- #1
fluidistic
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Homework Statement
I must determine whether the following vector fields have sources or vortices.
1)[tex]\vec A = (\vec x )\frac{\vec a \times \vec x}{r^3}[/tex] where [tex]\vec a[/tex] is constant and [tex]r=||\vec x||[/tex].
2)[tex]\vec B (\vec x )= \frac{\vec a}{r+ \beta}[/tex] where [tex]\vec a[/tex] and [tex]r[/tex] are the same as part 1) and [tex]\beta >0[/tex].
Homework Equations
Not sure.
The Attempt at a Solution
I think I must calculate whether the divergences and curls of the fields are worth 0, in which case they are free of source and free of vortex.
I've attempted only part 1) yet (I want to try out part 2 alone once I'm started with part 1).
The modulus of [tex]\vec A (\vec x )[/tex] is worth [tex]\frac{|\vec a | \sin (\theta )}{ |\vec x|^2}[/tex] and I know its direction is orthogonal to both [tex]\vec a[/tex] and [tex]\vec x[/tex].
I know how to calculate the div and curl of a field when I have an explicit expression of it but this is not the case in the exercise, hence my attempt to modify the given expression.
I'd like to know how you'd attempt the problem 1). Thank you.
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