104 Vector Differential Calculus

Now
 →
−
−
→ ∂E ∂  →
−
∇× ∇×H =∇× = ∇× E
∂t ∂t
→
−  →
−
∂ ∂H ∂2 E
= − =− 2 (iii)
∂t ∂t ∂t
but
 →
−  →
− →
− →
−
∇ × ∇ × H = ∇ ∇ · H − ∇2 H = −∇2 H (iv)

from (iii) and (iv), we have

→
−
∂2 H
2−
→
∇ H= 2
∂t
2
The equation ∇2 u = ∂∂t2u
2 2 2 ∂2u
i.e., ∂∂xu2 + ∂∂yu2 + ∂∂zu2 = ∂t2
is called the wave equation.

3.8 Exercise
1. Determine k and τ for the following curve:
(i) x = t cos t , y = t sin t , z =λt at t = 0 
2 3λ
Answer: k = 1+λ2
, τ= 2(1+λ2 )

(ii) x = 3t, y = 3t2 ,z = 2t3 

3
 2
Answer: = σ = 2 1 + 2t2 , = k1 , σ = τ1
 
(iii) x = a 3t − t3 , y = 3 at2 , z = a(3t + t3 )
  2 
Answer: = σ = 3a 1 + t2

2. For the curve x = 3t, y = 3t2 , z = 2t2 at t = 1 Prove that = σ=

3
 
2 2.
2 1 + 2t

3. For the curve x = 2 log t, y = 4t, z = 2t2 + 1 at t = 1 prove that

= σ = 9.
4. Find curvature and torsion for the curve −
→
r = cos t î + sin t ĵ + tk̂.
2 2
Also, prove that 2 κ + τ = 1.
 
Answer: k = 12 , τ = 12
 3.8 Exercise 105

5. Find curvature and torsion for the curve x = t cos t , y = t sin t , z =

λt at t = 0.  
2 3λ
Answer: k = 1+λ 2 , τ = 2(1+λ2 )

6. For the curve x = a cos θ , y = a sin θ , z = a θtan α , find ρ.

 
Answer:ρ = asec2 α

7. For the curve x = a cos θ , y = a sin θ , z = λθ, find k and τ .

 
a λ
Answer: k = a2 +λ 2 , τ = a2 +λ2

8. Show that for the curve

z 2x2
x2 − y 2 = c2 , y = xtanh , = σ= .
c c
 
9. For the curve x = tan−1 s , y = √1 log s2 + 1 , z = s − tan−1 s
2
√
2
show that k = τ = s2 +1
.
   
10. For the curve x = a 3u − u3 , y = 3au2 , z = a 3u + u3
1
show that k = τ = 3a(1+u2 )2
.

11. For the curve x = 4a cos3 u , y = 4a sin3 u , z = 3c cos2u

a
prove that k = 6(a2 +c2 )sin2u
.

12. Find the length of the curve x = et cost , y = et sint , z =

et between t = t1 and t = t2 .
 √  
Answer: 3 et2 − et1

13. Find the length of the arc of the curve x = 3t, y = 3t2 , z = 2t3
between t = 0 and t = 1.
(Answer: 5)
3 3 3a 2
 x = a cos t, y = a sin t , z = 2 cos t
14. Find the lengthof the curve
3a
from the point a, 0, 2 to the point (0, a, 0).
 
3a
Answer: √ 2
106 Vector Differential Calculus

15. Find the length of the curves −

→
r (t) = 2tî + 3sin2t ĵ + 3cos2t k̂ on the
interval 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π.
 √ 
Answer: 2 10t
16. Find the magnitude of the velocity and acceleration of a particle which
moves along the curve x = 2 sin3t , y = 2 cos3t , z = 8t at any time
t > 0. Find the unit tangent vector to the curve.
  
1
Answer: 10, 18, 10 (6 cos3t ) î − (6 sin3t ) ĵ + 8k̂

17. A particle moves along a plane curve such that its linear velocity is
perpendicular to the radius vector. Show that the path of the particle
is a circle.
18. Find the magnitude of the tangential components of acceleration at any
time t of a particle whose position at any time t is given by x = cost +
tsint , y= sint − tcost .
(Answer: 1)
19. Show that the length of the √ curve 2x = a (cos 3θ + cos θ ) , 2y =
a
 (sin 3θ +
√  sin θ ) z = 3 a cos θ measured from the point
a, 0, 3 a in 2aθ.
 
d2 V d3 V
d
20. Prove that dt V. dV
dt × dt 2 dt × dt3 .
= V . dV

21. Show that r = e−1 (a cos2t + b sin 2t) , where a and b are constant
2
vectors, is a solution to the differential equation ddt2r + 2 dr
dt + 5r = 0.

22. What is the greatest rate of increase of u = x2 + yz 2 at the point

(1, −1, 3)?
 √ 
Answer: 89
23. Find grad φ at the point (1, −2, 1) when φ is given by φ = 3x2 y − y 3 z 2 .
 
Answer: − 12î − 9ĵ − 16k̂

24. If φ = x3 + y 3 + z 3 − 3xyz, show that −

→
r · ∇φ = 3φ.
25. If u = x + y + z, v = x2 + y 2 + z 2 , w = yz + zx + xy then

a. Prove that (∇ u) · [∇v × ∇w] = 0.

 3.8 Exercise 107

b. Show that ∇u, ∇v, ∇w are coplanar.

   
26. If ∇φ = (2xyz) î + x2 z ĵ + x2 y k̂, determine φ.
 
Answer: φ = x2 yz + c
→
−  − → − →
27. If A is a constant vector then prove that ∇ r · A = A .

Find a unit vector normal to the surface x2 + y 2 + z 2 = a2 at

28. 
√a , √a , √a .
3 3 3
 
Answer: î+√ĵ+
3
k̂

29. Find a unit vector normal to the surface x2 + y 2 − z = 1 at the point

(1, 1, 1).
 
Answer: 2î−23ĵ−k̂
 
30. Find a unit outward drawn normal to the surface x2 − 1 + y 2 +
(z + 2)2 = 9 at the point (3, 1, −4).
 
Answer: 2î+ĵ−2
3
k̂

31. The temperature at a point (x, y, z) in space is given by T (x, y, z) =

x2 + y 2 − z. A mosquito located at (1, 1, 2) desires to fly in such a
direction that it will get warm as soon as possible. In what direction
should it fly?
  
Answer: 13 2î + 2ĵ − k̂

32. What is the angle between the normals to the surface xy = z 2 at the
points (1, 9, −3) and (−2, −2, 2)?
  
Answer: cos−1 √11118

33. Show that ∇φ is a vector perpendicular to the surface φ (x, y, z) = 0.

34. Find the directional derivative of φ (x, y, z) = xy 2 + yz 3 at the point

(2, −1, 1) in the direction of the vector î + 2ĵ + 2k̂.
 
Answer: − 11
3
108 Vector Differential Calculus

35. Find the directional derivative of φ (x, y, z) = xy 2 + yz 2 at the point

(2, −1, 1) in the direction of the vector î + 2ĵ + 2k̂.
(Answer: − 3)

36. If the directional derivative of φ = axy + byz + czx at (1, 1, 1)

has maximum magnitude 4 in a direction parallel to the x-axis, find the
values of a, b, c.
(Answer: a = 2, b = −2, c = 2 )

37. Prove that the angle between the surface x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 9 and

 
x2 + y 2 − z = 3 at the point (2, −1, 2) is cos−1 3√821 .

38. Find the angle between the tangent planes to the surfaces xlogz = y 2 −
1 and x2 y = 2 − z at the point (1, 1, 1).
  
Answer: cos−1 √130

39. In what direction form (3, 1, −2) is the directional derivative of φ =

x2 y 2 z 4 maximum, and what is its magnitude?
   
1
Answer: 13 4î + 3ĵ − 12k̂ , 1

40. Is there a direction u in which the rate of change of f (x, y) = x2 −

3xy + 4y 2 at P (1, 2) equals 14? Give reasons for your answer.
 √ 
Answer : No, the maximum rate of change is 185 < 14
 
41. Given −→u = xyz î + 2x2 z − y 2 x ĵ + xz 3 k̂, − →
v = x2 î + 2yz ĵ +
(1 + 2z) k̂, f = xy + yz + z 2 then find (i) ∇ · − →v (ii) ∇ × v (iii)
∇ · (f −
→
u ) (iv) ∇ × (f −
→v ) at (1, 0, −1)
 
Answer: (i) 3, (ii) 0, (iii) 5, (iv) − 2ĵ

42. If ω is a constant vector and −

→
v =−
→
ω ×−
→
r prove that div −
→
v = 0.
→
− xî+y ĵ
43. Prove that F = x2 +y 2
is solenoidal.
→ 
− 
44. If F = y 2 − z 2 + 3yz − 2x î+(3xz + 2xy) ĵ+(3xy − 2xz + 2z) k̂,
→
−
Show that F is both solenoidal and irrotational.
 3.8 Exercise 109

→ 
− 
45. If F = z 2 + 2x + 3y î + (3x + 2y + z) ĵ + (y + 2xz) k̂, Show that
F is irrotational but not solenoidal.
→ 
−     
46. Show that F = 6xy + z 3 î + 3x2 − z ĵ + 3xz 2 − y k̂
→
−
is irrotational. Find scalar φ such that F = ∇φ.

47. In each case the velocity vector − →v of a steady fluid motion is given, Find
→
−
curl v . Is the motion incompressible?
(i) −
→
v = z 2 ĵ , (ii) −
→
v = y î − xĵ , (iii) −
→
v = xî + y ĵ
⎛ ⎞
Answer: (i) curl − →v = −2z ĵ, incompressible
⎝ (ii) curl − →v = −2k̂, incompressible ⎠
→
− →
−
(iii) curl v = 0, div v = 2, compressible
→
− →
−
48. If the vector product of the vectors A and B be the curl of a third vector,
→
− →
− →
−
prove that A · curl = B · curl A .
→
− →
−
49. Prove that div (f curl F ) = (grad f ) · curl F .

50. If φ, ψ satisfy Laplace equation, prove that the vector (φ∇ψ − ψ∇φ) is
solenoidal.

51. Show that

#  .
(i.) ∇2 ∇. rr2 = r24
   
(ii.) ∇ × a × ∇ 1r + ∇ a . ∇ 1r = 0.

d−
→ d−
→
52. If u
dt =−
→
w ×−
→
u and v
dt =−
→
w ×−
→
v , then prove that

d −
(→
u ×−
→
v)=−
→
w × (−
→
u ×−
→
v ).
dt
  d−
→
53. If −
→
r = t3 î + 2t3 − 1
5t2
ĵ, then show that r̂ × r
dt = k̂.