B.M.S.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, BENGALURU – 560 0 19

Autonomous college, affiliated to VTU
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

Course: Mathematical Foundation for Computer Science Stream-2(23MA2BSMCS)

UNIT-2: VECTOR CALCULUS

Scalar point function:

A Function 𝑓: ℝ3 → ℝ, whose values are scalars that depends on a point P  P  x, y , z  i.e.
f  f  x, y , z  .

Gradient of the scalar point function

If f  x, y , z  is a scalar point function then the gradient of f is given by
f f f
grad f  f  i j k.
x y z

Geometrically, grad  f  is a normal to the

surface f  x, y , z   c and has a magnitude
equal to the rate of change of f  x, y , z   c
along this normal.

1. Find grad  , if   log  x 2  y 2  z 2  . Ans:


2 x i y j zk 
x2  y 2  z 2
2. If f  x, y,z   3x 2 y  y 3 z 2 , find f and f at 1, 2, 1 .
Ans: ∇𝑓 = −12𝑖̂ − 9𝑗̂ − 16𝑘̂ ; |∇𝑓| = √481
3. If f  x yz and g  xy  3z , calculate   f g  .
2 2

Ans: (2𝑦 2 𝑧 + 3𝑥 2 𝑧 − 12𝑥𝑦𝑧)𝑖̂ + (4𝑥𝑦𝑧 − 6𝑥 2 𝑧)𝑗̂ + (2𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 𝑦)𝑘̂

4. The force in an electrostatic field given by f  4x2  9 y 2  z 2 has the direction of the gradient
f . Find this gradient at P  5, 1, 11 . Ans: ∇𝑓 = 40𝑖̂ − 18𝑗
̂ − 22𝑘̂

Unit vector normal to the given surface:

f
Unit vector normal to the given surface 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is given by nˆ 
| f |

Find the unit vector normal to:

i  3 j  2 k
(i) the surface x3  y3  3xyz  3 at the point 1, 2, 1 . Ans: 14

(ii) the cone of revolution z 2  4  x 2  y 2  at the point at the point 1, 0, 2  .

̂
−𝑖̂+2𝑗̂ +2𝑘
(iii) the surface 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 2𝑧𝑥 = 4 at the point (2, −2,3). Ans: 3
3 2 ̂
−𝑖̂−3𝑗̂ +𝑘
(iv) the surface 𝑥𝑦 𝑧 = 4 at the point (−1, −1,2). Ans:
√11

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Dept. of Maths., BMSCE Unit 2: Vector Calculus
̂
3𝑖̂+4𝑗̂ −6𝑘
(v) the surface 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 2𝑧𝑥 + 2𝑦 2 𝑧 4 = 10 at the point (2,1, −1). Ans:
√61

Angle between two surfaces:

∇𝑓.∇𝑔
Angle between two surfaces f and g is given by 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = |∇𝑓||∇𝑔|
1. Find the angle between the surfaces x2  y 2  z 2  9 and z  x2  y 2  3 at  2, 1, 2  .
8 21
Ans: cos 1 .
63
2. Calculate the angle between the normals to the surface xy  z 2 at the points  4,1, 2  and
 3,3, 3 . Ans:cos−1 (−
1
√11
).
3. Show that the surfaces 4𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑧 4 = 12 and 6𝑥 2 − 𝑦𝑧 = 9𝑥 intersect orthogonally at the point
(1, -1, 2)
4. Find the constants a and b so that the surfaces ax 2  byz   a  2  x is orthogonal to the surface
4x2 y  z3  4 at the point 1, 1, 2  . Ans: a  2.5 , b  1

Directional derivative
a
Directional derivative of  in the direction of a at a point P is given by  P  a   P  .
a

Geometrically, the directional derivative of  in the direction of a at a point P is the rate of change
of  at a point P in the direction of a .
1. Find the directional derivatives of f  x, y, z   xy 2  yz 3 at the point  2, 1,1 in the direction
of:
11
a. the vector i  2 j  2k . Ans:
3
15
b. the normal to the surface x log z  y 2  4 at  1, 2,1 . Ans:
17
2. Find the directional derivative of f  x, y,z   4e 2 x  y  z at the point 1,1,1 in the direction
towards the point  3, 5, 6  .

3. Find the directional derivative of x 2 y 2 z 2 at the point 1,1, 1 in the direction of the tangent to
𝟒
the curve x  et , y  1  2sin t and z  t  cos t , where 1  t  1 . Ans:
√𝟔

4. The temperature of points in space is given T  x, y, z   x 2  y 2  z . A mosquito located at

1,1, 2  desires to fly in such a direction it will get warm as soon as possible. In what direction
should it move? Ans: 2i  2 j  k
5. The experiments show that the heat flows in the direction of maximum decrease of temperature
T . Find this direction when the temperature T  x2  y 2  4 z 2 at the point  2, 1, 2  .

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Dept. of Maths., BMSCE Unit 2: Vector Calculus
6. In which direction from  3,1, 2  is the directional derivative of   x, y, z   x 2 y 2 z 4 maximum?
Also find the magnitude of this maximum. Ans: 96(𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ − 3𝑘̂ ); 96√19
7. Find the values of the constants a, b and c so that the directional derivative of
f  axy 2  byz  cz 3 x3 at 1, 2 ,  1 has a maximum of magnitude 64 in a direction parallel to the
16 64 64
z -axis. Ans: 𝑎 = ,𝑏 = ,𝑐 =
3 3 9

8. If the directional derivative of   axy 2  byz  cz 2 x3 at  1, 1, 2  has maximum magnitude of 32

units in the direction parallel to y-axis find a, b, c . Ans: 𝑎 = −12, 𝑏 = 4, 𝑐 = 1

Vector point function

A Function 𝑓: ℝ3 → ℝ3 , whose values are vectors that depends on a point P  P  x, y , z  i.e.

f  x, y, z   f1  x, y, z  i  f 2  x, y, z  j  f 3  x, y, z  k .

Divergence of a vector point function

The divergence of a continuously differentiable vector point function f  f1 i  f 2 j  f3 k is denoted
f f f
by div f and is defined as div f    f  1  2  3 .
x y z

Physical interpretation: If v is the velocity

field then div v  gives the rate at which
fluid is originating at a point per unit volume.
Alternately the divergence measures the
outflow minus the inflow.

Solenoidal vector: A vector F  f1 i  f 2 j  f3 k is said to be solenoidal if div F  0 . (the flux

entering any element of space is the same as that leaving it.)

Curl of a vector point function

The curl of a continuously differentiable vector point function f  f1 i  f 2 j  f3 k is denoted by
curl f and is defined as:
i j k
       
curl f    f   i  j  k   f1 i  f 2 j  f 3 k  .
 x y z  x y z
f1 f2 f3

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 B.M.S. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, BENGALURU – 560 0 19
Autonomous college, affiliated to VTU
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

Physical interpretation: If v is the

linear velocity and  is the angular
velocity, then v  r and
 v  2  . Hence curl F gives the
measure of the rotation of the vector
field at any point.

Irrotational vector: A vector F  f1 i  f 2 j  f3 k is said to be irrotational if curl F  0 . (any

motion in which the angular velocity at any point is zero.)
1. Evaluate
a. div 3x 2ˆi  5 xy 2 ˆj  xyz 3kˆ  at the point 1, 2 ,3 .

 
b. . 2 x 2 ziˆ  xy 2 zjˆ  3 yz 2 kˆ at the point 1,1,1 .
c. .  e sin x cos z iˆ  e sin y cos z ˆj  z e kˆ  .
y x 2 z

d. . 3xyz ˆi  2 xy ˆj  x yzkˆ  .

2 3 2

2. Show that each of following vectors are solenoidal:

(i)   x2  yz  ˆi   4 y  z 2 x  ˆj   2 xz  4 z  kˆ .
(ii) 3 y 4 z 2ˆi  4 x3 z 2 ˆj  3x 2 y 2 kˆ .
(iii)  x  3 y  i   y  3z  j   x  2 z  k
(iv) 3 y 4 z 2 i  4 x3 z 2 j  3x 2 y 2 k

3. If F   x  y  1 i  j   x  y  k show that F  curl F  0 .

4. Find div F and curl F , where F  grad  x 3  y 3  z 3  3xyz  .
Ans: div F  6  x  y  z  , curl F  0
5.    
Evaluate curl xyzi  3x 2 y j  xz 2  y 2 z k at the point 1, 2, 3  .
Ans: 2 yzi   xy  z 2  j  x  6 y  z  k
.
6. 
Find the value of a if the vector ax y  yz i  xy  xz 2
  2 2
 j   2xyz  2x y  k has zero
2 2

divergences. Find the curl of the above vector which has zero divergence.
  
Ans: a  2 , 4 x  z  xy  i  y  2 yz  4 xy 2 j  2 x 2  2 y 2  z 2  z k . 
n
7. If r  xi  y j  zk and r  r , show that r r is solenoidal for n  3 and irrotational for all
n.
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Dept. of Maths., BMSCE Unit 2: Vector Calculus

8. If f   x 2  y 2  z 2  , find div  grad f  and determine n if div  grad f   0 .

n

9. Find f , given
a. f  2 xyz 3 ˆi  x 2 z 3 ˆj  3x 2 yz 2 kˆ if f 1, 2 , 2   4 .
b. f   y 2  2 xyz 3  ˆi   3  2 xy  x 2 z 3  ˆj   6 z 3  3x 2 yz 2  kˆ if f 1, 0 ,1  8 .
c. f  2 xiˆ  4 yjˆ  8 zkˆ .
1

d. f  2 zyiˆ  xzjˆ  xykˆ .
z

e. ∇𝑓 = 𝑥𝑦𝑖̂ + 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑗̂
 
10. A vector field is given by F  x 2  y 2  x i   2 yx  y  j . Show that the field is irrotational and
x3 x2 y 2
find its scalar potential. Ans:    xy 2   .
3 2 2
     
11. A vector field is given by F  6 xy  z 3 i  3x 2  z j  3xz 2  y k . Show that the field is
irrotational and find its scalar potential.
12. A fluid motion is given by V   y  z  i   z  x  j   x  y  k . Is this motion irrotational? If so,
find the velocity potential. Ans: Yes.   xy  yz  zx .

   
13. If F  2 xyz 2 i  x 2 z 2  z cos yz j  2 x 2 yz  y cos yz k , show that F is a potential field or
conservative field and hence find its scalar potential
 
14. A vector field is given by F  x 2  y 2  x i   2 yx  y  j . Show that the field is irrotational
x3 x2 y 2
and find its scalar potential. Ans:    xy   .
2

3 2 2
15. A fluid motion is given by V   y  z  i   z  x  j   x  y  k . Is this motion irrotational? If so,
find the velocity potential. Ans: Yes.   xy  yz  zx .

16. If r  xi  y j  zk and r  r , prove that

a. div  grad r n    2  r n   n  n  1 r n  2
2
b.  2 f  r   f   r   f r  .
r
−2𝑟
c. 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑(𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑟̂ ) = 𝑟 3
ORTHOGONAL CURVILINEAR CO-ORDINATES
1. Prove that the cylindrical polar coordinate system is orthogonal curvilinear coordinate
system.
2. Prove that the spherical polar coordinate system is orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system.
3. Express the vector 𝐹⃗ = 𝑥𝑖̂ + 2𝑦𝑗̂ + 𝑦𝑧𝑘̂ in spherical polar coordinates.
4. Express the vector 𝐹⃗ = −𝑧𝑖̂ − 2𝑥𝑗̂ + 𝑦𝑘̂ in spherical polar coordinates.
5. Express the vector 𝐹⃗ = 2𝑥𝑖̂ + 3𝑦𝑗̂ − 𝑧𝑘̂ in cylindrical polar coordinates.
6. Express the vector 𝐹⃗ = 2𝑦𝑖̂ + 𝑧𝑗̂ − 3𝑥𝑘̂ in cylindrical polar coordinates.

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