Substantive derivative: Difference between revisions

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The '''substantive derivative''' is a derivative taken along a path moving with velocity v, and is often used in fluid mechanics and classical mechanics. It describes the time rate of change of some quantity (such as heat or momentum) by following it, while moving with a – space and time dependent – velocity field.
The '''substantive derivative''' is a derivative taken along a path moving with velocity v, and is often used in fluid mechanics and [[classical mechanics]]. It describes the time rate of change of some quantity (such as [[heat]] or momentum) by following it, while moving with a – space and time dependent – velocity field.


The material derivative of a scalar field <math>\phi( x, t )</math> is:
The material derivative of a scalar field <math>\phi( x, t )</math> is:
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</math>
</math>
where <math> \nabla \varphi</math> is the gradient of the scalar.
where <math> \nabla \varphi</math> is the gradient of the scalar.


For a vector field <math>u( x, t )</math> it is defined as:
For a vector field <math>u( x, t )</math> it is defined as:
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where <math>\nabla \mathbf{u}</math> is the covariant derivative of a vector.
where <math>\nabla \mathbf{u}</math> is the covariant derivative of a vector.


In case of the material derivative of a vector field, the term <math>\mathbf{v} \cdot \nabla \mathbf{u}</math> can both be interpreted as <math>\mathbf{v} \cdot (\nabla \mathbf{u})</math>, involving the tensor derivative of u, or as <math>(\mathbf{v} \cdot \nabla) \mathbf{u}</math>, leading to the same result.[7]
In case of the material derivative of a vector field, the term <math>\mathbf{v} \cdot \nabla \mathbf{u}</math> can both be interpreted as <math>\mathbf{v} \cdot (\nabla \mathbf{u})</math>, involving the tensor derivative of u, or as <math>(\mathbf{v} \cdot \nabla) \mathbf{u}</math>, leading to the same result.


==Names==
==Alternative names==
There are many other names for this operator, including:
There are many other names for this operator, including:
*'''material derivative'''
*'''material derivative'''
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==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category: classical mechanics]]
[[Category: mathematics]]

Revision as of 13:05, 19 May 2010

The substantive derivative is a derivative taken along a path moving with velocity v, and is often used in fluid mechanics and classical mechanics. It describes the time rate of change of some quantity (such as heat or momentum) by following it, while moving with a – space and time dependent – velocity field.

The material derivative of a scalar field is:

where is the gradient of the scalar.

For a vector field it is defined as:

where is the covariant derivative of a vector.

In case of the material derivative of a vector field, the term can both be interpreted as , involving the tensor derivative of u, or as , leading to the same result.

Alternative names

There are many other names for this operator, including:

  • material derivative
  • convective derivative
  • advective derivative
  • substantive derivative
  • substantial derivative
  • Lagrangian derivative
  • Stokes derivative
  • particle derivative
  • hydrodynamic derivative
  • derivative following the motion
  • total derivative

References