Stuck on divergence of electric field

In summary, the electric field at a point is calculated by integrating the contribution of all charge elements, which depends on the distance between the point and the charge element. The formula for the divergence of the electric field with respect to the position vector is given by the integral of the divergence of the contribution of the charge elements with respect to the position vector, which does not include the charge density function. This is because the distance between the point and the charge element is denoted by a different variable, and the integration is done with respect to that variable.
  • #1
betelgeuse91
32
0

Homework Statement


For a volume charge, ##\textbf{E}(\textbf{r}) = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\int_{all space}\frac{\hat{\gamma}}{\gamma^2}\rho(r')d\tau'##
and I am trying to get the divergence of it.

Homework Equations


The book says
##\nabla\cdot\textbf{E} = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\int_{all space}[\nabla\cdot(\frac{\hat{\gamma}}{\gamma^2})]\rho(r')d\tau'##

The Attempt at a Solution


I am wondering why it is not
##\nabla\cdot\textbf{E} = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\int_{all space}[\nabla\cdot(\frac{\hat{\gamma}}{\gamma^2}\rho(r'))]d\tau'##
when taking ##\nabla## inside the integral, because if it should be this way,
then we need to apply the product rule of divergence. (I guess it's not the case)
Can somebody please explain why the divergence inside does not include the charge density function?
Thank you.
 
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  • #2
The electric field at a point P with position vector ##\vec r## is the integral of the contribution of all charge elements dq. Those contributions depend on the distance of the charge element from the point P. That distance is denoted by γ in your formula. ##\gamma =\vec r- \vec r' ##, ##\hat \gamma =\frac{\vec r- \vec r'}{|\vec r- \vec r'|}##.
You need the divergence with respect to ##\vec {r}##, while ρ is function of ##\vec {r'}##.
 
  • #3
Actually ##\vec{r}## is the position vector of target charge, and ##\vec{r}'## is the position vector of source charge, so we integrate it over ##\vec{r}'##, so I think I need the divergence with respect to ##\vec{r}'##
 
  • #4
ehild said:
The electric field at a point P with position vector ##\vec r## is the integral of the contribution of all charge elements dq. Those contributions depend on the distance of the charge element from the point P. That distance is denoted by γ in your formula. ##\gamma =\vec r- \vec r' ##, ##\hat \gamma =\frac{\vec r- \vec r'}{|\vec r- \vec r'|}##.
You need the divergence with respect to ##\vec {r}##, while ρ is function of ##\vec {r'}##.
I get it now...! thank you very much!
 
  • #5
You are welcome.
 

FAQ: Stuck on divergence of electric field

1. What is meant by "divergence of electric field"?

The divergence of an electric field is a measure of how much the electric field is spreading out or converging at a specific point. It is a vector quantity that describes the direction and magnitude of the change in electric field at a given point.

2. Why is the divergence of electric field important in science?

The divergence of electric field is important in science because it helps us understand the behavior of electric fields and their effects on charged particles. It is a key concept in electromagnetism and is used in various fields such as electronics, optics, and energy generation.

3. How is the divergence of electric field calculated?

The divergence of electric field can be calculated using the Gauss's Law, which states that the flux of electric field through a closed surface is equal to the charge enclosed by that surface. It can also be calculated using vector calculus equations such as the del operator and dot product.

4. What are some real-life applications of the divergence of electric field?

The divergence of electric field has various real-life applications. For example, it is used in the design of electronic circuits, antennas, and sensors. It is also crucial in understanding the behavior of electromagnetic waves and their propagation in different mediums.

5. How does the divergence of electric field relate to the concept of electric charge?

The divergence of electric field is closely related to the concept of electric charge. It is a measure of how much electric charge is present at a certain point or how much electric charge is flowing in or out of a specific region. The divergence of electric field is affected by the presence and distribution of electric charge, and in turn, it influences the behavior of charged particles in that region.

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