Vector Calculus for Engineers

This course covers both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of Vector Calculus. During the first week, students will learn about scalar and vector fields. In the second week, they will differentiate fields. The third week focuses on multidimensional integration and curvilinear coordinate systems. Line and surface integrals are covered in the fourth week, while the fifth week explores the fundamental theorems of vector calculus, including the gradient theorem, the divergence theorem, and Stokes’ theorem. These theorems are essential for subjects in engineering such as Electromagnetism and Fluid Mechanics.

Note that this course may also be referred to as Multivariable or Multivariate Calculus or Calculus 3 at some universities. A prerequisite for this course is two semesters of single variable calculus (differentiation and integration).
The course includes 53 concise lecture videos, each followed by a few problems to solve. After each major topic, there is a short practice quiz. Solutions to the problems and practice quizzes can be found in the instructor-provided lecture notes. The course spans five weeks and at the end of each week, there is an assessed quiz.
Download the lecture notes from the link
https://www.math.hkust.edu.hk/~machas/vector-calculus-for-engineers.pdf
Watch the promotional video from the link
https://youtu.be/qUseabHb6Vk

What you will learn

Vectors

Vectors are mathematical constructs that have both length and direction. We define vectors and show how to add and subtract them, and how to multiply them using the dot and cross products. We apply vectors to study the analytical geometry of lines and planes, and define the Kronecker delta and the Levi-Civita symbol to prove vector identities. Finally, we define the important concepts of scalar and vector fields.

Differentiation

Scalar and vector fields can be differentiated. We define the partial derivative and derive the method of least squares as a minimization problem. We learn how to use the chain rule for a function of several variables, and derive the triple product rule used in chemical engineering. We define the gradient, divergence, curl, and Laplacian. We learn some useful vector calculus identities and derive them using the Kronecker delta and Levi-Civita symbol. We use vector identities to derive the electromagnetic wave equation from Maxwell’s equation in free space. Electromagnetic waves form the basis of all modern communication technologies.

Integration and Curvilinear Coordinates

Integration can be extended to functions of several variables. We learn how to perform double and triple integrals. We define curvilinear coordinates, namely polar coordinates in two dimensions, and cylindrical and spherical coordinates in three dimensions, and use them to simplify problems with circular, cylindrical or spherical symmetry. We learn how to write differential operators in curvilinear coordinates and how to change variables in multidimensional integrals using the Jacobian of the transformation.

Line and Surface Integrals

Scalar or vector fields can be integrated over curves or surfaces. We learn how to take the line integral of a scalar field and use the line integral to compute arc lengths. We then learn how to take line integrals of vector fields by taking the dot product of the vector field with tangent unit vectors to the curve. Consideration of the line integral of a force field results in the work-energy theorem. Next, we learn how to take the surface integral of a scalar field and use the surface integral to compute surface areas. We then learn how to take the surface integral of a vector field by taking the dot product of the vector field with the normal unit vector to the surface. The surface integral of a velocity field is used to define the mass flux of a fluid through a surface.