Stuck on divergence of electric field

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the divergence of the electric field due to a volume charge, specifically the expression for the electric field, ##\textbf{E}(\textbf{r}) = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\int_{all space}\frac{\hat{\gamma}}{\gamma^2}\rho(r')d\tau'##. The key point clarified is that the divergence operator, ##\nabla\cdot\textbf{E}##, does not include the charge density function ##\rho(r')## when applied inside the integral. This is because the divergence is taken with respect to the position vector ##\vec{r}##, while ##\rho## is a function of the source position vector ##\vec{r}'##, necessitating integration over ##\vec{r}'##.

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betelgeuse91
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Homework Statement


For a volume charge, ##\textbf{E}(\textbf{r}) = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\int_{all space}\frac{\hat{\gamma}}{\gamma^2}\rho(r')d\tau'##
and I am trying to get the divergence of it.

Homework Equations


The book says
##\nabla\cdot\textbf{E} = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\int_{all space}[\nabla\cdot(\frac{\hat{\gamma}}{\gamma^2})]\rho(r')d\tau'##

The Attempt at a Solution


I am wondering why it is not
##\nabla\cdot\textbf{E} = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\int_{all space}[\nabla\cdot(\frac{\hat{\gamma}}{\gamma^2}\rho(r'))]d\tau'##
when taking ##\nabla## inside the integral, because if it should be this way,
then we need to apply the product rule of divergence. (I guess it's not the case)
Can somebody please explain why the divergence inside does not include the charge density function?
Thank you.
 
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The electric field at a point P with position vector ##\vec r## is the integral of the contribution of all charge elements dq. Those contributions depend on the distance of the charge element from the point P. That distance is denoted by γ in your formula. ##\gamma =\vec r- \vec r' ##, ##\hat \gamma =\frac{\vec r- \vec r'}{|\vec r- \vec r'|}##.
You need the divergence with respect to ##\vec {r}##, while ρ is function of ##\vec {r'}##.
 
Actually ##\vec{r}## is the position vector of target charge, and ##\vec{r}'## is the position vector of source charge, so we integrate it over ##\vec{r}'##, so I think I need the divergence with respect to ##\vec{r}'##
 
ehild said:
The electric field at a point P with position vector ##\vec r## is the integral of the contribution of all charge elements dq. Those contributions depend on the distance of the charge element from the point P. That distance is denoted by γ in your formula. ##\gamma =\vec r- \vec r' ##, ##\hat \gamma =\frac{\vec r- \vec r'}{|\vec r- \vec r'|}##.
You need the divergence with respect to ##\vec {r}##, while ρ is function of ##\vec {r'}##.
I get it now...! thank you very much!
 
You are welcome.
 

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