1 Electrostatics

1.1 Coordinate systems and vectors

1.1. Write the relation among the spherical coordinates (r, θ, ϕ), cylindrical coordi-
nates (r, θ, z), and Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z).

1.2. Convert the point (r, θ, ϕ) = (2, 30◦ , 60◦ ) to the Cartesian coordinate system.

1.3. Write unit vectors of the polar coordinates (r̂, θ̂), in terms of unit vectors of the
Cartesian coordinates (î, ĵ).
Answer:

r̂ = cos θ î + sin θ ĵ (1)

θ̂ = − sin θ î + cos θ ĵ (2)

1.4. Express the unit vectors in the spherical (r̂, θ̂, ϕ̂) and cylindrical coordinate sys-
tems (r̂, θ̂, k̂) in terms of unit vectors of Cartesian coordinate systems (î, ĵ, k̂).
Answer: Spherical to Cartesian

r̂ = sin θ cos ϕ î + sin θ sin ϕ ĵ + cos θ k̂ (3)

θ̂ = cos θ cos ϕ î + cos θ sin ϕ ĵ − sin θ k̂ (4)
ϕ̂ = − sin ϕ î + cos ϕ ĵ (5)

Cylindrical to Cartesian: Do it yourself.

r̂ = cos θ î + sin θ ĵ (6)

θ̂ = − sin θ î + cos θ ĵ (7)
k̂ = k̂ (8)

1.5. In the problem 1.4, verify that r̂ · θ̂ = 0, θ̂ · ϕ̂ = 0, and ϕ̂ · r̂ = 0 for spherical

coordinate system.

1.6. In the problem 1.4, verify that r̂ × θ̂ = ϕ̂, θ̂ × ϕ̂ = r̂, and ϕ̂ × r̂ = θ̂ for spherical
coordinate system.
 1.2 Gradient, Divergence and Curl
⃗ operator in Cartesian, Spherical and Cylindrical coordinates.
1.7. Write Del (∇)
Hint: See the book “Introduction to Electrodynamics” by David J. Griffiths.
Answer: Cartesian coordinates:

⃗ ≡ î ∂ + ĵ ∂ + k̂ ∂
∇ (9)
∂x ∂y ∂z

Spherical coordinates:

⃗ ≡ r̂ ∂ + θ̂ 1 ∂ + ϕ̂ 1 ∂
∇ (10)
∂r r ∂θ r sin θ ∂ϕ

Cylindrical coordinates:

⃗ ≡ r̂ ∂ + θ̂ 1 ∂ + k̂ ∂
∇ (11)
∂r r ∂θ ∂z

1.8. Evaluate gradient of a function f (x, y, z) in the Cartesian coordinates.

1.9. Evaluate gradient of a function f (r, θ, ϕ) in the spherical coordinates.

1.10. Evaluate gradient of a function f (r, θ, z) in the cylindrical coordinates.

1.11. Evaluate divergence of a function F⃗ (x, y, z) = fx (x, y, z)î+fy (x, y, z)ĵ+fz (x, y, z)k̂
in the Cartesian coordinates.

1.12. Evaluate divergence of a function F⃗ (r, θ, ϕ) = fr (r, θ, ϕ)r̂+fθ (r, θ, ϕ)θ̂+fϕ (r, θ, ϕ)ϕ̂
in the spherical coordinates. Follows these steps to solve this problem:
Step-1: Calculate all nine partial derivatives of unit vectors in the spherical co-
ordinates r̂, θ̂, ϕ̂ with respect to r, θ, ϕ. Use the results obtained in problem 1.4
to get these derivatives.
∂ r̂ ∂ θ̂ ∂ ϕ̂
∂r = 0, ∂r = 0, ∂r = 0,
∂ r̂ ∂ θ̂ ∂ ϕ̂
Answer: ∂θ = θ̂, ∂θ = −r̂, ∂θ = 0,
∂ r̂ ∂ θ̂ ∂ ϕ̂
∂ϕ = sin θ ϕ̂, ∂ϕ = cos θ ϕ̂, ∂ϕ = − cos θ θ̂ − sin θ r̂.
Step-2: Use these derivatives to evaluate divergence.

1.13. Evaluate divergence of a function F⃗ (r, θ, z) = fr (r, θ, z)r̂+fθ (r, θ, z)θ̂+fϕ (r, θ, z)k̂
in the cylindrical coordinates.
1.14. Evaluate Laplacian, ∇2 f = (∇⃗ · ∇)f
⃗ =∇ ⃗ · (∇f
⃗ ), where f is a scalar function of
Cartesian coordinates, f ≡ f (x, y, z).

1.15. Evaluate Laplacian, ∇2 f = (∇ ⃗ · ∇)f

⃗ =∇ ⃗ · (∇f
⃗ ), where f is a scalar function of
spherical coordinates, f ≡ f (r, θ, ϕ).

1.16. Evaluate Laplacian, ∇2 f = (∇⃗ · ∇)f

⃗ =∇ ⃗ · (∇f
⃗ ), where f is a scalar function of
cylindrical coordinates, f ≡ f (r, θ, z).
1.17. Calculate gradient of f (x, y, z) = x2 + y 2 + z 2 .
1.18. Calculate gradient of f (x, y, z) = x2 y + y 2 z + z 2 x.

1.19. Calculate divergence and curl of F⃗ (x, y, z) = xy î + yz 2 ĵ + xz k̂

1.20. Calulcate divergence of F⃗ (r, θ, ϕ) = r sin θ r̂ + sin ϕ θ̂ + cos ϕ ϕ̂

1.21. Find perpendicular to the surface of an ellipsoid, given by following equation, at
any point on its surface.
x2 y 2 z 2
+ + =1 (12)
a2 b 2 c 2

1.22. The height of a certain hill (in feet) is given by h(x, y) = 10(2xy − 3x2 − 4y 2 −
18x + 28y + 12), where y is the distance towards north, x the distance towards
east of a reference point (a) Where is the top of the hill located? (b) How high
is the hill? and (c) How steep is the slope at a point one unit north and one unit
east of reference point? In what direction is the slope steepest, at that point?
1.23. Determine divergence of r̂/r2 using spherical coordinates in the region r > 0.
Here ⃗r represents the position vector of any arbitrary point except the Origin.
1.24. Let ⃗r be the separation vector from fixed point (x′ , y ′ , z ′ ) to the point (x, y, z)
⃗ 2 ) = 2⃗r (b) ∇(1/r)
and r be the length, show that (a) ∇(r ⃗ = −r̂/r2 (c) What is
⃗ n )?
the general formula for ∇(r
⃗ · ∇)r
1.25. Determine divergence of r̂/r2 for r > 0 and find the value of (∇ ⃗ m.

1.26. Determine the divergence of the following vector fields

⃗ = r sin ϕr̂ + r2 z ϕ̂ + z cos ϕẑ,
(a) A
⃗ = 12 cos θr̂ + r sin θ cos ϕθ̂ + cos θϕ̂
(b) B r
⃗ = r cos θr̂ + r sin θθ̂ + r sin θ cos ϕϕ̂
(c) C
⃗ = s(2 + sin2 ϕ)ŝ + s sin ϕ cos ϕϕ̂ + 3z ẑ
(d) D
1.27. State fundamental theorem for divergence (Gauss’s theorem) and curl (Stokes’
theorem)

1.28. Suppose ⃗v = (2xz + 3y 2 )ŷ + 4yz 2 ẑ. Check stokes’ theorem for the square surface
as shown in the figure.

1.29. Test the divergence theorem for the function ⃗v = xy î + 2yz ĵ + 3zxk̂ on a cube
with side length 2 units.

1.30. Check the divergence theorem using the function ⃗v = y 2 î + (2xy + z 2 )ĵ + 2yz k̂
for a cube with sides of length unity.

1.31. Suppose ⃗v = (2xz +3y 2 ) ĵ +4yz 2 k̂. Verify stokes’ theorem for the square surface
with side length 2 unit, as shown in the figure.

1.3 Line, surface and volume integrals

1.32. Write down infinitesimal displacement, surface area element and volume elements
in Spherical and Cylindrical Coordinate System.
RB
⃗ where F⃗ = xy î + x2 ĵ over the straight line
1.33. Evaluate the line integral A F⃗ · dr,
between A(1, 1) and B(4, 6).
RB
⃗ where F⃗ = xy î + x2 ĵ over the curve y = x2
1.34. Evaluate the line integral A F⃗ · dr,
between A(0, 0) and B(1, 1).

1.35. Calculate area of a circle using the Cartesian coordinate system.

1.36. Calculate area of a circle using the polar coordinate system.

1.37. Calculate area of an ellipse with semi-major and semi-minor axis, a and b re-
spectively, using the Cartesian Coordinate system.

1.38. Calculate volume of a sphere using the spherical coordinate system.

1.39. Calculate the surface integral of ⃗v = 2xz x̂ + (x + 2)ŷ + y(z 2 − 3)ẑ over five sides
(excluding the bottom) of the cubical box the figure. Let “upward and outward”
be the positive direction, as indicated by the arrows.

1.40. The spherical charge distribution is given by ρ(r) = ρ0 + αr for 0 ≤ r ≤ R.

Here ρ0 and α are the constants. Calculate the total charge contained inside the
sphere of radius R.