Very quick question about notation of vector fields

In summary, a vector field is a mathematical concept that assigns a vector to each point in a given region, representing the direction and strength of a vector quantity. The notation of a vector field typically consists of a variable name, a vector arrow, and coordinates. To graph a vector field, vectors are plotted at each coordinate, representing the direction and magnitude of the vector quantity. Vector fields have many real-world applications and differ from scalar fields, which assign a scalar value to each point in a given region and can be visualized using color-coding or contour lines.
  • #1
Dvsdvs
24
0
this is a very quick question. my teacher wants me to prove that
((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2))) (x,y,z) is conservative. by this does it mean that
F=((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))i+((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))j+((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))k

or does it she mean that
F=((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))Xi+((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))Yj+((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))Zk

Basically I am asking if that (x,y,z) is being distrubuted or its just acting as the (i,j,k) itself Thank you very much
Edit oops, forgot the ^3 power in the denominator. But you guys get the point
 
Last edited:
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  • #2
correct me if I'm wrong but i think it's the second one with the xyz being distributed
 
  • #3
Dvsdvs said:
this is a very quick question. my teacher wants me to prove that
((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2))) (x,y,z) is conservative. by this does it mean that
F=((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))i+((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))j+((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))k

or does it she mean that
F=((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))Xi+((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))Yj+((kq)/(sqroot(x^2+y^2+z^2)))Zk

Basically I am asking if that (x,y,z) is being distrubuted or its just acting as the (i,j,k) itself Thank you very much
Edit oops, forgot the ^3 power in the denominator. But you guys get the point

The second one is correct.

It essentially corresponds to the electrostatic field of a point charge at the origin.
 

FAQ: Very quick question about notation of vector fields

What is a vector field?

A vector field is a mathematical concept used to represent and visualize vector quantities that vary in space. It assigns a vector to each point in a given region, and the direction and magnitude of the vector represent the direction and strength of the vector quantity at that point.

What does the notation of a vector field mean?

The notation of a vector field typically consists of a variable name (such as F) followed by a vector arrow (→) and a set of coordinates (such as (x,y)). This notation indicates that the vector field is a function that maps each coordinate in the given region to a corresponding vector.

How do you graph a vector field?

To graph a vector field, you can plot a vector at each coordinate in the given region. The direction and length of the vector should correspond to the direction and magnitude of the vector quantity at that point. You can also use color-coding or arrow density to represent the strength of the vector field.

What are some real-world applications of vector fields?

Vector fields have many practical applications, including in physics, engineering, and computer graphics. They are used to model and analyze phenomena such as fluid flow, electromagnetic fields, and force fields. They are also used in machine learning and data visualization.

What is the difference between a scalar field and a vector field?

A scalar field assigns a scalar value (such as temperature or density) to each point in a given region, while a vector field assigns a vector quantity to each point. Scalar fields can be visualized using color-coding or contour lines, while vector fields require the use of arrows or other visual cues to represent the direction and magnitude of the vector at each point.

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