Curl and Divergence

Curl
Let = , , be a vector field on 3 and assume the partial derivatives
of , and all exist.
Let =

, ,

(the del operator)

The curl of the vector field is

i
curl F =

( x2

x
P

y
Q

Ry Q z , Pz Rx ,Qx Py

z
R

Let F( x, y, z )

Example 1:
F=

F=

xyz, x 2 2 yz, x 2
P

y 2 z 2 .Find curl F.
R

x
y
z
xyz x 2 2 yz x 2 y 2 z 2
y2

2y 2y i

z2 )

( x 2 2 yz ) i

2 x xy j

2 x xz k

( x2

y2

z2 )

0, xy 2 x,2 x xz

( xyz ) j

( x 2 2 yz )

( xyz ) k

Curl
Example 2: Let F , , = , , . Evaluate curl .
F=

x
x

z
z

( z)

( y) i

( z)

( x) j

( y)

( x) k

0,0,0

A field with = is called curl free or irrotational.

Theorem 1:
A conservative vector field with continuous derivatives is irrotational.
Proof: Suppose is a conservative vector field and let be its potential
function: = = , ,
F=

fx

fy

fz

f zy

f yz , f xz

f zx , f yx

f xy

0,0,0

Clairauts Theorem

Curl
The converse of Theorem 1 is also true if we assume the domain of the vector
field is simply connected (in particular, the whole 3 )
Theorem 2:
If is a vector field on all of 3 with continuous partial derivatives and
= , then is a conservative vector field.
REMARKS:
1. Theorem 2 provides a quick and easy way to check whether a 3D vector
field is conservative.
2.

The 2D vector field , = , , (, ) can be written as a 3D

vector field , = , , , , 0 . Then = 0,0, .
Therefore, in 2D, = 0 is equivalent to =

3.

The Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals holds also in 3D for

conservative vector fields.

Curl Example 3
a)

Show that = , + , + 6 is conservative and find a potential

function.
i
j
k

curl F =

F=

x
y
z
y x z y 6z

1 1i

0 j

1 1) k

is irrotational, therefore there exists a potential function such that =

=

= +

Integrate w.r.t

= + 6

, , = + (, )
differentiate w.r.t

= + (, ) = +
, =

g , = + ()

, , = + + ()
differentiate w.r.t

= + () = + 6
, , = + + 3 2 +

= 6

= 3 2 +

Curl - Example 3 continued

b) Evaluate the line integral of along the curve comprised of the line
segment from (0,0,0) to (1,1,2) and the line segment from (1,1,2) to (3,1,4)

Initial point: (0,0,0)

Terminal point: (3,1,4)
Potential Function:
, , = + + 3 2

(0,0,0)
Fundamental Theorem for Line Integrals:
C

F dr

f (3,1,4) f (0,0,0)
3(1) 4(1) 3 42

55

Curl
Interpreting the curl: If we think of the vector field as a velocity vector field of a
fluid in motion, the curl measures rotation.
At a given point, the curl is a vector parallel to the axis of rotation of flow lines
near the point, with direction determined by the Right Hand Rule.
Example 4: Determine whether the curl of each vector field at the origin is the
zero vector or points in the same direction as i, j, k.
(a)

Based on the direction of the rotation and the Right Hand Rule,
the curl will point in the = 0,0, 1 direction.

Curl Example 4 continued

(b)

The vector field is clearly irrotational, thus the

curl is the zero vector: 0,0,0 .

(c)

Based on the direction of the rotation

and the Right Hand Rule, the curl
points in the direction of
+ = 0,1,0

Divergence
Let F( x, y, z ) P( x, y, z ), Q( x, y, z ), R( x, y, z) be a differentiable vector field
on a region in 3 .

, ,

Let =

(the del operator)

The divergence of the vector field is

div F =

F=

(a scalar)

P, Q, R

P
x

Q
y

R
z

Example 5: Let = , sin , 2 + 2 + 2 . Find div F.

F

e xyz

( yz sin x )

( x2

y2 z2 )

yze xyz z sin x 2 z

Example 6: Let = , , . Find div F.

F

( y)

( z) 1 1 1

Divergence
Interpreting the Divergence: The divergence at a given point measures
the net flow out of a small box around the point, that is, it measures what
is produced (source) or consumed (sink) at a given point in space.
Example 7: Determine whether the divergence of each vector field at the
indicated point P is positive, negative or zero
(a)

Draw a box around the point P.

We can clearly see from the magnitude of
the vectors that the net flow out of the box is
negative (more stuff coming in than out).
Thus the divergence is negative and we say
the point P is a sink.

Divergence Example 7 continued

(b)

Draw a box around the point. We can see that

the net flow out of the box is zero (same amount
of stuff is coming in than coming out).
Thus the divergence is zero and we say that the
vector field is incompressible at the point.

(c)

Draw a box around the point. The net flow is

positive (less stuff coming in than out).
Thus the divergence is positive and we say
that the point is a source.