Re: non-rectangular div/grad/curl (was: another math question)

[John Clement <clement@HAL-PC.ORG>]

Actually this problem was noted by me over 30 years ago.  I think there are
even physics texts that disagree on the definitions.  If students understand
the definitions rather than memorizing the formulae it should not really be
a problem.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX

> On Tue, 11 Jun 2002, John S. Denker wrote:
>
> > Justin Parke wrote:
> > > I am wondering if, when I introduce vector operators like
> > > the gradient, divergence, and curl, I should go beyond
> > > just rectangular coordinates and include cylindrical and
> > > spherical as well.
>
>         Depends on the course: for Jr level E&M it is absolutely
> essential.
>
>         I just ran into an interesting problem with this.  the students
> messed up two problems because their calc. course reversed the
> definitions of theta and phi in spherical coordinates (I always thought
> physics, and everyone else had theta from the z-axis, and phi as the
> azimuthal angle). They even showed me their calc. text with the angles
> reversed.  Sheesh...things you wouldn't even expect when teaching :)
>
>
>                                 Mike Monce
>                                 Connecticut College