Schematic illustration of gradient (of scalar field), divergence and curl (of a vector field), used in vector calculus.
For a scalar field the scalar values change, and the gradient denotes the direction of steepest slope.
For a vector field, the divergence “measures” if the there is a source (or sink) for the field.
For a vector field, the curl “measures” circulation of the field.
This drawing was inspired by:
gradient_divergence_curl_magnetica.png
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S. Zurek, Encyclopedia Magnetica, CC-BY-4.0
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