Electromagnetic Fields : Basics of Field Theory

By Vishnu Pratap Singh|Updated : February 18th, 2022

In this article, you will find the Study Notes on Coordinate Systems and Vector Calculus which will cover the topics such as Cartesian, spherical & Cylindrical Coordinate systems and Gradient, curl, divergence & Laplacian operator

Electromagnetics is the study of the effects of electric charges in rest and motion. Some fundamental quantities in electromagnetics are scalars while others are vectors. The laws of electromagnetism are invariant with coordinate systems i.e., they can be completely described using an appropriate coordinate system and must hold good irrespective of the coordinate system used.

                                                                                                      

In this article, you will find the Study Notes on Coordinate Systems and Vector Calculus which will cover the topics such as Cartesian, spherical & Cylindrical Coordinate systems and Gradient, curl, divergence & Laplacian operator

Electromagnetics is the study of the effects of electric charges in rest and motion. Some fundamental quantities in electromagnetics are scalars while others are vectors. The laws of electromagnetism are invariant with coordinate systems i.e., they can be completely described using an appropriate coordinate system and must hold good irrespective of the coordinate system used.

1. Cartesian Coordinate System.

In the Cartesian system, the 3 base vectors arebyjusexamprep Any point in space can be written in the form,  byjusexamprep

where (x1, y1, z1) are the coordinates of the point P in the Cartesian space which is the intersection of the three planes x = x1, y = y1, z = z1. The distance of the point from the origin is given by,

byjusexamprep

The figure below depicts point P in the Cartesian Coordinate System. As you can see x1,y1 and z1 can also be understood as the perpendicular distance of point P from the YZ, XZ and XY plane,

byjusexamprep

  • The differential length, differential surface and differential volume are given by,

     byjusexamprep

2. Cylindrical Coordinate System.

In the cylindrical system, the three base vectors arebyjusexamprep. Any point in space can be written in the form, byjusexamprep,

where (r1, φ1, z1) are the coordinates of the point P in the Cylindrical Space. The point P is the intersection of a circular cylinder surface r = r1, a half-plane containing z-axis and making an angle φ = φ1 with the XZ plane and a plane z = z1 parallel to the XY plane. φ1 is measured from the positive x-axis and the base vector ˆaφ is tangential to the cylindrical surface.

byjusexamprep

 

  • The distance of the point from the origin is given by,
      byjusexamprep
  • The values of the 3 coordinates vary as follows,

        byjusexamprep

  • the differential length, differential surface and differential volume are given by, 

     byjusexamprep

3. Spherical Coordinate System.

In the Spherical system, the 3 bases are ˆar, ˆaθ and ˆaφ. Any point in space can be written in the form, byjusexamprep

where (r, θ, φ) are the coordinates of the point P in the Spherical Space. A point P(r1, θ1, φ1) in the spherical coordinates are specified as the intersection of the following three surfaces: a spherical surface centred at the origin and has a radius r1, a right circular cone with its apex at origin and half angle θ1 and a half-plane containing z-axis and making an angle φ1 with the XZ plane,

byjusexamprep

  • The distance of the point from the origin is given by, byjusexamprep
  • The values of the 3 coordinates vary as follows, 

       byjusexamprep

  • the differential length, differential surface and differential volume are given by,

      byjusexamprep

3. Scalar and Vector Products

  • Dot Product: is also called scalar product. Let ‘θ’ be the angle between vectors A and B. 

                                       byjusexamprep

  • Cross product: is also called vector product.                                  

      byjusexamprep        byjusexamprep

       S = |S| ân where |S| = |A| |B| Sinθ, To find the direction of S, consider a right threaded screw being rotated from A to B. i.e. perpendicular to the plane containing the vectors A and B. therefore, byjusexamprep

Cartesian coordinate to Cylindrical-coordinate Conversion:

Point transformation,

byjusexamprep

The relationship between  are vector transformation,

byjusexamprep

byjusexamprep

Cartesian coordinate to Spherical coordinate:

Point transformation,

byjusexamprep

byjusexamprep

 

3. Gradient, Curl & Divergence

  • Gradient: Gradient of a scalar field V, is a vector that represents both magnitude and direction of maximum space rate of change of V. The gradient of V, ∇V, will always be perpendicular to a constant V surface. If byjusexamprep = ∇V, then V is said to be the scalar potential of byjusexamprep.

byjusexamprep

The vector that represents the magnitude and direction of the maximum space rate of increase of a scalar is the gradient of that scalar. byjusexamprep

It can be shown that the gradient operator in the three coordinate systems are 

byjusexamprep

 

  • A divergence of a Vector Field: The spatial derivatives of a vector field are represented through divergence and curl. It is usually convenient to represent vector field variations in space as field lines or flux lines whose directions indicate the direction of these lines.

byjusexamprep

  • Divergence of a vector field byjusexamprepat a given point P is the outward flux per unit volume, as the volume shrinks about P. Divergence of a vector field is a scalar byjusexamprep
  • The divergence operator in the 3 coordinate systems:

byjusexamprep

        

  • The divergence theorem relates the divergence of a vector field byjusexamprepto the surface integral over a surface. It is given by byjusexamprepwhere S is the surface and V in the volume enclosed by the surface S.
  • Curl: Similar to a flow source, vector fields can also exist as ’vortex sources’ which causes circulation of a vector field around it, Ifbyjusexamprepis a force acting on an object, circulation would be the work done by the force in moving the object once around the contour. The curl of byjusexamprep is a vector whose magnitude is the maximum circulation of byjusexamprep per unit area, as the area tends to zero. The direction of the curl is the normal direction of the area when the area is oriented to make the circulation maximum.

        byjusexamprep

  • Stokes Theorem relates the curl of a vector field byjusexamprepto the line integral of byjusexamprepover a contour C. It is given by, byjusexamprep
  • Given below is the ∇ operator in the 3 coordinate systems

byjusexamprep

       

3. Laplacian Operation

The Laplacian of a scalar field V in different coordinate systems is defined as

byjusexamprep

  • Laplacian of a Vector function (byjusexamprep):

      byjusexamprep

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