P. F.

Embid

Spring 2016

Math 466

Homework # 2

Given 2/6/2016. Due 2/11/2016.

1. Consider the polar change of variables x = r cos , y = r sin

(a) Show that the first order partial derivatives of x and y with respect to r and are given by
x
y
xr = , yr = , x = y, and y = x.
r
r
(b) Show that the first order partial derivatives of r and with respect to x and y are given by
sin
cos
rx = cos , ry = sin , x =
, and y =
.
r
r
2. (Polar coordinates, cont.) Consider the polar change of variables x = r cos , y = r sin . Show that
the second partial derivatives of r and with respect to x and y are given by
sin2
sin cos
cos2
rxx =
, rxy =
, ryy =
,
r
r
r
2 sin cos
sin2 cos2
2 sin cos
xx =
,

=
, yy =
.
xy
2
2
r
r
r2
3. (Laplacian in polar coordinates) Use the formulas developed in Ex.1 and Ex.2 above to show that
1
1
uxx + uyy = urr + ur + 2 u .
r
r
4. This exercise shows how to derive the 3-D Laplacian in spherical coordinates by two applications of
the 2-D Laplacian in polar coordinates. Consider the spherical coordinates
x = r sin cos , y = r sin sin , z = r cos , where 0 < r < , 0 < < , 0 < 2.
(a) Introduce = r sin and show that we have two sets of polar coordinates, namely = r sin ,
z = r cos , and x = cos , y = sin .
(b) Use x = cos and y = sin to show that
1
1
uxx + uyy + uzz = u + u + 2 u + uzz .

(c) Now use z = r cos and = r sin to show that

2
1
cot
1
uxx + uyy + uzz = urr + ur + 2 u + 2 u + 2 2 u
r
r
r
r
sin




2u
1
u
1

u
1
2
=
r
+
sin

+
r2 r
r
r2 sin

r2 sin2 2
x
= hi qbi , i = 1, 2, 3, where hi is the
qi
X
Lame constant (scaling factors) and qbi is the i-th unit vector. If F =
Fi qbi , then

5. Assume x = x(q) is an orthogonal coordinate system with

1
1
(hk Fk )
(hj Fj ) qbi , where i = 1, 2, 3 and j, k follow in
h
h
q
h
j
j hk qk
k j
i
cyclical order, i.e. ijk = 123, 231, 312.
Show that curl F can be written in symbolic form (just as in cartesian coordinates) as
curl F = F =

 qb
 1
 h2 h3

curl F = 
 q1
h F

1 1

qb2
h1 h3

q2

h2 F2

qb3
h1 h2

q3





.


h3 F3 

6. Write curl F in cylindrical coordinates, where F = Fr rb + F b + Fz zb

Note: The subscripts of the vector F above are just tags to identify the components of F in the
different directions; they are not partial derivatives.
1

7. Write curl F in spherical coordinates, where F = Fr rb + F b + F b

Note: The subscripts of the vector F above are just tags to identify the components of F in the
different directions; they are not partial derivatives.
8. Maxwells electromagnetic equations in vacuum are given by
E = 0 Ht ,
H = 0 Et ,
where E is the electric field and H is the magnetizing field. Write Maxwells equations in cylindrical
coordinates, where E = Er rb + E b + Ez zb and H = Hr rb + H b + Hz zb