Chapter 9: Vector Calculus
Section 9.4: Differential Identities
Example 9.4.4
If F is a sufficiently well-behaved vector field in cylindrical coordinates, show that ∇×F is solenoidal.
Solution
Mathematical Solution
Let F=u(r,θ,z)v(r,θ,z)w(r,θ,z) be a vector field in cylindrical coordinates.
From Table 9.3.3, the curl of F is given by ∇×F=erreθkr∂r∂θ∂zur vw=wθ−(r v)zruz−wr(r v)r−uθr ≡ UVW
From Table 9.3.2, the divergence of ∇×F is given by
r Urr+Vθr+Wz
=∂rr wθ−r vzrr+∂θuz−wrr+∂zr vr−uθr
=∂rwθ−r vzr+uzθ−wrθr+∂zv+r vr−uθr
=wθ r−vz−r vz rr+uz θ−wr θr+vz+r vr z−uθ zr
=wθ r−wr θr+vz−vzr+vr z−vz r+uz θ−uθ zr
=0
where the equality of the mixed partial derivatives (guaranteed, for example, by continuity of the second partial derivatives) causes three of the four terms to vanish.
Maple Solution - Interactive
Initialize
Tools≻Load Package: Student Vector Calculus
Loading Student:-VectorCalculus
Tools≻Tasks≻Browse: Calculus - Vector≻ Vector Algebra and Settings≻ Display Format for Vectors
Press the Access Settings button and select "Display as Column Vector"
Display Format for Vectors
Define the cylindrical vector field F
Write the vector field as a free vector. Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
Context Panel: Student Vector Calculus≻Conversions≻Apply Co-ordinate System (Complete dialog as per figure on right.)
Context Panel: Student Vector Calculus≻Conversions≻To Vector Field
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻F
ur,θ,z,vr,θ,z,wr,θ,z = u⁡r,θ,zv⁡r,θ,zw⁡r,θ,z→apply coordinatesu⁡r,θ,zv⁡r,θ,zw⁡r,θ,z→to Vector Fieldu⁡r,θ,zv⁡r,θ,zw⁡r,θ,z→assign to a nameF
Compute the divergence of the curl of F
Common Symbols palette: Del, dot product,and cross product operators
Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
∇·∇×F = 0
Maple Solution - Coded
Load the Student VectorCalculus package and execute the BasisFormat command.
withStudent:-VectorCalculus:BasisFormatfalse:
Implement notational simplifications with the declare command in the PDEtools package
PDEtools:-declareur,θ,z,vr,θ,z,wr,θ,z,quiet
Use the VectorField command in the Student VectorCalculus package to define F
F≔VectorFieldur,θ,z,vr,θ,z,wr,θ,z,cylindricalr,θ,z =
Verify ∇·∇×F=0
Apply the Curl and Divergence commands from the Student VectorCalculus package.
DivergenceCurlF = 0
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