Chapter 9: Vector Calculus
Section 9.7: Conservative and Solenoidal Fields
Example 9.7.12
Show that F=3x2−y2 i−6 x y j is both solenoidal and conservative. Find a scalar potential and a vector potential. Show that the scalar potential is harmonic.
Solution
Mathematical Solution
To show F is solenoidal, show that its divergence is zero. Hence, make the following calculation.
∇·F
=∂x3 x2−3 y2+∂y−6 x y
=6 x−6 x
=0
To show F is conservative, show that its curl is the zero vector. Hence, make the following calculation.
∇×F=ijk∂x∂y∂z3 x2−3 y2−6 x y0 = 00−6 y+6 y = 000 = 0
Maple's ScalarPotential command gives the scalar potential u=x3−3⁢x⁢y2.
Maple's VectorPotential command gives the vector −6⁢x⁢y⁢z−3⁢x2⁢z+3⁢y2⁢z0 as a vector potential.
That u is harmonic is shown by the vanishing of its Laplacian, that is, by the calculation
∇2u=uxx+uyy
Maple Solution - Interactive
Table 9.7.12(a) shows that F is solenoidal because its divergence vanishes (∇·F=0) and that F is conservative because its curl vanishes (∇×F=0). In addition, Table 9.7.12(a) provides Maple's scalar and vector potentials for F.
Define F with a zero third-component so that all requisite vector operations can be applied.
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 vector field F
Enter the components of F in a free vector. Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
Context Panel: Student Vector Calculus≻Conversions≻To Vector Field
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻F
3x2−y2,−6 x y,0 = →to Vector Field →assign to a nameF
Show ∇·F=0 and ∇×F=0
Common Symbols palette: Del and dot-product or Del and cross-product operators Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
∇·F = 0
∇×F =
Obtain u, Maple's scalar potential for F
Write the name F. Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
Context Panel: Student Vector Calculus≻Scalar Potential
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻u
F = →scalar potentialx3−3⁢x⁢y2→assign to a nameu
Obtain Maple's vector potential for F
Context Panel: Student Vector Calculus≻Vector Potential
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻A
F = →vector potential →assign to a nameA
Table 9.7.12(a) F is solenoidal and conservative with scalar and vector potentials
The scalar potential for F is harmonic if its Laplacian vanishes. This is shown in Table 9.7.12(b).
Obtain the Laplacian of u via Typeset math notation
Common Symbols palette: Del operator Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
∇2u = 0
Alternately, obtain the Laplacian from first principles
Calculus palette: Partial-derivative operator Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
∂2∂x2 u+∂2∂y2 u = 0
Table 9.7.12(b) Show u is harmonic by showing its Laplacian vanishes
Maple Solution - Coded
Table 9.7.12(c) shows that F is solenoidal because its divergence vanishes (∇·F=0) and that F is conservative because its curl vanishes (∇×F=0). In addition, Table 9.7.12(c) provides Maple's scalar and vector potentials for F.
Install the Student VectorCalculus package.
withStudent:-VectorCalculus:
Set display of vectors via BasisFormat.
BasisFormatfalse:
Define F via the VectorField command.
F≔VectorField3x2−y2,−6 x y,0:
Apply the Divergence command.
DivergenceF = 0
Apply the Curl command.
CurlF =
Obtain Maple's scalar potential for F
Apply the ScalarPotential command.
u≔ScalarPotentialF
x3−3⁢x⁢y2
Apply the VectorPotential command.
A≔VectorPotentialF
Table 9.7.11(c) F is solenoidal and conservative; scalar and vector potentials for F
The scalar potential for F is harmonic if its Laplacian vanishes. This is shown in Table 9.7.12(d).
Obtain the Laplacian of u via the Laplacian command
Laplacianu = 0
Alternatively, obtain the Laplacian of u from first principles
Use the diff command.
diffu,x,x+diffu,y,y = 0
Table 9.7.12(d) Show u is harmonic by showing its Laplacian vanishes
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