Gradient and Divergence in spherical coordinates

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  • #1
physicss
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Homework Statement
Hello, are my answers correct?

I had to calculate the gradient of f=z and f=xy in spherical coordinates.
My solution for f= z is: cos(θ) er+ (-sin(θ)) e(θ)

f=xy

rsin^2(θ)sin(2φ) er+ rcos(θ)cos(φ)sin(θ)sin(φ) e(θ)+ rcos(2φ)sin(θ) e(φ)

I also had to calculate the divergence of the following vectorfield (Image)

My result is: (scalarfield)

Sin^2(θ)cos^2(φ) er + rcos(2θ)cos^2(φ) e(θ)-rsin(θ)cos(2φ) e(φ)


Thanks in advance
Relevant Equations
er, e(θ) and e(φ) are the spherical base vectors
9527BE5E-8449-4D24-8FA2-A3BE2FC41DD0.jpeg

Vectorfield for the divergence
 
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  • #2
physicss said:
rsin^2(θ)sin(2φ) er+ rcos(θ)cos(φ)sin(θ)sin(φ) e(θ)+ rcos(2φ)sin(θ) e(φ)
I get a slightly different ##\vec e_\theta##.
Please learn to use LaTeX.
 
  • #3
physicss said:
My result is: (scalarfield)

Sin^2(θ)cos^2(φ) er + rcos(2θ)cos^2(φ) e(θ)-rsin(θ)cos(2φ) e(φ)
If it is a scalar, how come it has ##\vec e_r## etc?
I also note a dimensional inconsistency.
 

1. What is the gradient in spherical coordinates?

The gradient in spherical coordinates is a mathematical concept that describes the rate of change of a function in three-dimensional space. It is represented by a vector and is calculated by taking the partial derivatives of the function with respect to the spherical coordinates (radius, polar angle, and azimuthal angle).

2. How is the gradient calculated in spherical coordinates?

The gradient in spherical coordinates is calculated using the following formula:

∇f = (∂f/∂r)er + (1/r)(∂f/∂θ)eθ + (1/rsinθ)(∂f/∂φ)eφ

where er, eθ, and eφ are unit vectors in the radial, polar, and azimuthal directions, respectively.

3. What is the physical interpretation of the gradient in spherical coordinates?

The gradient in spherical coordinates represents the direction and magnitude of the steepest increase of a function. It can also be interpreted as the direction in which the function is changing the fastest.

4. What is the divergence in spherical coordinates?

The divergence in spherical coordinates is a measure of how much a vector field is spreading out or converging at a given point. It is calculated by taking the dot product of the vector field with the unit vector in the direction of the spherical coordinates.

5. How is the divergence calculated in spherical coordinates?

The divergence in spherical coordinates is calculated using the following formula:

∇ · F = (1/r^2)(∂(r^2F_r)/∂r) + (1/rsinθ)(∂(sinθF_θ)/∂θ) + (1/rsinθ)(∂F_φ/∂φ)

where F_r, F_θ, and F_φ are the components of the vector field in the radial, polar, and azimuthal directions, respectively.

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