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16.1

A vector field is defined as a function that assigns a vector to each point in a domain in R2 or R3, with examples including radial fields and gradient fields. A vector field is conservative if it can be expressed as the gradient of a potential function. The document provides various examples of vector fields and discusses their properties, including continuity and differentiability.

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3 views

16.1

A vector field is defined as a function that assigns a vector to each point in a domain in R2 or R3, with examples including radial fields and gradient fields. A vector field is conservative if it can be expressed as the gradient of a potential function. The document provides various examples of vector fields and discusses their properties, including continuity and differentiability.

Uploaded by

m5hspxls
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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16.

1 1

16.1 Vector Fields

Definition. A vector field on a domain (in R2 or R3) is a function that


assigns a vector to each point in the domain.

For example,
F(x, y, z) = M (x, y, z) i + N (x, y, z) j + P (x, y, z) k
or
F(x, y) = M (x, y) i + N (x, y) j

The field is continuous if the component functions M , N , and P are


continuous and differentiable if M , N , and P are differentiable.
16.1 2

Example 1. Some Vector Fields

(a) The radial field


F = xi + yj
16.1 3

(b) Let f (x, y) = xy. Then its gradient vector field ∇f = y i + x j is


shown below. What do the yellow curves represent?

We will have say more about gradient vector fields in subsequent


sections.
16.1 4

(c) Another radial field


F = −x i − y j
16.1 5

(d) The spin field

−y x
F=p i+p j
x2 + y 2 x2 + y 2

Notice that in this case,


−y x
M (x, y) = p and N (x, y) = p
x2 + y 2 x2 + y 2
16.1 6

(e) Another vector field


F = (x2 − y) i + (xy − y 2 ) j
16.1 7

(f) The vector field


F = cos x i − sin y j
16.1 8

(g) The vector field


2
F= i + sin y j
2|x| + 1
16.1 9

Definition. The gradient field of a differentiable function f (x, y, z) is


the field of gradient vectors
∂f ∂f ∂f
∇f = i+ j+ k
∂x ∂y ∂z

Example 2. A Gradient Field

Let f (x, y) = sin x + cos y. Then the gradient field is


∇f = cos x i − sin y j

Definition. A vector field F is called a conservative if there is a


function f such that ∇f = F. In this case, f is called the potential
function of F. In other words, a vector field F is conservative if there is
a (potential) function f such that F = ∇f .

Example 3. Let F = y 2 i + 2xy j. Then F is a conservative vector field


since f (x, y) = xy 2 is a potential function of F. That is
∇f = F

Remark. It turns out to be important to be able to identify a vector field


as the gradient field of some function. We will discuss this in more
detail in sections 16.3 and 16.5.
16.1 10

Example 4. More Vector Fields

(a) The gradient vector field from Example 2 above. Notice the sink on
the positive x-axis.
∇f = cos x i − sin y j
16.1 11

(b) The gradient vector field from Example 3 above. Notice the
gradient vectors are everywhere orthogonal to the level curves
f (x, y) = xy 2 = const.
∇f = y 2 i + 2xy j
16.1 12

1 1

(c) A radial field with source at
2, 4 .
   
1 1
F= x− i+ y− j
2 4
16.1 13

(d) Looks like a pair of rotational vector fields on both sides of the
y-axis.
1
F = xy i + j
1 + y2

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