟 𝑛+2 [(𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )𝑎̅ − (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)𝑟̅ ]
2𝑎̅ 𝑛
= 𝑟 𝑛 − 𝑟 𝑛+2 [𝑟 2 𝑎̅ − (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)𝑟̅ ]
2𝑎̅ 𝑛𝑎̅ 𝑛(𝑟̅ ∙𝑎̅)𝑟̅
= 𝑟𝑛 − 𝑟𝑛 + 𝑟 𝑛+2
(2−𝑛)𝑎̅ 𝑛(𝑟̅ ∙𝑎̅)𝑟̅
= +
𝑟𝑛 𝑟 𝑛+2
= RHS

𝑎. 𝑟 𝑎∙𝑏 (𝑎 . 𝑟)
26. Prove that 𝑏 . ∇ ( 𝑟𝑛
) = 𝑟𝑛
−𝑛 𝑟 𝑛+2
(𝑏 . 𝑟)

Solution: LHS = 𝑏 ∙ [∇ ∙ {𝑟 −𝑛 (𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)}]

= 𝑏 ∙ [∇𝑟 −𝑛 (𝑎 ∙ 𝑟) + 𝑟 −𝑛 ∇(𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)]
f′ (r)r̅
= 𝑏 ∙ [(−𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 𝑟̅ )(𝑎 ∙ 𝑟) + 𝑟 −𝑛 𝑎̅] ∵ gradf(r) = & ∇(𝑎 ∙ 𝑟) = 𝑎̅
r
(𝑏 ∙𝑟)(𝑎 ∙𝑟) (𝑏 ∙𝑎)
= −𝑛 𝑟 𝑛+2
+ 𝑟𝑛
𝑎∙𝑏 (𝑎∙𝑟)(𝑏∙𝑟)
= 𝑟𝑛
− 𝑛 𝑟 𝑛+2

𝑟 (𝑎 . 𝑟)𝑟
27. Prove that ∇ log 𝑟 = 𝑟2 and hence, show that ∇ × (𝑎 × ∇ log r) = 2 𝑟4
where 𝑎 is a constant vector.

38
 1
Solution: log 𝑟 = log(𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )
2
𝜕 1 1 𝑥
∴ 𝜕𝑥 (log 𝑟) = 2 ∙ 𝑥2 +𝑦2 +𝑧2 ∙ 2𝑥 = 𝑟2
𝜕 𝑦 𝜕 𝑧
Similarly, 𝜕𝑦 (log 𝑟) = 𝑟2 , 𝜕𝑧
(log 𝑟) = 𝑟2
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 1 𝑟
∴ ∇ log 𝑟 = 𝑖 ∙ 𝑟2 + 𝑗 ∙ 𝑟2 + 𝑘 ∙ 𝑟2 = 𝑟2 (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘) = 𝑟2
1 𝑟̅ 𝑟
∇ log 𝑟 = 𝑟 ∙ 𝑟 = 𝑟2
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝑎
Now, 𝑎̅ × ∇ log 𝑟 = | 1 𝑎2 𝑎3 | = (𝑎2 𝑧−𝑎3 𝑦) 𝑖 + (𝑎3 𝑥−𝑎1 𝑧) 𝑗 + (𝑎1 𝑦−𝑎2 𝑥) 𝑘
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 𝑟2 𝑟2 𝑟2
𝑟2 𝑟2 𝑟2
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
∴ ∇ × (𝑎̅ × ∇ log 𝑟) = || 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 ||
(𝑎2 𝑧−𝑎3 𝑦) (𝑎3 𝑥−𝑎1 𝑧) (𝑎1 𝑦−𝑎2 𝑥)
𝑟2 𝑟2 𝑟2
𝜕 (𝑎1 𝑦−𝑎2 𝑥) 𝜕 (𝑎 𝑥−𝑎 𝑧)
= 𝑖{
𝜕𝑦
[ 𝑟2 ] − 𝜕𝑧 [ 3 𝑟2 1 ]} + 𝑗[… … … ] + 𝑘[… … … ]
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝑥 𝜕𝑟 𝑦 𝜕𝑟 𝑧
∵ 𝑟 2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 , 2𝑟 𝜕𝑥 = 2𝑥, ∴ 𝜕𝑥 = 𝑟 , 𝜕𝑦
= 𝑟, 𝜕𝑧
=𝑟
𝑟 2 (𝑎1 )−(𝑎1 𝑦−𝑎2 𝑥)2𝑟(𝑦⁄𝑟) 𝑟 2 (−𝑎1 )−(𝑎3 𝑥−𝑎1 𝑧)2𝑟(𝑧⁄𝑟)
= 𝑖 [{ 𝑟4
} −] { 𝑟4
}+ 𝑗[… . ] + 𝑘[… . . ]
𝑎 2 𝑎 2
= 𝑖 [𝑟21 − 𝑟4 (𝑎1 𝑦 2 − 𝑎2 𝑥𝑦) + 𝑟21 + 𝑟4 (𝑎3 𝑥𝑧 − 𝑎1 𝑧 2 )] + 𝑗[… . ] + 𝑘[… . . ]
2𝑖
= [𝑎1 𝑟 2 − 𝑎1 (𝑦 2 + 𝑧2 ) + (𝑎2 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑥𝑧)] + 𝑗[… . ] + 𝑘[… . . ]
𝑟4

Adding 𝑎1 𝑥2 to the third term and subtracting it from the second term,
2𝑖
= 𝑟4 [𝑎1 𝑟 2 − 𝑎1 (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧2 ) + (𝑎1 𝑥2 + 𝑎2 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑥𝑧)] + 𝑗[… . ] + 𝑘[… . . ]
2𝑖
= 𝑟4 [𝑎1 𝑟 2 − 𝑎1 𝑟 2 + 𝑥(𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)] + 𝑗[… . ] + 𝑘[… . . ]
2
= 𝑟4 (𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑦 + 𝑎3 𝑧)(𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)
2
= 𝑟4 (𝑎 ∙ 𝑟)𝑟
Aliter:
1
( )𝑟
𝑟 𝑟 f′ (r)r̅
∇ log 𝑟 = 𝑟
= 𝑟2 ∵ gradf(r) = r
∴ LHS = ∇ × (𝑎 × ∇ log r)
𝑟
= ∇ × (𝑎 × 𝑟 2 )
= ∇ × {𝑟 −2 (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ )}
= (∇𝑟 −2 ) × (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) + 𝑟 −2 (∇ × (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ))
f′ (r)r̅
= −2𝑟 −4 𝑟̅ × (𝑎̅ × 𝑟̅ ) + 𝑟 −2 2𝑎̅ ∵ gradf(r) = & 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙(𝑎 × 𝑟) = 2𝑎
r
= −2𝑟 −4 [(𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )𝑎̅ − (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)𝑟̅ ] + 2𝑟 −2 𝑎̅ ∵ 𝑟 × (𝑎 × 𝑟) = (𝑟 ∙ 𝑟)𝑎 − (𝑟 ∙ 𝑎)𝑟
But 𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ = 𝑟 2

39
 ∴ LHS = −2𝑟 −4 𝑟 2 𝑎̅ + 2𝑟 −4 (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅) + 2𝑟 −2 𝑎̅
= −2𝑟 −2 𝑎̅ + 2𝑟 −4 (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑎̅)𝑟̅ + 2𝑟 −2 𝑎̅
2(𝑟̅ ∙𝑎̅)𝑟̅
= 𝑟4
= RHS

28. If 𝑎 is a constant unit vector, prove that 𝑎 . {𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑(𝑓 . 𝑎) − 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙(𝑓 × 𝑎)} = 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑓
Solution: Let 𝑎 = 𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑎2 𝑗 + 𝑎3 𝑘 and 𝑓 ̅ = 𝑓1 𝑖 + 𝑓2 𝑗 + 𝑓3 𝑘
∴ 𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑎̅ = 𝑎1 𝑓1 + 𝑎2 𝑓2 + 𝑎3 𝑓3
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
̅
𝑓 × 𝑎̅ = | 𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑓3 | = 𝑖(𝑓2 𝑎3 − 𝑓3 𝑎2 ) + 𝑗(𝑓3 𝑎1 − 𝑓1 𝑎3 ) + 𝑘(𝑓1 𝑎2 − 𝑓2 𝑎1 )
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3
𝜕𝑓1 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓3
grad (𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑎̅) = 𝑖 (𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 )+ 𝑗(… . . ) + 𝑘(… … . )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
curl (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑎̅) = | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
|
(𝑓2 𝑎3 − 𝑓3 𝑎2 ) … … . …….
𝜕𝑓1 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓3 𝜕𝑓1
= 𝑖 (𝑎2 𝜕𝑦
− 𝑎1 𝜕𝑦
− 𝑎1 𝜕𝑧
+ 𝑎3 𝜕𝑧
)+ 𝑗(… . . ) + 𝑘(… … . )
𝜕𝑓1 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓3 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓1 𝜕𝑓3 𝜕𝑓1
∴ grad (𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑎̅) − curl (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑎̅) = 𝑖 [𝑎1 ( + + ) + 𝑎2 ( − ) + 𝑎3 ( − )]
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧

+𝑗(… . . ) + 𝑘(… … . )
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓3
𝑎̅ ∙ {grad (𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑎̅) − curl (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑎̅)} = (𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 + 𝑎3 2 ) ( 𝜕𝑥1 + 𝜕𝑦
+ 𝜕𝑧
)
𝜕𝑓1 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓3
Other terms getting cancelled = 𝜕𝑥
+ 𝜕𝑦
+ 𝜕𝑧
= div 𝑓 ̅ [∵ |𝑎̅| = 1]

Aliter:
grad (𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑎̅) = 𝑓 ̅ × curl 𝑎̅ + 𝑎̅ × curl 𝑓 ̅ + (𝑓 ̅ ∙ ∇)𝑎̅ + (𝑎̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓 ̅
= 𝑓 ̅ × 0̅ + 𝑎̅ × curl 𝑓 ̅ + 0̅ + (𝑎̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓̅
= 𝑎̅ × curl 𝑓 ̅ + (𝑎̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓 ̅
curl (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑎̅) = 𝑓 ̅ div 𝑎̅ − 𝑎̅ div 𝑓 ̅ + (𝑎̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓̅ − (𝑓 ̅ ∙ ∇)𝑎̅
= 𝑓 ̅ (0) − 𝑎̅ div 𝑓 ̅ + (𝑎̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓̅ − 0̅
= −𝑎̅ div 𝑓 ̅ + (𝑎̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓 ̅
grad (𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑎̅) − curl (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑎̅) = (𝑎̅ × curl 𝑓 ̅ + (𝑎̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓)̅ − (−𝑎̅ div 𝑓 ̅ + (𝑎̅ ∙ ∇)𝑓 )̅
= 𝑎̅ × curl 𝑓 ̅ + 𝑎̅ div 𝑓 ̅
∴ 𝑎̅ ∙ [grad (𝑓 ̅ ∙ 𝑎̅) − grad (𝑓 ̅ × 𝑎̅)] = 𝑎̅ ∙ (𝑎̅ × curl 𝑓 ̅ + 𝑎̅ div 𝑓)̅
= 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑎̅ × curl 𝑓 ̅ + 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑎̅ × div 𝑓 ̅
= 0 + 𝑎2 div 𝑓 ̅
= div 𝑓 ̅ [∵ |𝑎̅| = 1]

40
 𝑓(𝑟) 1 𝑑
29. Prove that ∇ ∙ { 𝑟
𝑟} = 𝑟2 𝑑𝑟 [𝑟 2 𝑓(𝑟)]. Hence or otherwise prove that div (𝑟 𝑛 𝑟̅ ) = (𝑛 + 3)𝑟 𝑛
𝑓(𝑟) 𝑓(𝑟)
Solution: 𝑟 = (𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)
𝑟 𝑟
𝑓(𝑟) 𝜕 𝑓(𝑟) 𝜕 𝑓(𝑟) 𝜕 𝑓(𝑟)
∇∙{ 𝑟
𝑟} = 𝜕𝑥 [ 𝑟
𝑥] + 𝜕𝑦 [ 𝑟 𝑦] + 𝜕𝑧 [ 𝑟
𝑧]
𝑓′ (𝑟) 𝜕𝑟 𝑓(𝑟) 𝜕𝑟 𝑓(𝑟)
=[ × − × + ]+ [… … . ] + [… … . ]
𝑟 𝜕𝑥 𝑟2 𝜕𝑥 𝑟
𝜕𝑟 𝑥 𝜕𝑟 𝑦 𝜕𝑟 𝑧
But 𝑟 2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ∴ 𝜕𝑥 = 𝑟 , 𝜕𝑦
= 𝑟, 𝜕𝑧
=𝑟
𝑓(𝑟) 𝑓′ (𝑟) 𝑥2 𝑓(𝑟) 𝑥2 𝑓(𝑟)
∴∇∙{ 𝑟
𝑟} =[ 𝑟 𝑟
− 𝑟2 𝑟
+ 𝑟
] + [… … . ] + [… … . ]
𝑥2 𝑓(𝑟) 𝑥2 𝑓(𝑟)
= [𝑓 ′ (𝑟) 𝑟2 − 𝑟 𝑟2
+ 𝑟
] + [… … . ] + [… … . ]
(𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 ) 𝑓(𝑟) (𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 ) 𝑓(𝑟)
= 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) 𝑟2
− 𝑟 𝑟2
+ 3 𝑟
𝑓(𝑟)
= 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) + 2 ……………… (1)
𝑟
𝑓(𝑟)
[∵ The term 𝑟
will come from each bracket]
1 𝑑 1 2𝑓(𝑟)
Now, 𝑟2 𝑑𝑟 [𝑟 2 𝑓(𝑟)] = 𝑟2 [𝑟2 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) + 2𝑟𝑓(𝑟)] = 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) + 𝑟
…..(2)
From (1) and (2) we get the required result
𝑓(𝑟)
Now, put 𝑟
= 𝑟 𝑛 i.e. 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟 𝑛+1
1 𝑑 1 𝑑 1
∴ ∇ ∙ {𝑟 𝑛 𝑟̅ } = 𝑟2 𝑑𝑟 {(𝑟 𝑛+1 )𝑟 2 } = 𝑟2 𝑑𝑟 {𝑟 𝑛+3 } = 𝑟2 (𝑛 + 3)𝑟 𝑛+2 = (𝑛 + 3)𝑟 𝑛
Aliter:
𝑓(𝑟) 𝑓(𝑟)
LHS = ∇ ∙ ( 𝑟̅ ) = div ( 𝑟̅ )
𝑟 𝑟
𝑓(𝑟) 𝑓(𝑟)
= div 𝑟̅ + 𝑟̅ (grad )
𝑟 𝑟
𝑟𝑓′ (𝑟)−𝑓(𝑟)
𝑓(𝑟) ( )𝑟̅ f′ (r)r̅
𝑟2
= 3 + 𝑟̅ ∙ [ ] ∵ div r̅ = 3 and gradf(r) =
𝑟 𝑟 r

3𝑓(𝑟) 𝑟𝑓 ′ (𝑟)−𝑓(𝑟)
= +( ) (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )
𝑟 𝑟3
3𝑓(𝑟) 𝑟𝑓 ′ (𝑟)−𝑓(𝑟)
= +( ) 𝑟2
𝑟 𝑟3
3𝑓(𝑟) 𝑟𝑓 ′ (𝑟)−𝑓(𝑟)
= +
𝑟 𝑟
3𝑓(𝑟) 𝑓(𝑟)
= + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) −
𝑟 𝑟
2𝑓(𝑟)
= + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)
𝑟
1 𝑑
RHS = 𝑟 2 𝑑𝑟 [𝑟 2 𝑓(𝑟)]
1
= 𝑟 2 [2𝑟𝑓(𝑟) + 𝑟 2 𝑓′(𝑟)]
2𝑓(𝑟)
= + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)
𝑟

41
 𝑓(𝑟) 1 𝑑
∴ div ( 𝑟̅ ) = 𝑟 2 𝑑𝑟 [𝑟 2 𝑓(𝑟)]
𝑟
𝑓(𝑟)
put = 𝑟𝑛 ∴ 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟 𝑛+1
𝑟
1 𝑑
∴ div(𝑟 𝑛 𝑟̅ ) = 𝑟 2 𝑑𝑟 [𝑟 2 𝑓(𝑟)]
1 𝑑
= 𝑟 2 𝑑𝑟 (𝑟 2 𝑟 𝑛+1 )
1 𝑑
= 𝑟 2 𝑑𝑟 (𝑟 𝑛+3 )
1
= 𝑟 2 (𝑛 + 3)𝑟 𝑛+2
= (𝑛 + 3)𝑟 𝑛
log 𝑟 1
30. Prove that ∇ ∙ [ 𝑟
𝑟] = 𝑟 [1 + 2 log 𝑟]
Solution: Putting 𝑓(𝑟) = log 𝑟 in above example.
log 𝑟 1 𝑑
∇∙[ 𝑟
𝑟] = 𝑟2 𝑑𝑟 [𝑟2 𝑓(𝑟)]
1 𝑑
= 𝑟 2 𝑑𝑟 [𝑟 2 log 𝑟]
1 1
= 𝑟 2 [𝑟 2 𝑟 + 2𝑟 log 𝑟]
1
= 𝑟 2 [𝑟 + 2𝑟 log 𝑟]
1
= 𝑟 [1 + 2 log 𝑟]

GEOMETRICAL MEANING OF 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝚽 :

Consider a scalar point function 𝛷 and let 𝑟̅ = 𝑥𝑖̅ + 𝑦𝑗̅ + 𝑧𝑘̅ be the position vector of a point P on the
surface 𝛷 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐.
Such a surface for which the value of the function is constant is called a level surface.
Then 𝑑𝑟̅ = 𝑑𝑥𝑖̅ + 𝑑𝑦𝑗̅ + 𝑑𝑧𝑘̅ lies in the tangent plane to the surface at P(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)
Z
Since 𝛷 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐 ∇Φ
∴ 𝑑𝛷 = 0 Φ=𝑐
∂𝛷 ∂𝛷 ∂𝛷 P
∴ ∂x
dx + ∂y dy + ∂z
dz =0
∂𝛷 ∂𝛷 ∂𝛷
Hence, ∇𝛷 ∙ 𝑑̅𝑟 = (i ∂x + j ∂y + k ∂z ) ∙ (dxi + dyj + dzk)
Y
∂𝛷 ∂𝛷 ∂𝛷 O
= ∂x
dx + ∂y dy + ∂z dz =0
X
∴ ∇𝛷 is a vector perpendicular to 𝑑𝑟̅ . But since 𝑑𝑟̅ lies in the tangent plane, ∇𝛷 is a vector perpendicular
to the tangent plane to the surface 𝛷 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐.
∴ ∇𝛷 is a normal vector to the surface 𝛷 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐 in the outward direction.

ANGLE BETWEEN TWO SURFACES:

42
 We know that ∇𝛷 is perpendicular to the tangent plane to the surface 𝛷 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐. Hence, if
𝛷 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐1 and Ψ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐𝟐 are two surfaces the angle between the two surface is equal to the angle
between the normal i.e. the angle between ∇𝛷 and ∇𝛹.
∇𝛷 ∙ ∇𝛹
If 𝜃 is the angle between them then 𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 ||∇𝛷||∇𝛹||

If the surfaces are orthogonal then ∇𝛷 ∙ ∇𝛹 = 0

EXERCISE – IV

1. Find the unit normal to the surface

𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
(i) 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑦𝑧 − 5𝑧 2 = −10 𝑎𝑡 (3, −1, 2). (ii) 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 𝑎2 𝑎𝑡 ( , , )
√3 √3 √3
(iii) 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑧 2 = 8 at the point (1, 0, 2).
2. Find the equation of the tangent plane to the surface,
(i) 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑧 2 = 8 at (1, 0, 2). (ii) 𝑥𝑧 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 = 𝑧 − 1 at (1, −3, 2).
3. Find the angle between the normal to the surface 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑧 = 4 at (2, −2, 3) and to
𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 + 3𝑥𝑦𝑧 = 3 at (1, 2, −1).
4. Find the acute angle between the surfaces 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 9, 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 3 at (2, −1, 2)
5. Find the angle between the normal to the surface xy = z 2 at P(1, 1, 1) and Q(4, 1, 2)
6. Find the angle between the normal to the surface 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 3 and 𝑥 log 𝑧 − 𝑦 2 + 4 = 0 at (−1, 2, 1).
7. Find the angle between the surface 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 12 and 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 𝑧 = 6 at (2, −2, 2).
8. Find the angle between the two surface 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑎𝑧 2 = 6 and 𝑧 = 4 − 𝑦 2 + 𝑏𝑥𝑦 at 𝑃(1, 1, 2)
9. Find the angle between the surfaces 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 − 𝑥𝑦 = 1 and 𝑏𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑦 2 𝑧 + 𝑧 = 1 at (1, 1, 0)
10. Find the constants a, b such that the surfaces 5𝑥 2 − 2𝑦𝑧 − 9𝑥 = 0 and 𝑎𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑏𝑧 3 = 4 cut
orthogonally at (1, −1, 2).
11. Find the constants a, b such that the surface 𝑎𝑥 2 − 𝑏𝑥𝑧 + 𝑥𝑧 = 10 is orthogonal to the surface
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4 + 𝑥𝑧 at (1, 2, 1).
12. Find the constants a and b such that the surface 𝑎𝑥 2 − 2𝑏𝑦𝑧 = (𝑎 + 4)𝑥 will be orthogonal to the
surface 4𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑧 3 = 4 𝑎𝑡 (1, −1, 2).
13. Find the constants a, b, c if the normal to the surfaces 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥𝑧 + 𝑧 2 𝑦 = 𝑐 at 𝑃(−1, 1, 2) is parallel to
𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 + 2𝑧 = 2 at 𝑄(1, 1, 1).
14. Find the constants a, b, c if the normal to the surface 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑏𝑥𝑧 3 = 𝑐 at 𝑃(1, 2, 1) is parallel to the
normal to the surface 𝑦 2 + 𝑥𝑧 = 61 at (10, 1, 6).
15. Find the constants a, b if the angle between the surfaces 𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑥𝑧 + 𝑏𝑦𝑧 = 2 & 𝑥 2 𝑧 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 + 1 = 𝑧
at (0, 1, 2) 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 (1⁄√3)

43
 ANSWERS

3𝑖+2𝑗−6𝑘 𝑖+𝑗+𝑘
1. (i) (ii) (iii) (8𝑖 + 𝑗 + 8𝑘)⁄√129
7 ±√3

2. (i) 8𝑥 + 𝑦 + 8𝑧 = 24 (ii) 2𝑥 − 𝑦 − 3𝑧 + 1 = 0
3. cos 𝜃 = 11⁄√126 4. cos 𝜃 = 8⁄3√21 5. cos 𝜃 = 13⁄√198
√6
6. cos 𝜃 = − 5⁄3√34 7. cos 𝜃 = 7⁄√33 8. 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −1, cos 𝜃 =
√11
9. 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 1, 𝜃 = 45° 10. 𝑎 = 4, 𝑏 = 1 11. 𝑎 = 0, 𝑏 = −9
12. 𝑎 = 5, 𝑏 = 1 13. 𝑎 = 10, 𝑏 = 8, 𝑐 = −2 14. 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 1, 𝑐 = 4
15. 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 1

SOME SOLVED EXAMPLES:

1. Find the unit normal to the surface 𝑥𝑦 3 𝑧 2 = 4 at(−1, −1,2)
Solution: we know that ∇Φ is the vector normal to the surface Φ(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑐 at 𝑃
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Now, ∇Φ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥𝑦 3 𝑧 2 ) + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 (𝑥𝑦 3 𝑧 2 ) + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧 (𝑥𝑦 3 𝑧 2 )

= 𝑦 3 𝑧 2 𝑖 + 3𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 2 𝑗 + 2𝑥𝑦 3 𝑧𝑘
= −4𝑖 − 12𝑗 − 4𝑘 at (−1, −1, 2)
Unit vector normal to the surface at (−1, −1, 2)
∇Φ −4𝑖−12𝑗+4𝑘 1
= |∇Φ| = =− (𝑖 + 3𝑗 − 𝑘)
√16+144+16 √11

2. Find the equation of the tangent plane to the surface 2𝑥𝑧 2 − 3𝑥𝑦 − 4𝑥 = 7 at (1, −1, 2).
Solution: ∇Φ = (2𝑧 2 − 3𝑦 − 4)𝑖 − 3𝑥𝑗 + 4𝑥𝑧𝑘
= 7𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 8𝑘 at (1, −1, 2)
The normal to the surface at (1, −1, 2) is 7𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 8𝑘
∴ The direction rations of the normal to the tangent plane are 7, −3, 8.
Since it passes through (1, −1, 2),
its equation is 7(𝑥 − 1) − 3(𝑦 + 1) + 8(𝑧 − 2) = 0 i.e. 7𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 8𝑧 − 26 = 0

3. Find the angle between the normals to the surface 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑧 2 at the points (1,4, 2) and (−3, −3, 3)
Solution: Let Φ = 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑧 2
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
∇Φ =𝑖 (𝑥𝑦 − 𝑧2) + 𝑗 (𝑥𝑦 − 𝑧2) + 𝑘 (𝑥𝑦 − 𝑧2)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

= 𝑦𝑖 + 𝑥𝑗 − 2𝑧𝑘
∇Φ = 4𝑖 + 𝑗 − 4𝑘 at (1, 4, 2)
and ∇Φ = −3𝑖 − 3𝑖 − 6𝑘 at (−3, −3, 3)
But these are the normals to the surfaces at the given points

44
 Angle between two vectors 𝑎̅, 𝑏̅ is given by 𝑎̅ ∙ 𝑏̅ = |𝑎||𝑏| cos 𝜃
If 𝜃 is the angle between the above vectors
(4𝑖 + 𝑗 − 4𝑘) ∙ (−3𝑖 − 3𝑖 − 6𝑘) = |4𝑖 + 𝑗 − 4𝑘| ∙ |−3𝑖 − 3𝑖 − 6𝑘| cos 𝜃
∴ −12 − 3 + 24 = √33√54 cos 𝜃
9 1
∴ cos 𝜃 = =
9√22 √22

4. Find the angle between the surfaces 𝑥 log 𝑧 + 1 − 𝑦 2 = 0, 𝑥2 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2 at (1, 1, 1)

Solution: We have Φ = 𝑥 log 𝑧 + 1 − 𝑦 2
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∴ ∇Φ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧
𝑥
= log 𝑧𝑖 − 2𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧 𝑘
= 0𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 𝑘 at (1, 1, 1)
0𝑖−2𝑗+𝑘
Unit vector at (1, 1, 1) =
√5

Ψ= 𝑥2 𝑦 +𝑧−2
𝜕Ψ 𝜕Ψ 𝜕Ψ
∇Ψ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧
= 2𝑥𝑦𝑖 + 𝑥2 𝑗 + 𝑘 = 2𝑖 + 𝑗 + 𝑘 at (1, 1, 1)
2𝑖+𝑗+𝑘
Unit vector at (1, 1, 1) =
√6
(0−2𝑗+𝑘) (2𝑖+𝑗+𝑘) 1
cos 𝜃 = ∙ =−
√5 √6 30

5. Find the constants a and b so that the surface 𝑎𝑥 2 − 𝑏𝑦𝑧 = (𝑎 + 2)𝑥 will be orthogonal to the surface
4𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑧 3 = 4 at (1, −1, 2).
Solution: Let 𝑢 = 𝑎𝑥 2 − 𝑏𝑦𝑧 − (𝑎 + 2)𝑥 and 𝑣 = 4𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑧 3 − 4
∴ ∇𝑢 = (2𝑎𝑥 − 𝑎 − 2)𝑖 + (−𝑏𝑧)𝑗 + (−𝑏𝑦)𝑘
= (𝑎 − 2)𝑖 − 2𝑏𝑗 + 𝑏𝑘 at (1, −1, 2)
The direction ratios of the normal to this surface at (1, −1, 2) are 𝑎 − 2, −2𝑏, 𝑏
And ∇𝑣 = 8𝑥𝑦𝑖 + 4𝑥2 𝑗 + 3𝑧 2 𝑘 = −8𝑖 + 4𝑗 + 12𝑘 at (1, −1, 2)
The directions ratios of the normal to this surface at (1, −1, 2) are −8, 4, 12 i.e. −2, 1, 3
Since the surfaces are orthogonal, normals are perpendicular to each other
∴ (𝑎 − 2)(−2) + (−2𝑏)(1) + (𝑏)(3) = 0 i.e. −2𝑎 + 𝑏 = −4 ………… (1)
Since (1, −1, 2) lies on the surface 𝑎𝑥2 − 𝑏𝑦𝑧 − (𝑎 + 2)𝑥 = 0, we have 𝑎 + 2𝑏 − 𝑎 − 2 = 0
i.e. 𝑏 = 1 ………… (2)
Then from (1) we get 𝑎 = 5⁄2. Hence, 𝑎 = 5⁄2 and 𝑏 = 1

DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVE:
𝛻𝛷∙𝑎̅
∇𝛷 is a vector quantity its component (or resolved part) in the direction of a vector 𝑎̅ is |𝑎̅|

This component is called the directional derivative of 𝛷 in the direction of 𝑎̅.

45
 𝛻𝛷 ∙ 𝑎̅
Thus, the directional derivative of 𝛷 in the direction of 𝑎̅ = |𝑎̅|

Physically the directional derivative is the rate of change of 𝛷 at (x, y, z) in the given direction.

MAXIMUM DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVE:

Since the resolved part of a vector is maximum in its own direction, the directional derivative is maximum
in the direction ∇𝛷. Since ∇𝛷 is normal to the surface, we can also say that ∇𝛷 is maximum in the direction of the
normal to the surface and the maximum directional derivative is |∇Φ|.

SOME SOLVED EXAMPLES:

1. Find the directional derivative of 𝛷(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑧 3 at the point (2, −1, 1) in the direction of the
vector 𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 2𝑘.
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Solution: ∇Φ =𝑖 (𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑧 3 ) + 𝑗 (𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑧 3 ) + 𝑘 (𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑧 3 )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

= 𝑦 2 𝑖 + (2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧 3 )𝑗 + 3𝑦𝑧 2 𝑘
= 𝑖 − 3𝑗 − 3𝑘 at (2, −1, 1)
Directional derivative in the direction of (𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 2𝑘)
(𝑖+2𝑗+2𝑘) 1 11
= (𝑖 − 3𝑗 − 3𝑘) ∙ = 3 (1 − 6 − 6) = −
√1+4+4 3

2. Find the directional derivative of 𝛷 = 𝑥 4 + 𝑦 4 + 𝑧 4 at point 𝐴(1, −2, 1) in the direction of AB where B is
(2, 6, −1).
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Solution: ∇Φ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥 4 + 𝑦 4 + 𝑧 4 ) + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 (𝑥 4 + 𝑦 4 + 𝑧 4 ) + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧 (𝑥 4 + 𝑦 4 + 𝑧 4 )

= 4(𝑥 3 𝑖 + 𝑦 3 𝑗 + 𝑧 3 𝑘) = 4(𝑖 − 8𝑗 + 𝑘) at (1, −2, 1)

̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = ̅̅̅̅
𝑂𝐵 − ̅̅̅̅
𝑂𝐴 = (2 − 1)𝑖 + (6 + 2)𝑗 + (−1 − 1)𝑘 = 𝑖 + 8𝑗 − 2𝑘
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵
̅̅̅̅ = ∇Φ
∴ Directional derivative in the direction of 𝐴𝐵 ̅̅̅̅ |
|𝐴𝐵
(𝑖+8𝑗−2𝑘) 4(1−64−2) 260
= 4(𝑖 − 8𝑗 + 𝑘) ∙ = =−
√1+64+4 √69 √69

𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
3. Find the directional derivative of 𝛷 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 in the direction of the line 3
= 4 = 5 at (1, 2, 3)
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Solution: ∇Φ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )

= 2(𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘)
= 2(𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 3𝑘) at (1, 2, 3)
Given direction 𝑎̅ = 3𝑖 + 4𝑗 + 5𝑘
𝑎̅ (3𝑖+4𝑗+5𝑘)
Directional derivative in the given direction = ∇Φ ∙ |𝑎̅| = 2(𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 3𝑘) ∙
√9+16+25
2(3+8+15) 26
= = √2
5√2 5

46
4. Find the directional derivative of 𝛷 = 𝑒 2𝑥 cos 𝑦𝑧 at (0,0,0) in the direction of the tangent to the curve
𝑥 = 𝑎 sin 𝑡 , 𝑦 = 𝑎 cos 𝑡, 𝑧 = 𝑎𝑡 at 𝑡 = 𝜋⁄4.
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
Solution: ∇Φ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧

= 2𝑒 2𝑥 cos 𝑦𝑧 𝑖 − 𝑧𝑒 2𝑥 sin 𝑦𝑧 𝑗 − 𝑦𝑒 2𝑥 sin 𝑦𝑧 𝑘

= 2𝑖 + 0𝑗 + 0𝑘 at (0, 0, 0)
The equation of the curve is 𝑟̅ = (𝑎 sin 𝑡)𝑖 + (𝑎 cos 𝑡)𝑗 + 𝑎𝑡 𝑘
∴ 𝑟̇ = 𝑎 cos 𝑡 𝑖 − 𝑎 sin 𝑡 𝑗 + 𝑎𝑘
𝜋 𝑎 𝑎
At 𝑡 = , 𝑟̇ = 𝑖 − 𝑗 + 𝑎𝑘
4 √2 √2

𝑎 𝑎 2 2
∴ |𝑟̇| = √ 2 + 2 + 𝑎2 = √2𝑎

𝑟̇
∴ Unit tangent vector =
|𝑟̇ |
𝑎 𝑎
(𝑎 cos 𝑡𝑖−𝑎 sin 𝑡𝑗+𝑎𝑘) ( 𝑖− 𝑗+𝑎𝑘) (𝑖−𝑗+√2𝑘) 𝜋
𝑇̂ = = √2 √2
= at 𝑡 =
√2𝑎 √2𝑎 2 4
(𝑖−𝑗+√2𝑘) 2
∴ The directional derivative in the given direction = ∇Φ ∙ 𝑇̂ = (2𝑖 + 0𝑗 + 0𝑘) ∙ = =1
2 2

𝑦
5. Find the directional derivative of 𝛷 = 𝑥 2 +𝑦2 at (0,1) in the direction making an angle of 30° with the

positive x – axis .
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
Solution: ∇Φ = 𝑖 +𝑗
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝑦 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )∙1−𝑦∙2𝑦
= [− (𝑥 2 +𝑦2 )2 ∙ 2𝑥] 𝑖 + [ (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )2
]𝑗
−2𝑥𝑦 (𝑥 2 −𝑦2 )
= (𝑥 2 𝑖 + (𝑥 2 𝑗
+𝑦2 )2 +𝑦 2 )2

= 0𝑖 − 𝑗 at (0, 1)
√3 1
Unit vector making an angle of 30° with the 𝑥 −axis = cos 30° 𝑖 + sin 30° 𝑗 = 2
𝑖 +2𝑗
√3 1 1
∴ Required directional derivative = (0𝑖 − 𝑗) ∙ ( 𝑖 + 𝑗) = −
2 2 2

6. In what direction from the point (2, 1, −1) is the directional derivative of 𝛷 = 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 maximum?
What is its magnitude ?
Solution: ∇Φ = ∇𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 ) + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 (𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 ) + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧 (𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 )

= 2𝑥𝑦𝑧 3 𝑖 + 𝑥2 𝑧 3 𝑗 + 3𝑥2 𝑦𝑧 2 𝑘
= −4𝑖 − 4𝑗 + 12𝑘 at (2, 1, −1)
Directional derivative is maximum in the direction of ∇Φ.

47
 Hence, directional derivative is maximum in the direction of ∇Φ = −4𝑖 − 4𝑗 + 12𝑘
Its magnitude = |∇Φ| = √16 + 16 + 144 = 4√11

7. Find the maximum directional derivative of 𝛷 = (4𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧)2 at (1, 2, 1).

𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
Solution: ∇Φ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧

= 2(4𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧)4𝑖 + 2(4𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧)(−1)𝑗 + 2(4𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧) ∙ 2𝑘

= 2(4𝑥 − 𝑦 + 2𝑧)(4𝑖 − 𝑗 + 2𝑘)
At (1, 2, 1) ∇Φ = 8(4𝑖 − 𝑗 + 2𝑘)
maximum directional derivative = |∇Φ| = 8√16 + 1 + 4 = 8√21

8. Find the constants a, b, c if the directional derivative of 𝛷 = 𝑎𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑏𝑦 2 𝑧 + 𝑐𝑧 2 𝑥 at (1, 1, 1) has

𝑥−1 𝑦−3 𝑧
maximum magnitude 15 in the direction parallel to 2
= −2
=1
Solution: We know that the maximum magnitude of directional derivative is in the direction of ∇Φ itself
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
Now, ∇Φ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧

= (2𝑎𝑥𝑦 + 𝑐𝑧 2 )𝑖 + (𝑎𝑥2 + 2𝑏𝑦𝑧)𝑗 + (𝑏𝑦 2 + 2𝑐𝑧𝑥)𝑘

= (2𝑎 + 𝑐)𝑖 + (2𝑏 + 𝑎)𝑗 + (2𝑐 + 𝑏)𝑘 at (1, 1, 1) ………… (1)
But the given direction is 2𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 𝑘 ………… (2)
Since, the two directions are parallel, from (1) and (2) we get,
2𝑎+𝑐 2𝑏+𝑎 2𝑐+𝑏
2
= −2
= 1
∴ 3𝑎 + 2𝑏 + 𝑐 = 0 and 𝑎 + 4𝑏 + 4𝑐 = 0 (From the first two and the last two equalities)
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
∴ = = = 𝑘 say (By Crammer’s rule)
4 −11 10
∴ 𝑎 = 4𝑘, 𝑏 = −11𝑘, 𝑐 = −10𝑘
But the magnitude of maximum directional derivative i.e. |∇Φ| is given to be 15
∴ 15 = √[(2𝑎 + 𝑐)2 + (2𝑏 + 𝑎)2 + (2𝑐 + 𝑏)2 ]
∴ 15 = √[(8𝑘 + 10𝑘)2 + (−22𝑘 + 4𝑘)2 + (20𝑘 − 11𝑘)]2 = √[182 + 182 + 92 ] ∙ 𝑘
5
∴ 15 = 9√(4 + 4 + 1) = ±27𝑘 ∴ 𝑘 = ±9
20 55 50
∴𝑎=± 9
, 𝑏=∓ 9
, 𝑐=± 9

9. Find the values of 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 if the directional derivative of 𝛷 = 𝑎𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑏𝑦𝑧 + 𝑐𝑧 2 𝑥 3 at (1, 2, −1) has
maximum magnitude 64 in the direction parallel to the z – axis.
Solution: We have Φ = 𝑎𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑏𝑦𝑧 + 𝑐𝑧 2 𝑥 3
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∴ ∇Φ = 𝑖 𝜕𝑥 + 𝑗 𝜕𝑦 + 𝑘 𝜕𝑧

= (𝑎𝑦 2 + 3𝑐 𝑥2 𝑧 2 )𝑖 + (2𝑎𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏𝑧)𝑗 + (𝑏𝑦 + 2𝑐𝑧𝑥 3 )𝑘

48
 = (4𝑎 + 3𝑐)𝑖 + (4𝑎 − 𝑏)𝑗 + (2𝑏 − 2𝑐)𝑘 at (1, 2, −1) ………… (1)
The directional derivative is maximum in the direction of ∇Φ
i.e. in the direction of (4𝑎 + 3𝑐)𝑖 + (4𝑎 − 𝑏)𝑗 + (2𝑏 − 2𝑐)𝑘
But by data directional derivative is maximum in the direction of the 𝑧 −axis
i.e. in the direction of 0𝑖 + 0𝑗 + 𝑘
Hence, the two directions are parallel
4𝑎+3𝑐 4𝑎−𝑏 2𝑏−2𝑐
∴ 0
= 0
= 1
∴ 4𝑎 + 3𝑐 = 0 and 4𝑎 − 𝑏 = 0
Hence, from (1), ∴ ∇Φ = (2𝑏 − 2𝑐)𝑘 ∴ |∇Φ| = |2𝑏 − 2𝑐| [∵ |𝑘| = 1]
But directional derivative is maximum in the direction of ∇Φ and is given to be 64,
∴ 2𝑏 − 2𝑐 = 64 ∴ 𝑏 − 𝑐 = 32
Solving 4𝑎 + 3𝑐 = 0, 4𝑎 − 𝑏 = 0 and 𝑏 − 𝑐 = 32, we get 𝑎 = 6, 𝑏 = 24, 𝑐 = −8

PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION OF DIVERGENCE:

Consider a region of space filled with a fluid which moves so that its velocity vector at any point P(x,y,z) is
𝐹̅ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑓1 𝑖̅ + 𝑓2 𝑗̅ + 𝑓3 𝑘̅ where 𝑓1 , 𝑓2 , 𝑓3 are scalar functions of x, y, z and are the components of velocity
parallel to the axes.
Now construct a parallelepiped having centre at P(x, y, z) and edges parallel to the coordinates axes. Since
the components of normal to any face is responsible for the flow through that face. Total gain of fluid in the
parallelepiped per unit volume per unit time is ∇ ∙ 𝐹̅ which is 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝐹̅ .
A vector 𝐹̅ whose 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝐹̅ = 0 is called solenoid for such a vector there is no loss or gain of fluid. If there is no
gain of fluid anywhere then ∇ ∙ 𝐹̅ = 0. Since fluid is neither created nor destroyed at any point, it is said to have no
source or sinks

Examples: 1. If V represents an electric flux then div V is the amount of flux which diverges per unit volume in
unit time.
2. If V represents heat flux then div V is the rate at which heat is issuing from a point per unit
volume in unit time.
3. If V represents velocity of fluid then div V gives the rate at which fluid is originating at a point
per unit volume.

PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION OF CURL:

Consider a motion of a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis OA through the origin. Let 𝛺 be its
angular velocity. Let P be a point of the body whose position vector is 𝑟̅ = 𝑥𝑖̅ + 𝑦𝑗̅ + 𝑧𝑘̅
Let ∠ 𝐴𝑂𝑃 = 𝜃 and PA be perpendicular to OA 𝜔
̅
If 𝑛̅ is a unit vector perpendicular to 𝛺 and 𝑟̅ then 𝑉̅

49 A P
 𝛺 × 𝑟̅ = (𝜔 𝑟 sin 𝜃) 𝑛̅
= (𝜔 𝑃𝐴) 𝑛̅
= (𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑃)𝑛̅
= the velocity 𝑉̅ of p in the direction perpendicular to the plane AOP
∴ 𝛺 × 𝑟̅ = 𝑉̅
Let Ω = 𝜔1 𝑖̅ + 𝜔2 𝑗̅ + 𝜔3 𝑘̅ then
𝑖̅ 𝑗̅ 𝑘̅
𝑉̅ = 𝛺 × 𝑟̅ = |𝜔1 𝜔2 𝜔3 |= (𝜔2 𝑧 − 𝜔3 𝑦)𝑖̅ + (𝜔3 𝑥 − 𝜔1 𝑧)𝑗̅ + (𝜔1 𝑦 − 𝜔2 𝑥)𝑘̅
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝑖̅ 𝑗̅ 𝑘̅
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑉̅ = | |
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜔2 𝑧 − 𝜔3 𝑦 𝜔3 𝑥 − 𝜔1 𝑧
𝜔1 𝑦 − 𝜔2 𝑥
= (𝜔1 + 𝜔1 )𝑖̅ + (𝜔2 + 𝜔2 )𝑗̅ + (𝜔3 + 𝜔3 )𝑘̅ since 𝜔1 , 𝜔2 , 𝜔3 , are constant
= 2(𝜔1 𝑖̅ + 𝜔2 𝑗̅ + 𝜔3 𝑘̅)
= 2Ω
1
Hence Ω = 2 curl 𝑉̅
Thus the angular velocity of rotation at any point is equal to half the curl of the velocity vector. In general, the curl
of any vector point function gives the measure of the angular velocity at any point of the vector field.
Any motion in which the curl of the velocity vector is zero i.e. if 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑉̅ = 0 then Ω = 0 i.e angular
velocity is zero then the motion is said to be irrotational or conservative, otherwise it is rotational. In view of this
̅ and is sometimes denoted by rot 𝐹̅
interpretation of curl, curl is also called the rotation of 𝑭
In general, if ∇ × 𝑉̅ = 0 i.e curl 𝑉̅ = 0̅ then we can find scalar field  so that 𝑉̅ = ∇ .
A vector field 𝑉̅ which can be derived from a scalar field  so that 𝑉̅ = ∇ is called a conservation vector field
and  is called the scalar potential
conversely also, if 𝑉̅ = ∇ then ∇ × 𝑉̅ = 0̅ i.e curl 𝑉̅ = 0̅

SOME SOLVED EXAMPLES:

1. If 𝐹 = (𝑥 + 3𝑦)𝑖 + (𝑦 − 2𝑧)𝑗 + (𝑎𝑧 + 𝑥)𝑘 is solenoidal, find the value of a.
Solution: We know that 𝐹 is solenoidal if div 𝐹 = ∇ ∙ 𝐹 = 0
𝜕𝐹1 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹3 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Now, ∇ ∙ 𝐹 = 𝜕𝑥
+ 𝜕𝑦
+ 𝜕𝑧
= 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥 + 3𝑦) + 𝜕𝑦 (𝑦 − 2𝑧) + 𝜕𝑧 (𝑎𝑧 + 𝑥) = 1 + 1 + 𝑎 = 2 + 𝑎

𝐹 is solenoidal if ∇ ∙ 𝐹 = 0
∴2+𝑎 =0 ∴ 𝑎 = −2

2. Find a, b, c if 𝐹 = (𝑎𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏𝑧 3 )𝑖 + (3𝑥 2 − 𝑐𝑧)𝑗 + (3𝑥𝑧 2 − 𝑦)𝑘 is irrotational.

50
Solution: 𝐹 is irrotational if curl 𝐹 = 0
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
∴ curl 𝐹 =| 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 |
𝑎𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏𝑧 3
3𝑥2 − 𝑐𝑧 2
3𝑥𝑧 − 𝑦
= 𝑖(−1 + 𝑐) − 𝑗(3𝑧 2 − 3𝑏𝑧 2 ) + 𝑘(6𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥) = 0𝑖 + 0𝑗 + 0𝑘
∴ 𝑐 − 1 = 0, 3𝑧 2 − 3𝑏𝑧 2 = 0, 6𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥 = 0
∴ 𝑐 = 1, 𝑏 = 1, 𝑎 = 6

3. Prove that 𝐹 = (𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑎𝑧)𝑖 + (𝑏𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 𝑧)𝑗 + (4𝑥 + 𝑐𝑦 + 2𝑧)𝑘 is solenoidal and determine the
constants a, b, c if 𝐹 is irrotational.
Solution: 𝐹 is solenoidal if ∇ ∙ 𝐹 = 0
𝜕𝐹1 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹3
Now, ∇ ∙ 𝐹 = + + =1−3+2=0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

Hence, for all values of 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝐹 is solenoidal

𝐹 is irrotational if curl 𝐹 = 0̅
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹2 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹3 𝜕𝐹 𝜕𝐹1
Now, curl 𝐹 = |𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
| = ( 𝜕𝑦3 − 𝜕𝑧
)𝑖 + ( 𝜕𝑧1 − 𝜕𝑥
)𝑗 + 𝑘 ( 𝜕𝑥2 − 𝜕𝑦
)𝑘
𝐹1 𝐹2 𝐹3
= (𝑐 + 1)𝑖 + (𝑎 − 4)𝑗 + (𝑏 − 2)𝑘 = 0𝑖 + 0𝑗 + 0𝑘
∴ 𝑐 + 1 = 0, 𝑎 − 4 = 0, 𝑏 − 2 = 0
∴ 𝑎 = 4, 𝑏 = 2, 𝑐 = −1

𝑎×𝑟
4. Is 𝐹 = 𝑎 solenoidal vector? (𝑎 is a constant vector).
𝑟𝑛
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝑎×𝑟 𝑎 𝑎2 𝑎3 | = 𝑖 (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦) + 𝑗 (𝑎3 𝑥 − 𝑎1 𝑧) + 𝑘 (𝑎1 𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑥)
Solution: By data 𝐹 = 𝑟𝑛
=| 1 𝑟𝑛 𝑟𝑛 𝑟𝑛 𝑟𝑛 𝑟𝑛 𝑟𝑛
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝑟𝑛 𝑟𝑛 𝑟𝑛
𝜕 𝑎 𝑧 𝑎3 𝑦 𝜕 𝜕
Now, ∇ ∙ 𝐹 = 𝜕𝑥 ( 𝑟2𝑛 − 𝑟𝑛
) + 𝜕𝑦 (… . . ) + 𝜕𝑧 (… . . )
𝜕 𝑎2 𝑧 𝑎3 𝑦 𝜕
(
𝜕𝑥 𝑟 𝑛
− 𝑟𝑛
) = (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦) 𝜕𝑥 𝑟 −𝑛
𝜕𝑟
= (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦) (−𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−1 𝜕𝑥)
𝑥 −𝑛𝑥
= (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦) (−𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−1 ) = (𝑎2 𝑧 − 𝑎3 𝑦) ( )
𝑟 𝑟 𝑛+2
𝜕𝑟
…………. (∵ 𝑟 2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ∴ 2𝑟 𝜕𝑥 = 2𝑥)
By symmetry, we get two more expressions
∴ ∇ ∙ 𝐹 = 𝑟 𝑛+2 (𝑎3 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑎2 𝑥𝑧 + 𝑎1 𝑧𝑦 − 𝑎3 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑎2 𝑥𝑧 − 𝑎1 𝑦𝑧) = 0
Hence 𝐹 is solenoidal
Aliter:

51
 𝑎×𝑟
∇ ∙ 𝐹 = ∇ ∙ ( 𝑟𝑛 )
= ∇ ∙ [𝑟 −𝑛 (𝑎 × 𝑟)]
= (∇𝑟 −𝑛 ) ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟) + 𝑟 −𝑛 (∇ ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟))
f′ (r)r̅
= (−𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 𝑟̅ ) ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟) + 𝑟 −𝑛 (∇ ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟)) ∵ gradf(r) = r
= − 𝑛𝑟 −𝑛−2 (𝑟 ∙ (𝑎 × 𝑟)) + 𝑟 −𝑛 0 ∵ 𝑑𝑖𝑣 (𝑎 × 𝑟) = 0
=0+0=0
Hence 𝐹 is solenoidal

5. If 𝑟 is the position vector of a point (x, y, z) and r is the modulus of 𝑟 then prove that 𝑟 𝑛 𝑟 is an irrotational
vector for any value of n but is solenoidal only if 𝑛 = −3.
Solution: (a) By definition
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
curl 𝑟 𝑛 𝑟 = | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
|
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑟 𝑥 𝑟 𝑦 𝑟 𝑧
𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑖 [𝜕𝑦 (𝑟 𝑛 𝑧) − 𝜕𝑧 (𝑟 𝑛 𝑦)] + 𝑗(… … . ) + 𝑘(… … . )
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟
= 𝑖 [𝑧𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 𝜕𝑦 − 𝑦𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 𝜕𝑧] + 𝑗(… … . ) + 𝑘(… … . )
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝑥
Now, 𝑟 2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ∴ 2𝑟 𝜕𝑥 = 2𝑥 ∴ 𝜕𝑥 = 𝑟
𝜕𝑟 𝑦 𝜕𝑟 𝑧
Similarly, = , =
𝜕𝑦 𝑟 𝜕𝑧 𝑟

∴ curl 𝑟 𝑛 𝑟 = 𝑖[𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 𝑧𝑦 − 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−2 𝑧𝑦] + 𝑗(… … . ) + 𝑘(… … . ) = 0̅

Hence, 𝑟 𝑛 𝑟 is irrotational
Aliter:
curl (𝑟 𝑛 𝑟̅ ) = 𝑟 𝑛 curl 𝑟̅ + (grad 𝑟 𝑛 ) × 𝑟̅
𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑟̅
= 𝑟 𝑛 0̅ + 𝑟
× 𝑟̅
𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1
= 0̅ + ( ) (𝑟̅ × 𝑟̅ )
𝑟

= 0̅ + 0̅
= 0̅
Hence, 𝑟 𝑛 𝑟 is irrotational
(b) div (𝑟 𝑛 𝑟) = ∇ ∙ (𝑟 𝑛 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑟 𝑛 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑟 𝑛 𝑧𝑘)
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝜕𝑥 (𝑟 𝑛 𝑥) + 𝜕𝑦 (𝑟 𝑛 𝑦) + 𝜕𝑧 (𝑟 𝑛 𝑧)
𝜕𝑟
= [𝑟 𝑛 + 𝑥𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 𝜕𝑥] + [… … . ] + [… … . ]
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
= [𝑟 𝑛 + 𝑛𝑥𝑟 𝑛−1 ] + [𝑟 𝑛 + 𝑛𝑦𝑟 𝑛−1 ] + [𝑟 𝑛 + 𝑛𝑧𝑟 𝑛−1 ]
𝑟 𝑟 𝑟
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑧2 (𝑥2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )
= 3𝑟 𝑛 + 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 ( + + ) = 3𝑟 𝑛 + 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1
𝑟 𝑟 𝑟 𝑟

52
 = 3𝑟 𝑛 + 𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 ∙ 𝑟 = (𝑛 + 3)𝑟 𝑛
Hence, div (𝑟 𝑛 𝑟) = 0 if 𝑛 = −3
Aliter:
div (𝑟 𝑛 𝑟̅ ) = 𝑟 𝑛 div 𝑟̅ + (grad 𝑟 𝑛 ) ∙ 𝑟̅
𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑟̅ f′ (r)r̅
= 𝑟𝑛 3 + ( )∙ 𝑟̅ ∵ 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑟̅ = 3 & 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑓(r) =
𝑟 r
𝑛𝑟 𝑛−1
= 3𝑟 𝑛 + ( 𝑟
) (𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ )
= 3𝑟 𝑛 + 𝑛𝑟 𝑛

= (3 + 𝑛)𝑟 𝑛
∴ div (𝑟 𝑛 𝑟̅ ) = 0 ⇒ 𝑛 = −3
∴ 𝑟 𝑛 𝑟̅ solenoidal only if 𝑛 = −3

6. Find f (r), so that the vector 𝑓(𝑟)𝑟 is both solenoidal and irrotational .
Solution: We have 𝑓(𝑟)𝑟 = 𝑓(𝑟)𝑥𝑖 + 𝑓(𝑟)𝑦𝑗 + 𝑓(𝑟)𝑧𝑘
div [𝑓(𝑟)𝑟] = ∇ ∙ 𝑓(𝑟)𝑟
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= (𝑖 +𝑗 +𝑘 ) ∙ [𝑓(𝑟)𝑥𝑖 + 𝑓(𝑟)𝑦𝑗 + 𝑓(𝑟)𝑧𝑘]
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= [𝑓(𝑟)𝑥] + [𝑓(𝑟)𝑦] + [𝑓(𝑟)𝑧]
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝑓(𝑟) 𝜕𝑟 𝑥
Now, = 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑟
𝜕 𝑦 𝜕 𝑧
Similarly, 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) , 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)
𝜕𝑦 𝑟 𝜕𝑧 𝑟
𝜕 𝜕 𝑓′ (𝑟)
∴ 𝜕𝑥 [𝑓(𝑟)𝑥] = 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑓(𝑟) + 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑥 𝑟
∙ 𝑥 + 𝑓(𝑟)
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
∴ div [𝑓(𝑟)𝑟] = 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) 𝑟 ∙ 𝑥 + 𝑓(𝑟) + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) 𝑟 ∙ 𝑦 + 𝑓(𝑟) + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) 𝑟 ∙ 𝑧 + 𝑓(𝑟)
1
= 3𝑓(𝑟) + 𝑓′(𝑟) ∙ 𝑟 (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )
= 3𝑓(𝑟) + 𝑓′(𝑟)𝑟
If 𝑓(𝑟)𝑟 is solenoidal
div [𝑓(𝑟)𝑟] = 3𝑓(𝑟) + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)𝑟 = 0
𝑓′ (𝑟) 3
∴ 𝑓(𝑟)
= −𝑟

Integrating log 𝑓(𝑟) = −3 log 𝑟 + log 𝑐

𝑐 𝑐
∴ log 𝑓(𝑟) = log 𝑟 3 ∴ 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟3
𝑐
∴ 𝑓(𝑟)𝑟̅ is solenoidal if 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟3
Aliter:
𝑓(𝑟)𝑟̅ is solenoidal if div (𝑓(𝑟)𝑟̅ ) = 0
𝑓(𝑟) div 𝑟̅ + grad 𝑓(𝑟) ∙ 𝑟̅ = 0
𝑓′ (𝑟)
𝑓(𝑟)3 + 𝑟
𝑟̅ ∙ 𝑟̅ = 0

53
 𝑓(𝑟)3 + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)𝑟 = 0
𝑓′ (𝑟) 3
𝑓(𝑟)
+𝑟=0

Integrating, log 𝑓(𝑟) + 3 log 𝑟 = log 𝑐

log[𝑓(𝑟) ∙ 𝑟 3 ] = log 𝑐
𝑐 𝑐
𝑓(𝑟) ∙ 𝑟 3 = 𝑐 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟3 ∴ 𝑓(𝑟)𝑟̅ = 𝑟3 𝑟̅
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Now, curl [𝑓(𝑟)𝑟] = | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
|
𝑥𝑓(𝑟) 𝑦𝑓(𝑟) 𝑧𝑓(𝑟)
𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑖 [𝜕𝑦 𝑧𝑓(𝑟) − 𝜕𝑧 𝑦𝑓(𝑟)] + 𝑗[… … . ] + 𝑘[… … . ]
𝑦 𝑧
= 𝑖 [𝑧𝑓 ′ (𝑟) ∙ 𝑟 − 𝑦 ∙ 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) ∙ 𝑟] + 𝑗[… … . ] + 𝑘[… … . ]
𝑧𝑦 𝑧𝑦
= 𝑓 ′ (𝑟)𝑖 [ − ] + 𝑗[… … . ] + 𝑘[… … . ] = 0
𝑟 𝑟
𝑐
∴ 𝑓(𝑟)𝑟 is irrotational for any 𝑓(𝑟) and hence for 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑟3 .
Aliter:
𝑓(𝑟)𝑟̅ is irrotational if curl [𝑓(𝑟)𝑟̅ ] = 0̅
𝑓(𝑟) curl 𝑟̅ + (grad 𝑓(𝑟)) × 𝑟̅ = 0̅
𝑓 ′ (𝑟)𝑟̅
𝑓(𝑟)0̅ + × 𝑟̅ = 0̅ which is always true
𝑟
𝑐
Hence, 𝑓(𝑟)𝑟̅ = 𝑟̅ is both solenoidal and irrotational
𝑟3

𝑟
7. Show that 𝐹 = is irrotational. Find Φ such that 𝐹 = −∇Φ where 𝑟 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘.
𝑟2
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝑟 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Solution: curl 𝐹 = curl 𝑟2 = |𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧|
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝑟2 𝑟2 𝑟2
𝜕 𝑧 𝜕 𝑦
=[ ( ) − ( )] 𝑖 + [… … . ]𝑗 + [… … . ]𝑘
𝜕𝑦 𝑟 2 𝜕𝑧 𝑟 2
2 𝑦𝑧 2 𝑧𝑦
= (− 𝑟3 𝑟
+ 𝑟3 𝑟2 ) 𝑖 + [… … . ]𝑗 + [… … . ]𝑘

= 0𝑖 + 0𝑗 + 0𝑘 = 0̅ ∴ 𝐹 is irrotational
Aliter:
𝑟
curl 𝐹 = curl 𝑟2
1 1
= 𝑟2 (𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑟̅ ) + 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 (𝑟2 ) × 𝑟̅

1 −2𝑟 −3 𝑟̅ f′ (r)r̅
= 𝑟2 (0̅) + ( 𝑟
)× 𝑟̅ ∵ 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝑟̅ = 0̅ & grad f(r) = r
2
= 0̅ − (𝑟̅ × 𝑟̅ )
𝑟4
2
= 0̅ − (0̅) = 0̅
𝑟4

54
 ∴ 𝐹 is irrotational
Now, 𝐹 = −∇Φ gives
𝑟 𝑥𝑖+𝑦𝑖+𝑧𝑘 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
𝑟2
= 𝑟2
= − [ 𝜕𝑥 𝑖 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑗 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑘]
𝜕Φ 𝑥 𝑥 𝜕Φ 𝑦 𝑦 𝜕Φ 𝑧 𝑧
∴ 𝜕𝑥
= − 𝑟2 = − 𝑥 2 +𝑦2 +𝑧2 , 𝜕𝑦
= − 𝑟2 = − 𝑥 2 +𝑦2 +𝑧2 , 𝜕𝑧
= − 𝑟2 = − 𝑥 2 +𝑦2 +𝑧2
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝑥𝑑𝑥+𝑦𝑑𝑦+𝑧𝑑𝑧
But 𝑑Φ = 𝜕𝑥
𝑑𝑥 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑦 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑑𝑧 =− 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2
1
By integrating, Φ = − 2 log(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )

8. A vector field is given by 𝐹 = (𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 )𝑖 + (𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦)𝑗. Show that 𝐹 is irrotational and find its scalar
potential.
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Solution: curl 𝐹̅ = | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
|
𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑦2 + 𝑥2𝑦 0
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
=[ (0) − (𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦)] 𝑖 − [ (0) − (𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 )] 𝑗 + [ (𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦) − (𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 )] 𝑘
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

= 0𝑖 + 0𝑗 + (2𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦)𝑘 = 0𝑖 + 0𝑗 + 0𝑘
Hence 𝐹 is irrotational
If Φ is the scalar potential then 𝐹 = ∇Φ
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∴ (𝑥2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 )𝑖 + (𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦)𝑗 + 0𝑘 = 𝜕𝑥
𝑖 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑗 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑘
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∴ 𝜕𝑥
= 𝑥2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 , 𝜕𝑦
= 𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦, 𝜕𝑧
=0 …….(1)
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
But 𝑑Φ = 𝜕𝑥
𝑑𝑥 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑦 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑑𝑧

= [𝑥2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 ]𝑑𝑥 + [𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦]𝑑𝑦 + 0𝑑𝑧

= 𝑥2 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑦2 𝑑𝑦 + (𝑥𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦)
𝑥3 𝑦3 1
By integrating Φ = 3
+ 3
+ 2 𝑥2 𝑦2
Aliter:
Integrating (1) w.r.t. 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 respectively treating the other variables constant, we get,
𝑥3 𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑦3 𝑥2 𝑦2
Φ= 3
+ 2
+ Ψ1 (𝑦, 𝑧), Φ= 3
+ 2
+ Ψ2 (𝑥, 𝑧), Φ = Ψ3 (𝑥, 𝑦)
Comparing these equations, we find that
𝑦3 𝑥3
Ψ1 (𝑦, 𝑧) = 3
, Ψ2 (𝑥, 𝑧) = 3
, Ψ3 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 0
𝑥3 𝑦3 𝑥 2𝑦2
∴Φ= 3
+ 3
+ 2

9. Show that 𝐹 = (𝑦 sin 𝑧 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥)𝑖 + (𝑥 sin 𝑧 + 2𝑦𝑧)𝑗 + (𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧 + 𝑦 2 )𝑘. is irrotational and find its scalar
potential.

55
 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Solution: curl 𝐹̅ = | 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
|
2
𝑦 sin 𝑧 − sin 𝑥 𝑥 sin 𝑧 + 2𝑦𝑧 𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧 + 𝑦
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
=[ (𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧 + 𝑦2) − (𝑥 sin 𝑧 + 2𝑦𝑧)] 𝑖 + [ (𝑦 sin 𝑧 − sin 𝑥) − (𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧 + 𝑦 2 )] 𝑗
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥
𝜕 𝜕
+[ (𝑥 sin 𝑧 + 2𝑦𝑧) − (𝑦 sin 𝑧 − sin 𝑥)] 𝑘
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

= [𝑥 cos 𝑧 + 2𝑦 − 𝑥 cos 𝑧 − 2𝑦]𝑖 + [𝑦 cos 𝑧 − 𝑦 cos 𝑧]𝑗 + [sin 𝑧 − sin 𝑧]𝑘

= 0𝑖 + 0𝑗 + 0𝑘 = 0̅
Hence, 𝐹̅ is irrotational
If Φ is the scalar potential then 𝐹̅ = ∇Φ
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∴ (𝑦 sin 𝑧 − sin 𝑥)𝑖 + (𝑥 sin 𝑧 + 2𝑦𝑧)𝑗 + (𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧 + 𝑦 2 )𝑘 = 𝜕𝑥
𝑖 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑗 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑘
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
∴ 𝜕𝑥
= 𝑦 sin 𝑧 − sin 𝑥 ……… (1) 𝜕𝑦
= 𝑥 sin 𝑧 + 2𝑦𝑧 ……… (2)
𝜕Φ
𝜕𝑧
= 𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧 + 𝑦 2 ……… (3)
𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ 𝜕Φ
But 𝑑Φ = 𝜕𝑥
𝑑𝑥 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑦 + 𝜕𝑧
𝑑𝑧

= (𝑦 sin 𝑧 − sin 𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 sin 𝑧 + 2𝑦𝑧)𝑑𝑦 + (𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧 + 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑧

= [𝑦 sin 𝑧 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥 sin 𝑧 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧 𝑑𝑧] + (− sin 𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + (2𝑦𝑧𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑧)
By integrating, Φ = 𝑥𝑦 sin 𝑧 + cos 𝑥 + 𝑦 2 𝑧
Aliter:
Integrating (1), (2) and (3) partially w.r.t. 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 treating other variables constant, we get,
Φ = (𝑥𝑦 sin 𝑧 + cos 𝑥) + Ψ1 (𝑦, 𝑧) ……… (4)
Φ = (𝑥𝑦 sin 𝑧 + 𝑦 2 𝑧) + Ψ2 (𝑥, 𝑧) ……… (5)
Φ = (𝑥𝑦 sin 𝑧 + 𝑦 2 𝑧) + Ψ3 (𝑥, 𝑦) ……… (6)
Comparing (4), (5) and (6) we find that
Ψ1 (𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑦 2 𝑧, Ψ2 (𝑥, 𝑧) = cos 𝑥 , Ψ3 (𝑥, 𝑦) = cos 𝑥
Φ = 𝑥𝑦 sin 𝑧 + cos 𝑥 + 𝑦 2 𝑧

56