Components of Curl, Divergence

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding the Cartesian components of the curl and divergence of a vector field. The original poster expresses confusion regarding the derivation of these components from their definitions, specifically how the standard representations relate to the limit definitions provided.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest using specific geometric shapes, such as cubes and squares, to explore the limits and coordinate representations of the vector field. The original poster questions the validity of approximating the field as constant over the sides of the square when analyzing circulation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different approaches to clarify the relationship between the definitions and their Cartesian components. Some guidance has been offered regarding the choice of geometric shapes for analysis, but further specificity is requested by the original poster.

Contextual Notes

The original poster indicates a lack of understanding and has not yet formulated a clear solution or method. There is an acknowledgment of the complexity of the topic, suggesting that it is beyond basic precalculus concepts.

Contingency
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Homework Statement


I'm trying to understand where the Cartesian components of the rotor and the divergence of a vector field derived.

I read that the divergence of a vector field is defined by:
\vec { \nabla } \cdot \vec { F } =\lim _{ V\rightarrow \left\{ P \right\} }{ \frac { 1 }{ \left| V \right| } \iint _{ \partial V }^{ }{ \vec { F } \cdot \vec { dA } } }

Also, that components of the rotor are defined by:
\vec { \nabla } \times \vec { F } \cdot \hat { u } =\lim _{ A(\Gamma )\rightarrow 0 }{ \frac { 1 }{ \left| A(\Gamma ) \right| } \int _{ \Gamma }^{ }{ \vec { F } \cdot \vec { dr } } }

I'm trying to understand where the standard "sum of partial derivatives", and the mnemonic determinant with a row of unit vectors come from. I don't see a correlation between the definitions and these simple representations. How are they derived from the definition?

Homework Equations


\vec { \nabla } \times \vec { F } \cdot \hat { u } =\lim _{ A(\Gamma )\rightarrow 0 }{ \frac { 1 }{ \left| A(\Gamma ) \right| } \int _{ \Gamma }^{ }{ \vec { F } \cdot \vec { dr } } }

\vec { \nabla } \cdot \vec { F } =\lim _{ V\rightarrow \left\{ P \right\} }{ \frac { 1 }{ \left| V \right| } \iint _{ \partial V }^{ }{ \vec { F } \cdot \vec { dA } } }

The Attempt at a Solution


No clue
 
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You can choose a cube as volume (if the general limit exists, it is the same for a special type of volume), and get the coordinate representation in the limit.
In the same way, you can use a square as path.
 
This is obviously not a precalculus question, so I am moving it to the appropriate section.
 
My bad, didn't double check. Sorry
 
mfb said:
You can choose a cube as volume (if the general limit exists, it is the same for a special type of volume), and get the coordinate representation in the limit.
In the same way, you can use a square as path.

Can you please be a bit more specific?
I divided my field into orthogonal component functions, and I'm trying to look at the circulation of the field over a square with sides parallel to the axis. In order to get my result i'd have to approximate the field as constant over each side.. Why can I do that?
 

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