Visualizing Gradient

Highlights of the activity

1. This computer visualization activity is designed to provide students with a geometric understanding of gradient.
2. Students use Maple/Mathematica to calculate and visualize the gradient for several representative examples of scalar fields.
3. The whole class discussion focuses on comparing the gradient for different scalar fields, showing that the gradient is always perpendicular to the level curves/surfaces, and on the dimensionality of gradient.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

This activity helps students understand the geometric interpretation of the gradient and gives them an opportunity to practice computing a gradient and a directional derivative.

Reflections

• Reflections from the original implementation.

• Reflections from "official" adapters/adopters.

• Reflections from the general public.

Instructor's Guide

• Wiki version

Maple Worksheet

vfgradient.mw (Maple 13)

vfgradient.mws (Maple 11 Classic)

Mathematica Notebook

vfgradient.nb