PHY 3330 I NTERMEDIATE E LECTRICITY AND M ATNETISM K YLE B USSE

Problem Set 1
kyle_busse@baylor.edu

Chapter 1 4, 5, 9, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18

4. Use the cross product to find the components of the unit vector n perpendicular to the plane shown in in Fig.
1.11. [The plane intersects the points (1, 0, 0), (0, 2, 0), and (0, 0, 3).]

We need to find two vectors in the plane of interest, so the following displacement vectors will do:

v1 = (0, 2, 0) (1, 0, 0) = h1, 2, 0i

v2 = (0, 0, 3) (1, 0, 0) = h1, 0, 3i .

Then a vector normal to the plane is given by

 
 e1 e2 e3 
 
n = v1 v2 =  1 2 0  = h6, 3, 2i .

 1 0 3 

Now |n| = 49 = 7, we a unit normal vector to the plane is
 
6 3 2
n = , , .
7 7 7
5. Prove the baccab rule by writing out both sides in component form.

baccab rule: a (b c) = b(a c) c(a b).

Let a = ha1 , a2 , a3 i, b = hb1 , b2 , b3 i, and c = hc1 , c2 , c3 i. Computing first b c:

 
 e1 e2 e3 
 
b c =  b1 b2 b3  = hb2 c3 b3 c2 , b3 c1 b1 c3 , b1 c2 b2 c1 i .

 c1 c2 c3 

Now computing the remaining crossproduct on the lefthand side

e1 e2 e3 a2 b1 c2 a2 b2 c1 a3 b3 c1 + a3 b1 c3
a (b c) = a1 a2 a3 = a3 b2 c3 a3 b3 c2 a1 b1 c2 + a1 b2 c1
b2 c3 b3 c2 b3 c1 b1 c3 b1 c2 b2 c1 a1 b3 c1 a1 b1 c3 a2 b2 c3 + a2 b3 c2

Now, computing the righthand side:

b(a c) c(a b) = b(a1 c1 + a2 c2 + a3 c3 ) c(a1 b1 + a2 b2 + a3 b3 )

a1 b1 c1 + a2 b1 c2 + a3 b1 c3 a1 b1 c1 a2 b2 c1 a3 b3 c1
= a1 b2 c1 + a2 b2 c2 + a3 b2 c3 a1 b1 c2 a2 b2 c2 a3 b3 c2
a1 b3 c1 + a2 b3 c2 + a3 b3 c3 a1 b1 c3 a2 b2 c3 a3 b3 c3

a2 b1 c2 + a3 b1 c3 a2 b2 c1 a3 b3 c1
= a1 b2 c1 + a3 b2 c3 a1 b1 c2 a3 b3 c2
a1 b3 c1 + a2 b3 c2 a1 b1 c3 a2 b2 c3

Direct comparison of the lefthand and righthand sides shows that they yield the same vector, and the rule
holds.

A DAPTED FROM Introduction to Electrodynamics BY DAVID J. G RIFFITHS S PRING 2017

PHY 3330 I NTERMEDIATE E LECTRICITY AND M ATNETISM K YLE B USSE

9. Find the transformation matrix R that describes a rotation by 120 about an axis from the origin through the
point (1, 1, 1). The rotation is clockwise as you look down the axis toward the origin.

The goal here becomes readily apparent if we examine the problem in a different geometry namely, if we
examine the projections of the x, y, and z axes onto the plane normal to the vector h1, 1, 1i and through the
origin, it is evident that the three axes are at equal angles from one another. More specifically, they lie at 120
from one another, and so if we rotate in this plane clockwise (which is what the problem asks), it is clear that
the y axis becomes the z, the z becomes the x, and the x becomes the y. Therefore, we want for the matrix R:

R11 R12 R13 1 R11 0
R21 R22 R23 0 = R21 = 1 = R11 = R31 = 0, R21 = 1.
R31 R32 R33 0 R31 0

0 R12 R13 0 R12 0
1 R22 R23 1 = R22 = 0 = R12 = R22 = 0, R32 = 1.
0 R32 R33 0 R32 1

0 0 R13 0 R13 1
1 0 R23 0 = R23 = 0 = R23 = R33 = 0, R13 = 1.
0 1 R33 1 R33 0

Then the final matrix is given by

0 0 1
R= 1 0 0 .
0 1 0

12. The height of a certain hill (in feet) is given by

h(x, y) = 10(2xy 3x2 4y2 18x + 28y + 12),

where where y s the distance (in miles) north, x the distance east of South Hadley.

(a) Where is the top of the hill located?

Because the function given is unbounded, we examine the gradient of the function to determine its ex-
trema. The gradient is given by

h = 10 h2y 6x 18, 2x 8y + 28i .

As the gradient is at most of degree one, it is evident that there is at most one extremum of h. To determine
its location, note that the xcomponent of the gradient is null when y 3x 9 = 0, or y = 3x + 9. Then
when the xcomponent vanishes, the ycomponent will vanish when x 4(3x + 9) 14 = 0, or x 12x
36 14 = 0, whereby x = 2 miles. Then y = 3x + 9 = 3 miles. Therefore, the top of the hill is located

2 miles west and 3 miles north of South Hadley.

(b) How high is the hill?
Plugging in x = 2 and y = 3, we see that the top of the hill is

10[2(2)(3) 3(2)2 4(3)2 18(2) + 28(3) + 12] = 720 feet.

A DAPTED FROM Introduction to Electrodynamics BY DAVID J. G RIFFITHS S PRING 2017

PHY 3330 I NTERMEDIATE E LECTRICITY AND M ATNETISM K YLE B USSE

(c) How steep is the slope (in feet per mile) at a point 1 mile north and 1 mile east of South Hadley? In what
direction is the slope steepest, at that point?
The steepness at the point (x, y) = (1, 1) depends on the direction in which one walks up or down the hill.
For a unit vector u indicating the direction from (x, y) = (1, 1), the steepness of the hill is given by

u h(1, 1) feet per mile.

The direction of steepest slope is that from (x, y) = (1, 1) in the direction of the gradient at that point. That
is, h(1, 1) = 10 h22, 22i. Therefore, we have that

the direction of steepest slope is due northwest.

In that direction, the slope is given as the magnitude of the gradient, which is

|h(1, 1)| = 220 2 feet per mile.

14. Suppose that f is a function of two variables (y and z) only. Show that the gradient f = ( f / y)e2 +( f / z)e3
transforms as a vector under rotations, Eq. 1.29. [Hint: ( f / y) = ( f / y)( y/ y) + ( f / z)( z/ y), and
the analogous formula for f / z. We know that y = y cos ( ) + z sin ( ) and z = y sin ( ) + z cos ( ); solve
these equations for y and z (as functions of y and z), and compute the needed derivatives y/ y and z/ y, etc.]
    
Ay cos ( ) sin ( ) Ay
Eq. 1.29: = .
Az sin ( ) cos ( ) Az

Following the hint, we would like to solve the system

     
cos ( ) sin ( ) y 1 tan ( ) y sec ( ) 1 tan ( ) y sec ( )

sin ( ) cos ( ) z 1 cot ( ) z csc ( ) 0 cot ( ) tan ( ) z csc ( ) y sec ( )
 
1 tan ( ) y/ cos ( )

0 sec ( ) csc ( ) z csc ( ) y sec ( )
 
cot ( ) 1 y csc ( )

0 sec ( ) csc ( ) z csc ( ) y sec ( )
 
cot ( ) 1 y csc ( )

0 1 (z csc ( ) + y sec ( ))/[sec ( ) csc ( )]
 
cot ( ) 0 y csc ( ) (z csc ( ) + y sec ( ))/[sec ( ) csc ( )]

0 1 (z csc ( ) + y sec ( ))/[sec ( ) csc ( )]

Simplification of the top row yields

    
sin ( ) y z y sin ( ) y
sin ( ) cos ( ) + = z cos ( ) y sin ( )
cos ( ) sin ( ) sin ( ) cos ( ) cos ( ) sin ( )
sin ( ) 1 sin2 ( )
 
= y z cos ( )
cos ( ) sin ( )
= y cos ( ) z sin ( ) = y.

Simplification of the bottom row yields

z csc ( ) + y sec ( )
= y sin ( ) + z cos ( ) = z.
sec ( ) csc ( )

A DAPTED FROM Introduction to Electrodynamics BY DAVID J. G RIFFITHS S PRING 2017

PHY 3330 I NTERMEDIATE E LECTRICITY AND M ATNETISM K YLE B USSE

Finally, calculation of the needed partial derivatives yields

f f y f z f f
= + = cos ( ) + sin ( )
y y y z y y z
f f y f z f f
= + = sin ( ) + cos ( )
z y z z z y z

To make the desired conclusions, we need to express the components of the gradient operator in the bar co-
ordinate system in terms of the components of the gradient operator in the conventional Cartesian coordinate
system:

f f
!   !  
y cos ( ) sin ( ) y cos ( ) sin ( )
[ f ]bar system = = = [ f ]original system .
f sin ( ) cos ( ) f sin ( ) cos ( )
z z

15. Calculate the divergence of the following vector functions:

(a) va = x2 e1 + 3xz2 e2 2xze3 .

2


va = x + 3xz2 + (2xz) = 2x 2x = 0.
x y z
(b) vb = xye1 + 2yze2 + 3zxe3 .

vb = (xy) + (2yz) + (3zx) = y + 2z + 3x.
x y z
(c) vc = y2 e1 + (2xy + z2 )e2 + 2yze3 .

2


vc = y + 2xy + z2 + (2yz) = 2x + 2y.
x y z
17. In two dimensions, show that the divergence transforms as a scalar under rotations. [Hint: Use Eq. 1.29 to
determine vy and vz , and the method of problem 1.14 to calculate the derivatives. Your aim is to show that
vy / y + vz / z = vy / y + vz / z.]

We would like to verify that

the divergenceoperator transforms correctly under vector rotation. Consider v :
R2 R2 given by v(y, z) = vy (y, z), vz (y, z) . Then in a rotated coordinate system, we have
      
vy cos ( ) sin ( ) vy vy cos ( ) + vz sin ( )
= = .
vz sin ( ) cos ( ) vz vy sin ( ) + vz cos ( )

Now then, we want to calculate the divergence operator acting on v in both coordinate systems. As usual, in the
unaltered coordinate system, the divergence is given by

vy vz
[ v]original system = + .
y z

A DAPTED FROM Introduction to Electrodynamics BY DAVID J. G RIFFITHS S PRING 2017

PHY 3330 I NTERMEDIATE E LECTRICITY AND M ATNETISM K YLE B USSE

In the rotated coordinate system, we have that

vy vz vy y vy z vz y vz z
[ v]bar system = + = + + +
y z y y z y y z z z
vy vy vz vz
= cos ( ) + sin ( ) sin ( ) + cos ( )
y z y z

= [vy cos ( ) + vz sin ( )] cos ( ) + [vy cos ( ) + vz sin ( )] sin ( )
y z

[vy sin ( ) + vz cos ( )] sin ( ) + [vy sin ( ) + vz cos ( )] cos ( )
y z
vy vz vy vz 2 vy 2
= cos2 ( ) + sin ( ) cos ( ) + sin ( ) cos ( ) + sin ( ) + sin ( )
y y z z y
vz vy vz
sin ( ) cos ( ) sin ( ) cos ( ) + cos2 ( )
y z z
vy  2  vz  2
cos ( ) + sin2 ( ) + cos ( ) + sin2 ( )

=
y z
vy vz
= + = [ v]original system .
y z

18. Calculate the curls of the vector functions in Prob. 1.15.

(a)
 

 e1 e2 
e3
va =  / x / y / z


 x2 3xz2 2xz

     
2

2
2

2

= (2xz) 3xz e1 (2xz) x e2 + 3xz x e3
y z x z x y
= 6xze1 + 2ze2 + 3z2 e3 .

(b)
 

 e1 e2
e3 
va =  / x / y
/ z 
 xy 2yz
3zx 
     

= (3zx) (2yz) e1 (3zx) (xy) e2 + (2yz) (xy) e3
y z x z x y
= 2ye1 3ze2 xe3 .

(c)
 

 e1 e2 e3 
vc =  / x / y
/ z 
 y2 2xy + z2
2yz 
     
2

2

2xy + z2 e1 2xy + z2


= (2yz) (2yz) y e2 + y e3
y z x z x y
= 0.

A DAPTED FROM Introduction to Electrodynamics BY DAVID J. G RIFFITHS S PRING 2017