Temperature Gradient Questions

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the temperature gradient of the function T(x,y,z) = 2xy - yz at the point P(1,-1,1) and determining the rate of change of temperature experienced by a moving particle in a defined region. The gradient was computed as ∇f = -2i + j + k. The participants explored the directional derivative in the context of a specific direction A and applied the chain rule to find the rate of temperature change for a particle moving along the path defined by x=2t², y=3t, z=-t². The calculations confirmed the temperature change rates at point P(8,6,-4) in both ºC/m and ºC/sec.

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  • Familiarity with the chain rule in multivariable calculus.
  • Knowledge of temperature functions in three-dimensional space.
  • Basic skills in solving equations involving multiple variables.
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  • Study the concept of directional derivatives in vector calculus.
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Is there a direction A in which the rate of change of the temperature function [tex]T(x,y,x)=2xy - yz[/tex] at P(1,-1,1) is -3ºC/ft? Give reasons for your answer.

For this problem I found the gradient of at the point P. So
[tex]\nabla f = 2y|_p \mathbf{i} + 2x-z|_p \mathbf{j} - y|_p \mathbf{k}[/tex]
which I then found was
[tex]\nabla f = -2 \mathbf{i} + 1 \mathbf{j} + 1 \mathbf{k}[/tex]
Then we want to know if the gradient, in the direction of A will be 3ºC, so
[tex]\nabla f \cdot \frac{A}{|A|} = \frac{3º}{ft}[/tex]
which means that we want an x, y, z, such that
[tex]\frac{-2x +y +z}{\sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2}} = \frac{3º}{ft}[/tex]
So I believe this is right so far, but I don't think this eqn can be solved for.

Here is the other one:
The Celsius temperature in a region in space is given by [tex]T(x,y,z) = 2x^2 -xyz[/tex]. A particle is moving in this region and its position at time t is given by [tex]x=2t^2[/tex], [tex]y=3t[/tex], [tex]z=-t^2[/tex], where time is measured in seconds and distanace in meters.
a) How fast is the temp experienced by the particle changing in ºC/m when the particle is at the point P(8,6,-4)?
b) How fast is the temp experienced by the particle changing in ºC/sec at P?

So, using the chain rule
[tex]\frac{dT}{dt} = (4x-yz)4t \mathbf{i} - (xz)3 \mathbf{j} + (xy)2t \mathbf{k}[/tex]
For the change per meter I will just solve for one of the t eqns, and then substitute back into the equation to find the gradient?
Then for the change per second, it will be the opposite?
 
Last edited:
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Nevermind, I figured them out.
 

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