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Physics[Vectors][Curl] - compute the curl by using the nabla differential operator

Physics[Vectors][Divergence] - compute the divergence by using the nabla differential operator

Physics[Vectors][Gradient] - compute the gradient by using the nabla differential operator

Physics[Vectors][Laplacian] - compute the Laplacian by using the nabla differential operator

Calling Sequence

Curl(A)

Divergence(A)

Gradient(A)

Laplacian(A)

Remark: these calling sequences are also valid with the inert %Curl, %Divergence, %Gradient, %Laplacian commands

Parameters

A

-

any algebraic (vector or scalar) expression

Description

• 

Curl, Divergence, Gradient and Laplacian, respectively return the curl, the divergence, the gradient and the Laplacian of a given vectorial or scalar function. When the command's name is prefixed by %, an unevaluated representation for these operations is returned.

• 

The %Curl, %Divergence, %Gradient and %Laplacian are the inert forms of Curl, Divergence, Gradient and Laplacian, that is: they represent the same mathematical operations while holding the operations unperformed. To activate the operations use value.

• 

Curl, Divergence and Gradient check their arguments (for consistency) before sending the task to Nabla. So, if A_ is a vector, then Gradient(A_) will interrupt the computation with an error message, as well as Divergence(A) and Curl(A) when A is a scalar (not a vector). All these differential operations are realized just w.r.t the geometrical coordinates φ,r,ρ,θ,x,y,z. Therefore, if A does not depend on these global geometrical coordinates, these commands (as well as Nabla) return 0.

• 

For the conventions about the geometrical coordinates and vectors see ?conventions

Examples

> 

with⁡PhysicsVectors

&x,`+`,`.`,Assume,ChangeBasis,ChangeCoordinates,CompactDisplay,Component,Curl,DirectionalDiff,Divergence,Gradient,Identify,Laplacian,∇,Norm,ParametrizeCurve,ParametrizeSurface,ParametrizeVolume,Setup,Simplify,`^`,diff,int

(1)
> 

Setup⁡mathematicalnotation=true

mathematicalnotation=true

(2)

The Gradient of a function

> 

Gradient⁡f⁡x,y,z

∂∂xf⁡x,y,z⁢i∧+∂∂yf⁡x,y,z⁢j∧+∂∂zf⁡x,y,z⁢k∧

(3)

The Divergence of a Gradient is equal to the Laplacian

> 

Divergence⁡Gradient⁡f⁡x,y,z

∂2∂x2f⁡x,y,z+∂2∂y2f⁡x,y,z+∂2∂z2f⁡x,y,z

(4)
> 

Laplacian⁡f⁡x,y,z

∂2∂x2f⁡x,y,z+∂2∂y2f⁡x,y,z+∂2∂z2f⁡x,y,z

(5)

The Laplacian of a vector function in spherical coordinates

> 

Laplacian⁡A_⁡r,θ,φ

∂2∂r2A→⁡r,θ,φ⁢r2+2⁢∂∂rA→⁡r,θ,φ⁢r+∂∂θA→⁡r,θ,φ⁢cot⁡θ+∂2∂θ2A→⁡r,θ,φ+∂2∂φ2A→⁡r,θ,φ⁢csc⁡θ2r2

(6)

The Curl of a Gradient is identically zero

> 

eq≔Gradient⁡A⁡r,θ,φ

eq≔∂∂rA⁡r,θ,φ⁢r∧+∂∂θA⁡r,θ,φ⁢θ∧r+∂∂φA⁡r,θ,φ⁢φ∧r⁢sin⁡θ

(7)
> 

Curl⁡eq

0

(8)

Depending on the context the inert representations of these commands, obtained by prefixing the command's name with %, serve better the purpose of representing the mathematical objects

> 

%Gradient⁡A⁡r,θ,φ

∇A⁡r,θ,φ

(9)
> 

Curl⁡

0

(10)

The Curl of non-projected vector function (note the underscore in 'V_' to represent vectors)

> 

eq≔Curl⁡V_⁡r,θ,φ

eq≔∇×V→⁡r,θ,φ

(11)

The Divergence of a Curl is identically zero

> 

Divergence⁡eq

0

(12)

The Divergence and Curl of a projected vector function (projected vectors don't need an "arrow"  - the underscore "_" mentioned in the previous example to be represented)

> 

V≔_r+f1⁡θ,φ⁢_θ+f2⁡θ,φ⁢_φ

V≔r∧+f1⁡θ,φ⁢θ∧+f2⁡θ,φ⁢φ∧

(13)
> 

Divergence⁡V

2r+∂∂θf1⁡θ,φ⁢sin⁡θ+f1⁡θ,φ⁢cos⁡θr⁢sin⁡θ+∂∂φf2⁡θ,φr⁢sin⁡θ

(14)
> 

Curl⁡V

∂∂θf2⁡θ,φ⁢sin⁡θ+f2⁡θ,φ⁢cos⁡θ−∂∂φf1⁡θ,φ⁢r∧r⁢sin⁡θ−f2⁡θ,φ⁢θ∧r+f1⁡θ,φ⁢φ∧r

(15)

See Also

convert,VectorCalculus, operations, Physics, Physics conventions, Physics examples, Physics Updates, Tensors - a complete guide, Mini-Course Computer Algebra for Physicists, Physics/Vectors, Setup