Vector Calculus - GATE Study Material in PDF In previous articles, we have already seen the basics of Calculus Differentiation and Integration and applications. In GATE 2018 Study Notes, we will be introduced to Vector Calculus. A vector has both magnitude and direction whereas a scalar has only magnitude. Let us now see how to perform certain operations on vectors. These GATE study material are useful for GATE EC, GATE EE, GATE ME, GATE CS, GATE CE and all other branches. Also useful for exams such as BARC, BSNL, DRDO, IES, ISRO, ECIL etc. You can have these notes downloaded as PDF so that your exam preparation is made easy and you ace your paper. Before you get started, go through the basics of Engineering Mathematics. Recommended Reading Types of Matrices Properties of Matrices Rank of a Matrix & Its Properties Solution of a System of Linear Equations Eigen Values & Eigen Vectors Linear Algebra Revision Test 1 Laplace Transforms 1 P a g e Limits, Continuity & Differentiability
Mean Value Theorems Differentiation Partial Differentiation Maxima and Minima Methods of Integration & Standard Integrals Dot Product Let a = a 1 i + a 2 j + a 3 k, b = b 1 i + b 2 j + b 3 k are two constant vectors. Then Dot Product of two vectors is given by a. b = a b cos θ where θ = angle between a, b. 1. i i = j j = k k = 1 ( θ = 0 0 ) 2. i j = j k = k i = 0 ( θ = 90 0 ) 3. Magnitude of Vector a = a = a 2 1 + a 2 2 2 + a 3 4. Angle between two vectors θ = cos 1 a b 5. Also, cos θ = l 1l 2 +m 1 m 2 +n 1 n 2 l 1 2 +m 1 2 +n 1 2 l 2 2 +m 2 2 +n 2 2 a b 2 P a g e
6. If slopes are given and angle between two curves is θ then tan θ = m 1 m 2 1+m 1 m 2 7. If a b = 0 Vectors are orthogonal (θ = 90 ) 8. If a b = a b Vectors are parallel (θ = 0 ) Cross Product If a and b are two vectors then then cross product between two vectors is given by a b = a b sin θ n where n = unit vector normal to both a and b 1. i i = j j = k k = 0 ( θ = 0 0 ) 3 P a g e
2. i j = j k = k i = 1 ( θ = 90 0 ) 3. Angle between two vectors is θ then sin θ = a b a b 4. If a = a 1 i + a 2 j + a 3 k and b = b 1 i + b 2 j + b 3 k then cross product between two vectors i j k can be calculated as a b = a 1 a 2 a 3 b 1 b 2 b 3 = i (a 2 b 3 a 3 b 2 ) j (a 1 b 3 a 3 b 1 ) + k (a 1 b 2 a 2 b 1 ) 5. Geometrically cross product gives the area of triangle 6. If AB, AC are two sides of triangle then area of the triangle is 1 AB AC 2 Triple Product 1. Geometrically Triple Product gives the Volume of Tetrahedron a (b c) = (a b ) c = [a b c] a 1 b 1 c 1 = a 2 b 2 c 2 a 3 b 3 c 3 2. If a (b c) = 0 Vector are coplanar vectors Derivative of a Vector Let r = f(t) be a position vector where t is a scalar variable. r + δr = f(t + δt) δr = f(t + δ(t) f(t) lim δt 0 δr = f(t+δ(t) f(t) δt δt dr = lim f (t+δt) f(t) dx δt 0 δt 4 P a g e is called dr dt
Vector differentiation is nothing but ordinary differentiation but only difference is r is position vector. Formulae: 1. d dt (A ± B ) = d dt A ± d dt B 2. d dt (A B ) = A db dt ± da dt B 3. d dt (A B ) = A db dt ± da dt B Where A = A(t) and B = B(t) Vector Operator ( - Del) = i + j + k x y z is called vector operator Gradient If ϕ (x, y, z) be a given scalar function then ϕ is called gradient. ϕ ϕ = i + j ϕ ϕ + k x y z 1. Physically, gradient gives rate of change of ϕ w.r.t x, y, z separately. 2. Geometrically, it gives normal to the level surface. Example 1: If ϕ = xyz then find the value of ϕ. Solution: 5 P a g e
ϕ = i (xyz) + j x y ϕ = iŷz + j xz + k xy (xyz) + k z (xyz) 1. (log r) = r r 2 2. (sin r) = cos r r r 3. (r n ) = n r n 1 r = n r n 1 r r = n rn 2 r 4. Let ϕ(x,y,z) = c be given equation of the level surface then the outward unique normal vector is defined as N = ϕ ϕ = Grad(ϕ) Grad(ϕ) Example 2: Find the value of unit normal vector N for the sphere x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 9. Solution: ϕ = x 2 + y 2 +z 2 9 ϕ = i (2x) + j (2y) + k (2z) ϕ = 2 x 2 + y 2 + z 2 N = ϕ ϕ = xi +yj +zk = xi +yj +zk x 2 +y 2 +z 2 3 Angle between Two Surfaces 6 P a g e
Let ϕ1(x,y,z) = C, ϕ2(x,y,z) = C be given equations of two level surfaces and angle between these two surfaces are given as θ then cos θ = ϕ 1 ϕ 2 ϕ 1 2 The angle between two surfaces is nothing but the angle between their normal. ϕ 1. ϕ 2 = 0 then they are said to be orthogonal surfaces Example 3: The angle between the two surfaces x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 9 and z = x 2 + y 2 3 at the point (2, 1, 2) is Solution: Here ϕ 1 = x 2 + y 2 + z 2 9 ϕ 1 = i (2x) + j (2y) + k (2z) ϕ 1 = 2 x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 2 9 = 6 ϕ 2 = x 2 + y 2 z 3 ϕ 2 = i (2x) + j (2y) k ϕ 2 = 4x 2 + 4y 2 + 1 = 21 cos θ = ϕ 1. ϕ 2 ϕ 1 = (4x2 +4y 2 2z) = 16+4 4 = 8 ϕ 2 6 21 6 21 3 21 Directional Derivatives of a Scalar Function The directional derivative of a scalar function ϕ (x, y, z) in the direction of a vector a is given as ϕ ê where ê = a a If ϕ ê is ve then it is in the opposite direction. 7 P a g e
Example 4: The Directional derivative of f(x, y, z) = x 2 yz + 4xz 2 at (1, 2, 1)along (2i j 2k) is Solution: ϕ = i [(2xyz) + 4z 2 ] + j [x 2 z] + k [x 2 y + 8xz] Directional Derivative = ϕ ê At (1, 2, 1)we have ϕ ê = [4 + 4]i + ( j ) + k [ 2 8] (2i j 2k ) = 16 + 1 + 20 = 37 3 3 3 3 3 Divergence of a Vector If F is a vector point function then F is called Divergence of F Where F = F 1 i + F 2 j + F 3 k and F 1, F 2, F 3 are the functions of x, y, z F = [i + j + k ] [F x y z 1i + F 2 j + F 3 k ] F = F 1 + F 2 + F 3 x y z 1. Divergence of a vector is scalar. 2. Physically Divergence measures (outflow - inflow) 3. A vector whose divergence is zero then it is said to be divergence free vector (or) solenoid vector i.e. outflow = inflow = constant 8 P a g e
4. Geometrically, Divergence gives the rate at which the fluid entering in a rectangular parallelepiped per unit volume at the point. Curl of a Vector F is called the curl of a vector where F = F 1 i + F 2 j + F 3 k F = i j k = i ( x y z F 1 F 2 F 3 F 3 x F 2 z ) j (F 3 x F 1 z ) + k ( F 2 x F 1 y ) 1. If F = 0 then it is said to be irrational vector otherwise it is said to be rotational vector. 2. Physically Curl gives the angular Velocity w = 1 ( V ) 2 3. Divergence of a curl of any vector is always zero. 4.. ( ϕ) = 2 ϕ 5. ( F ) = 0 6. ( F ) = ( F ) 2 F 7. A (B C ) = (A C )B (A. B )C is known as a vector triple product. Example 5: The values of a, b, c so that the vector, V = (x + 2y + az)i + (bx 3y z)j + (4x + cy + 2z)k is irrotational Solution: Given, that vector V is irrotational 9 P a g e
V = 0 i j k = x y (x + 2y + az) (bx 3y z) (4x + cy + 2z) z i (c + 1) + j (4 a) + k (b 2) = 0 c = 1, a = 4, b = 2 a = 4, b = 2, c = 1 So far we have seen about basic terminology in vector calculus and in the next article we will discuss about integration in vectors. Also we will discuss some important theorems which will convert one form of integral into another form of integral. Did you like this article on Vector Calculus? Let us know in the comments? You may also like the following articles Vector Integration Try out Calculus on Official GATE 2018 Virtual Calculator Recommended Books for Engineering Mathematics 40+ PSUs Recruiting through GATE 2018 10 P a g e