SUMMARY
The discussion centers on the correct formulation of the gradient and differential of a scalar function in cylindrical coordinates, specifically addressing the equations for ##\nabla\mathrm\psi## and ##d\mathrm\psi##. It is established that the equation for ##\nabla\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}{\textbf{e}}_r+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}{\textbf{e}}_\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}{\textbf{e}}_z## is correct, while the formulation for ##d\mathrm\psi## should not include the factor of ##\frac{1}{r}## in the second term. The correct differential is ##d\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\theta}d\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}dz##, which maintains consistent dimensionality across all terms.
PREREQUISITES
- Cylindrical coordinate system understanding
- Vector calculus fundamentals
- Dimensional analysis in physics and mathematics
- Partial derivatives and their applications
NEXT STEPS
- Study the derivation of the gradient in polar coordinates
- Explore the implications of dimensional analysis in vector calculus
- Learn about the applications of cylindrical coordinates in fluid dynamics
- Investigate the relationship between scalar and vector fields in physics
USEFUL FOR
Students and professionals in physics, engineering, and mathematics who are working with vector calculus and cylindrical coordinate systems, particularly in applications related to fluid dynamics and differential equations.