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The Laplacian
R Horan & M Lavelle
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
i+
j+
k
=
x
y
z
The result of applying this vector operator to a scalar field is called
the gradient of the scalar field:
f
f
f
gradf (x, y, z) = f (x, y, z) =
i+
j+
k.
x
y
z
(See the package on Gradients and Directional Derivatives.)
The scalar product of this vector operator with a vector field F (x, y, z)
is called the divergence of the vector field:
F1
F2
F3
divF (x, y, z) = F =
+
+
.
x
y
z
The vector product of the vector with a vector field F (x, y, z) is the
curl of the vector field. It is written as curl F (x, y, z) = F
F3
y
i
=
x
F
F (x, y, z) = (
F2
F3
F1
F2
F1
)i (
)j + (
)k
z
x
z
x
y
j
k
,
y z
F
F
2
where the last line is a formal representation of the line above. (See
also the package on Divergence and Curl.)
Here are some revision exercises.
Exercise 1. For f = x2 y z and F = xi xyj + z 2 k calculate the
following (click on the green letters for the solutions).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
f F
2. The Laplacian
The Laplacian operator is defined as:
2 =
2
2
2
+
+
.
x2
y 2
z 2
2
2
(xy 2 + z 3 ) + 2 (xy 2 + z 3 ) + 2 (xy 2 + z 3 )
=
2
x
y
z
2
=
(y + 0) +
(2xy + 0) +
(0 + 3z 2 )
x
y
z
= 0 + 2x + 6z = 2x + 6z
2 f (x, y, z) =
1
rn+2
n(n 1)
rn+2
The equation 2 f = 0 is called Laplaces equation. This is an important equation in science. From the above exercises and quiz we see
1
that f = is a solution of Laplaces equation except at r = 0.
r
and
(x 2z)
(x 2z)
(x 2z)
i+
j+
k = i 2k
x
y
z
and taking their scalar product we obtain
(x 2z) =
2 f (x, y, z)
= 0 + 2(x + y + z) (x 2z)
= 2(i + j + k) (i 2k) = 2(1 + 0 2)
= 2.
(y z)(x2 + y 2 + z 2 )
p
x x2 + y 2 + z 2
10
2
2
2
(uv)
+
(uv)
+
(uv) . Consider
x2
y 2
z 2
therefore:
2
(uv) =
x2
v
(uv) =
v+u
x x
x x
x
2
2
u v
u
u v
v
v+
=
+
+u 2
x2
x x x x
x
u v
2u
2v
v
+
2
=
+
u
x2
x x
x2
where the product rule was repeatedly used.
2
2u
u v
2v
(uv) =
v+2
+ u 2 and
2
2
y
y
y y
y
2
2u
u v
2v
(uv) =
v+2
+ u 2 . Adding these results yields the
z 2
z 2
z z
z
desired result.
By symmetry we also have:
11
12
Quiz Select from the answers below the Laplacian of the vector field
F = x3 yi + ln(z)j + ln(xy)k .
x2 + y 2
1
k
(a) 6xyi
(b) 6xyi 2 j
z
x2 y 2
1
1
1
y 2 x2
k
k
(c) 3xi + 2 j
(d) y 3 i + x2 j
2
2
z
x
y
z2
Quiz Choose the Laplacian of F = 3x2 zi sin(y)j + ln(2x3 )k at the
point (1, 2, 1)?
(a)
(b) 6i 3k
(c) 3i 3k
(d) 6i 2 j 6k
Quiz Which of the following choices is the Laplacian of the vector field
F = ln(y)i + z 2 j sin(2x)k at (1, 1, )?
(a) i + 2j
(b) 0
(c) 4j + 4 2 k
(d) i + j + k
13
5. Final Quiz
Begin Quiz Choose the solutions from the options given.
1. Choose the Laplacian of f (r) = 5x3 y 4 z 2 .
(a) 30xy 4 z 2 + 60x3 y 2 z 2 + 10x3 y 4 (b) 30x + 20y 2 + 10
(c) 30xy 4 z 2 + 75x3 y 2 z 2 + 15x3 y 4 (d) 30xy 4 z 2 + 12x3 y 2 z 2 + 15x3 y 4
2. Choose the Laplacian of f (x, y, z) = ln(r) where r =
(a) 0
(b)
2
r2
(c)
1
2r2
(d)
x2 + y 2 + z 2 .
1
r2
Solutions to Exercises
14
Solutions to Exercises
Exercise 1(a)
To find the gradient
partial derivatives:
f
=
x
f
=
y
f
=
z
Solutions to Exercises
15
Exercise 1(b)
To find the divergence of the vector field F = xi xyj + z 2 k, we
recognise that its components are
F1 = x ,
F2 = xy ,
F3 = z 2 ,
2
=
(x) +
(xy) +
(z )
x
y
z
= x11 x y 11 + 2 z 21
= 1 x + 2z .
Click on the green square to return
Solutions to Exercises
16
Exercise 1(c)
The curl of the vector field F whose components are
F1 = x ,
F2 = xy ,
F3 = z 2 ,
j+
k
y
z
x
z
x
y
2
2
=
(z )
(xy) i
(z )
(x) j
y
z
x
z
+
(xy)
(x) k
x
y
= (0 + 0) i (0 0) j + (y 0) k
= yk .
Click on the green square to return
Solutions to Exercises
17
Exercise 1(d)
To subtract the curl of the vector F = xixyj+z 2 k from the gradient
of the scalar field f = x2 y z
f F .
we use the results of Exercise 1a and Exercise 1c, where it was found
that
f = 2xyi + x2 j k and
F = yk .
Therefore the difference of these two vectors is
f F
= 2xyi + x2 j k (y)k
= 2xyi + x2 j (1 y)k .
Solutions to Exercises
18
Exercise 2(a)
The Laplacian of the scalar field f = 3x3 y 2 z 3 is:
2 f
=
=
=
=
2f
2f
2f
+ 2 + 2
2
x
y
z
2
2
2
3 2 3
3 2 3
(3x
y
z
)
+
(3x
y
z
)
+
(3x3 y 2 z 3 )
x2
y 2
z 2
(9x2 y 2 z 3 ) +
(6x3 yz 3 ) +
(9x3 y 2 z 2 )
x
y
z
18xy 2 z 3 + 6x3 z 3 + 18x3 y 2 z .
Solutions to Exercises
19
Exercise 2(b)
1 1 ( 1 1)
=
x 2
z2 +
(1) +
x2 z 2
x 2
y
z 2
1 1 1
1 1 1
=
x 2z2 + 0 +
x2 z 2
x 2
z 2
1
1 1 ( 1 1) 1
1 1 1
=
( )x 2
z 2 + ( )x 2 z ( 2 1)
2 2
2 2
1 3 1
1 1 3
= x 2 z 2 x 2 z 2 .
4
4
This result may be rewritten as
1
1 1 1 2
1
1
2
2
=
f = x2 z 2 x + z
xz
+ 2 .
4
4
x2
z
Click on the green square to return
Solutions to Exercises
20
p
Exercise 2(c) To calculate 2 x2 + y 2 + z 2 , define u = x2 +y 2 +z 2 ,
so f = u1/2 . From the chain rule we have
1
1
u 2
u
1 1
f
=
= u( 2 1) 2x = xu 2 .
x
u
x
2
Therefore the second derivative is (from the product and chain rules):
1
1
3
u 2
u
2f
12
=
(x)
u
+
x
= u 2 x2 u 2 .
x2
x
u
x
Since f and u are symmetric in x, y and z we have
2f
y 2
= u 2 y 2 u 2
1
3
2f
= u 2 z 2 u 2 .
z 2
and
3u 2 (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )u 2 = 2u 2 = p
x2
.
+ y2 + z2
Solutions to Exercises
21
1
3
1
f
u 2
u
1
=
= u( 2 1) 2x = xu 2 .
x
u
x
2
Thus the second order derivative is:
3
3
5
2f
u 2
u
32
=
(x)
= u 2 + 3x2 u 2 .
x2
x
u
x
Due to the symmetry under interchange of x, y and z :
3
5
2f
2f
32
2 52
=
u
= u 2 + 3z 2 u 2 .
+
3y
u
,
2
2
y
z
Therefore we find that the Laplacian of f vanishes:
3
5
5
5
3
3
2 f = u 2 + 3x2 u 2 + u 2 + y 2 u 2 + u 2 + 3z 2 u 2
3
= 3u 2 + 3(x2 + y 2 + z 2 )u 2 = 3u 2 + 3u 2 = 0 .
Click on the green square to return
Solutions to Exercises
22
Exercise 3(a)
If the gradient of the scalar function f is f = 2xzi + x2 k, then the
Laplacian of f is given by the divergence of this vector
2 f = div (f ) .
Therefore the Laplacian of f is
2 f
=
=
=
=
div 2xzi + x2 k
2
(2xz) +
(0) +
(x )
x
y
z
2z + 0 + 0
2z .
Solutions to Exercises
23
Exercise 3(b)
If a scalar field f has gradient f =
x
x
1
i 2 j 2 k , its Laplacian
yz
y z
yz
x
=
+
2
+
2
x yz
y
y z
z
yz
x
x
= (0) (2) 3 (2) 3
y z
yz
y2 + z2
= 2x 3 3 .
y z
Click on the green square to return
Solutions to Exercises
24
Exercise 3(c)
As above if the gradient of f is
f = ez i + yj + xez k
its Laplacian is the scalar divergence of the vector f :
2 f = div (f ) .
Therefore
2 f
(e ) +
(y) +
(xez )
=
x
y
z
= (0) + 1 + xez
= 1 + xez .
=
Solutions to Exercises
25
Exercise 3(d)
1
1
1
If f = i + j + k , then the Laplacian of f is the divergence of
x
y
z
the gradient of f :
2 f = div (f ) .
Therefore
1
1
1
2
f = div
i+ j+ k
x
y
z
1
1
1
=
+
+
x x
y y
z z
1
1
1
= 2 2 2.
x
y
z
This may also be written as follows
2 f =
x2 y 2 + z 2 x2 + y 2 z 2
.
x2 y 2 z 2
Solutions to Exercises
26
Exercise 4(a)
To find the Laplacian of f = (2x 5y + z)(x 3y + z), we use
2 (uv) = (2 u)v + u2 v + 2(u) (v)
with u = 2x 5y + z and v = x 3y + z. This implies
u
v
= 2i 5j + k
= i 3j + k
and so
2 u = 2 v = 0
The above rule therefore gives:
2 f = 2u v
= 0 + 0 + 2(2i 5j + k) (i 3j + k)
= 2(2 + 15 + 1)
= 36 .
Solutions to Exercises
27
Exercise 4(b)
To find the Laplacian of f = (x2 y)(x + z), we use
2 (uv) = (2 u)v + u2 v + 2(u) (v)
with u = x2 y and v = x + z. This implies
u
v
and so
2 u = 2xi =
= 2xi j
= i+k
(2x)
=2
x
and 2 v = 0
=
=
=
2(x + z) + 0 + 2(2i j) (i + k)
2(x + z) + 2(2)
2(x + z + 2) .
Solutions to Exercises
28
Exercise 4(c)
To find the Laplacian of f = (y z)(x2 + y 2 + z 2 ), we use
2 (uv) = (2 u)v + u2 v + 2(u) (v)
with u = y z and v = x2 + y 2 + z 2 . This implies
u = j k
and 2 u = 0
while
v
2 u
Solutions to Exercises
29
p
Exercise 4(d) To find the Laplacian of f = x x2 + y 2 + z 2 , we
use
2 (uv) = (2 u)v + u2 v + 2(u) (v)
p
with u = x and v = x2 + y 2 + z 2 . Therefore u = i and 2 u = 0 .
p
In Exercise 2(c) we saw 2 v = 2/ x2 + y 2 + z 2 . To find v use
2
1
3
the chain rule:
(x + y 2 + z 2 ) 2 = 2x ( 21 ) (x2 + y 2 + z 2 ) 2
x
and similarly for the other partial derivatives. Thus
1
v =
3 (xi + yj + zk)
2
(x + y 2 + z 2 ) 2
The above rule therefore gives:
2
1
2 f = 0 + x p
+ 2i
3 (xi + yj + zk)
2
2
2
2
(x + y 2 + z 2 ) 2
x +y +z
2x2
2x
= p
3 .
(x2 + y 2 + z 2 ) 2
x2 + y 2 + z 2
Click on the green square to return
Solutions to Quizzes
30
Solutions to Quizzes
Solution to Quiz: The first and the second order partial derivatives
1
of f = rn , r = (x2 + y 2 + z 2 ) 2 with respect to the variable x read:
n
f
r
r
x
x
=
= nrn1 = n n+2 .
x
r
x
r
r
2f
1 x
r
1
=
n
xn
x2
rn+2 x
r rn+2
x
x2
1
= n n+2 + n(n + 2) n+4 .
r
r
Due to the symmetry under interchange of x, y and z we have also
2f
1
y2
2f
1
z2
=
n
+
n(n
+
2)
,
=
n
+
n(n
+
2)
.
y 2
rn+2
rn+4
z 2
rn+2
rn+4
Adding these second order derivatives yields the Laplacian:
2 f =
3n
rn+2
+ n(n + 2)
x2 + y 2 + z 2
n(n 1)
=
.
rn+4
rn+2
End Quiz
Solutions to Quizzes
31
Solution to Quiz:
The Laplacian of the vector field F = x3 yi + ln(z)j + ln(xy)k is a
vector 2 F whose i , j components are correspondingly
2 (x3 y)
2 (ln(z))
2 3
2
2
(x y) + 2 (x3 y) + 2 (x3 y) = 6xy ,
2
x
y
z
1
2
1
(ln(z)) =
= 2,
2
z
z z
z
= 2 (ln(x) + ln(y)) =
1
1
x2 + y 2
.
x2
y2
x2 y 2
1
x2 + y 2
j
k.
z2
x2 y 2
End Quiz
Solutions to Quizzes
32
Solution to Quiz:
The Laplacian of the vector field F = 3x2 zi sin(y)j + ln(2x3 )k is
a vector 2 F whose i , j and k components are correspondingly
2
2
2
(3x2 z) + 2 (3x2 z) + 2 (3x2 z) = 6z ,
2 3x2 z
=
2
x
y
z
2
(ln(2x3 )) =
(ln(2) + 3 ln(x))) = 3 2 ,
2 ln(2x3 ) =
2
2
x
x
x
Therefore the Laplacian of F is
1
2 F = 6zi + 2 sin(y)j 3 2 k ,
x
and evaluating it at the point (1, 2, 1) we get
2 F = 6i + 2 sin(2)j 3k = 6i 3k .
End Quiz
Solutions to Quizzes
33
Solution to Quiz:
The Laplacian of F = ln(y)i+z 2 j sin(2x)k at (1, 1, ) is the vector
whose i, j and k components are in turn given by:
1
2 ln(y) 2 ln(y) 2 ln(y)
+
+
= 0 2 + 0,
2
2
2
x
y
z
y
2 2
2 2
2 2
z
2 z 2 =
+
+
= 0 + 0 + 2,
x2
y 2
z 2
2 sin(2x) 2 sin(2x) 2 sin(2x)
2 sin(2x) =
+
+
x2
y 2
z 2
2
= 4 sin(2x) + 0 + 0 ,
2 ln(y)
Therefore we have
2 F =
1
i + 2j 4 2 sin(2x)k
y2