- #1
Ed Aboud
- 201
- 0
Homework Statement
Let x = (x,y,z) .
Recall that the vector x is determined by its direction and length
r = |x| = [itex] \sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2} [/itex]
and assume we are given a function f which depends only on the length of x
f = f(r)
Show that
[tex] \Delta f = f'' + \frac{2}{r} f'[/tex]
where [tex] f' = \frac{\partial f}{\partial r} [/tex]
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
[tex] u = x^2 + y^2 + z^2 [/tex]
[tex] r = \sqrt{u} [/tex]
[tex] \frac{\partial r}{\partial x} = \frac{\partial \sqrt{u}}{\partial u} \frac{\partial u}{\partial x} = \frac{1}{2}(\frac{1}{\sqrt{r}})(2x) = \frac{x}{\sqrt{r}} [/tex]
[tex] \frac{\partial ^2 r}{\partial x^2} = \frac{\partial (x)}{\partial x } \frac{1}{\sqrt{u}} + x \frac{\partial \frac{1}{\sqrt{u}}}{\partial u} \frac{\partial u }{\partial x} [/tex]
[tex] = \frac{1}{\sqrt{u}} - x^2 \frac{1}{\sqrt{u^3}} [/tex]
Since f and u are symmetric in x,y,z
[tex] \frac{\partial ^2 r}{\partial y^2} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{u}} - y^2 \frac{1}{\sqrt{u^3}} [/tex]
[tex] \frac{\partial ^2 r}{\partial z^2} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{u}} - z^2 \frac{1}{\sqrt{u^3}} [/tex]
[tex] x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = u [/tex]
[tex] \Delta r = (\frac{1}{\sqrt{u}}) - x^2 (\frac{1}{\sqrt{u^3}}) + (\frac{1}{\sqrt{u}}) - y^2 (\frac{1}{\sqrt{u^3}}) + (\frac{1}{\sqrt{u}}) - z^2 (\frac{1}{\sqrt{u^3}}) [/tex]
[tex] = \frac{3}{\sqrt{u}} - (x^2 + y^2 + z^2) \frac{1}{\sqrt{u^3}} [/tex]
[tex] = \frac{2}{\sqrt{u}} [/tex]
[tex] = \frac{2}{r} [/tex]
I see that this is a part of the solution but I have no idea what to do to get the rest.
Any help would be greatly appreciated because I'm lost and it has to be in tomorrow morning.