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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  is a vector, then Gradient(A_) will interrupt the computation with an error message, as well as Divergence(A) and Curl(A) when  is a scalar (not a vector). All these differential operations are realized just w.r.t the geometrical coordinates . Therefore, if  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

(1)

(2)

The Gradient of a function

(3)

The Divergence of a Gradient is equal to the Laplacian

(4)

(5)

The Laplacian of a vector function in spherical coordinates

(6)

The Curl of a Gradient is identically zero

(7)

(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

(9)

(10)

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

(11)

The Divergence of a Curl is identically zero

(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)

(13)

(14)

(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


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