The Divergence of a Vector Field
Recall that if $w = f(x, y, z)$ is a three variable real-valued function, then the gradient of $f$ denoted $\nabla f$ is given by:
(1)Thus in a sense, the gradient of a function (or rather, the gradient for a scalar field) provided us information about the function itself. We will now look at an important underlying function known as the divergence of a vector field which also makes use of the valuable information stored in partial derivatives.
Definition: If $\mathbf{F} (x, y, z) = P(x, y, z) \vec{i} + Q(x, y, z) \vec{j} + R(x, y, z) \vec{k}$ is a vector field on $\mathbb{R}^3$ and $\frac{\partial P}{\partial x}$, $\frac{\partial Q}{\partial y}$ and $\frac{\partial R}{\partial z}$ all exist then the Divergence of $\mathbf{F}$ is a scalar field (function) given by $\mathrm{div} (\mathbf{F}) = \nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} = \frac{\partial P}{\partial x} + \frac{\partial Q}{\partial y} + \frac{\partial R}{\partial z}$. |
The notation $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F}$ is often used to represent the divergence of a vector field. We note that in $\mathbb{R}^3$, $\nabla = \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \vec{i} + \frac{\partial}{\partial y} \vec{j} + \frac{\partial}{\partial z} \vec{k}$ and $\mathbf{F} = P \vec{i} + Q \vec{j} + R \vec{k}$ so the dot product is $\mathrm{div}(\mathbf{F}) = \nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} = \frac{\partial P}{\partial x} + \frac{\partial Q}{\partial y} + \frac{\partial R}{\partial z}$.
Geometrically, the divergence of a vector field $\mathbf{F}$ at a point $P$ can be considered as follows. Suppose that $\mathbf{F}$ represents a velocity field for fluid flow. Then the divergence of $\mathbf{F}$ at $P$ represents the net rate of change an object/particle moves away or diverges from $P$.
If $\mathrm{div} (\mathbf{F}) = 0$ at a point $P$, then we give $\mathbf{F}$ a special term at $P$ which we define below.
Definition: Let $\mathbf{F}$ be a vector field on $\mathbb{R}^3$. If $\mathrm{div} (\mathbf{F}) = 0$ at a point $P$ at $(x, y, z)$ then $\mathbf{F}$ is said to be Incompressible at $P$. |
The term Solenoidal at $P$ or Divergence Free at $P$ mean the same thing as Incompressible at $P$.
Theorem 1: Let $\mathbf{F}(x, y, z) = P(y, z) \vec{i} + Q(x, z) \vec{j} + R(x, y) \vec{k}$. Then $\mathbf{F}$ is incompressible for every $(x, y, z) \in D(\mathbf{F})$. |
- Proof: Let $\mathbf{F}(x, y, z) = P(y, z) \vec{i} + Q(x, z) \vec{j} + R(x, y) \vec{k}$. Then the divergence of $\mathbf{F}$ is:
- Since $\mathrm{div} (\mathbf{F}) = 0$ then we have that $\mathbf{F}$ is incompressible/solenoidal for all $(x, y, z) \in D(\mathbf{F})$. $\blacksquare$
Let's look at some examples of computing the divergence of a vector field.
Example 1
Find the divergence of the vector field $\mathbf{F} = (2x - 2y)\vec{i} + y\sin x \vec{j} + xy^2z^2 \vec{k}$.
Applying the formula above and we get that:
(3)Example 2
Find the divergence of the vector field $\mathbf{F} = xe^xyz \vec{i} + 2y^3(x + z) \vec{j} + \cos(xz) \vec{k}$.
Applying the formula above and we get that:
(4)