MENU

Fun & Interesting

Oxford Calculus: Gradient (Grad) and Divergence (Div) Explained

Tom Rocks Maths 34,922 2 years ago
Video Not Working? Fix It Now

University of Oxford Mathematician Dr Tom Crawford explains the gradient vector (Grad) and the divergence (Div) for scalar and vector functions. Test yourself with this accompanying FREE worksheet in Maple Learn: https://learn.maplesoft.com/doc/ipubec5cip/trm-grad-and-div-worksheet Sign-up for Maple Learn Premium using the code TOMROCKSMATHS for a discounted subscription. Head to https://getlearn.maplesoft.com/ for more information. Check your working using the Maple Calculator App – available for free on Google Play and the App Store. Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maplesoft.companion&hl=en Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/maple-companion/id1466659419 We begin with the formal definition of the gradient vector (Grad) and a visualisation of what it represents for a multivariable function. We then look at some examples with explicit calculation and 3D plots. The Divergence (Div) of a vector function is then introduced - both as an equation and via the physical interpretation of what it represents. We calculate the divergence for several vector fields and then show where the notation 'Grad Dot F' comes from with a derivation. Finally, the link between Grad, Div and the Laplacian is explored. Don’t forget to check out the other videos in the ‘Oxford Calculus’ series – all links below. Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMCRxGutHqflZoTY8JCm1GRzCdGXvZ3_S Finding critical points for functions of several variables: https://youtu.be/Leomuu82-u8 Classifying critical points using the method of the discriminant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M_ts8Q2LEM Partial differentiation explained: https://youtu.be/RVwcBGzQcT8 Second order linear differential equations: https://youtu.be/F54yhRB9qDI Integrating factors explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftqKuOfOX3E Solving simple PDEs: https://youtu.be/uztjxrGY6Jw Jacobians explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqMelRryG8U Separation of variables integration technique explained: https://youtu.be/zk41c0vs9XQ Solving homogeneous first order differential equations: https://youtu.be/uqvqjbAcbL8 Taylor’s Theorem explained with examples and derivation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DULzJmUHN5g Heat Equation derivation: https://youtu.be/rz3cdzZXQms Separable Solutions to PDEs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcm-CgHFbwI How to solve the Heat Equation: https://youtu.be/l6spigOZCOs Fourier Series Derivation: https://youtu.be/LEonZYoW6sk Find out more about the Maple Calculator App and Maple Learn on the Maplesoft YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq2MmZQ8-kqEVAnmL2GSMsQ Produced by Dr Tom Crawford at the University of Oxford. Tom is an Early-Career Teaching and Outreach Fellow at St Edmund Hall: https://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/people/tom-crawford For more maths content check out Tom's website https://tomrocksmaths.com/ You can also follow Tom on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @tomrocksmaths. https://www.facebook.com/tomrocksmaths/ https://twitter.com/tomrocksmaths https://www.instagram.com/tomrocksmaths/ Get your Tom Rocks Maths merchandise here: https://beautifulequations.net/collections/tom-rocks-maths

Comment