Table of Contents
Vector Calculus
Course Overview
- Line integrals
- Surface integrals
- Conservative vector fields
- Divergence and Curl
Course Goals
- For students to develop a geometric understanding of vectors (without components), including the dot and cross products.
- For students to develop the ability to express vectors in standard coordinate systems and bases.
- For students to develop a geometric understanding of the gradient, including its relationship to level sets.
- For students to develop a geometric understanding of conservative vector fields, including their relationship to the gradient and to level sets.
- For students to develop the ability to evaluate line and surface integrals;
- For students to develop a geometric understanding of the curl and divergence, including their relationship to circulation and flux.
- For students to develop the ability to evaluate the curl and divergence of a vector field in standard coordinate systems.
- For students to develop a geometric understanding of the Divergence Theorem and Stokes' Theorem.
- For students to appreciate the unifying thread brought to these topics by the use of a “use what you know” strategy starting from the vector differential.
Sample Syllabi
- Course Calendar Winter 2011 (with links to online text)
Activities Included
See this page.