Starting with the definition of the gradient in Cartesian coordinates, there are two parts to the required derivation. First, the chain rule must be applied to obtain the polar-coordinate equivalents of the Cartesian derivatives with respect to and . Second, the Cartesian basis vectors must be expressed in terms of the polar basis vectors . Of course, once both these steps have been completed, it is a matter of algebraic simplification to pass from to the polar-coordinate equivalent .
To apply the chain rule, use the notation
where the function , while related to the function , is not the same! For example, if , then . For , the two arguments are simply multiplied. That is not what happens with . The two arguments and are not simply added. Hence, the use of a different name, a usage that is not always present in the literature.
The chain rule then gives and . Table 9.3.3(a) then provides the derivatives of and with respect to and .
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Table 9.3.3(a) Derivatives of and with respect to and
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From Example 9.2.8, , so
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