Equipotential surfaces are surfaces of constant scalar potential. They are used to visualize an (n)-dimensional scalar potential function in (n-1) dimensional space. The gradient of the potential, denoting the direction of greatest increase, is perpendicular to the surface. An open surface with X-, Y-, and Z-contours shown. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Potential. ... In the above two images, the scalar field is in black and white, black representing higher values, and its corresponding gradient is represented by blue arrows. ... Perpendicular is a geometric term that may be used as a noun or adjective. ...
In fluid mechanics, equipotentials are lines or surfaces of equal head that are in direct relation to pressure. Streamlines are perpendicular to the equipotentials and are in the same direction that water is flowing. The hydrogeology is study about of water-bearing formation. ... In fluid dynamics, a streamline is the path that an imaginary massless particle would make if it followed the flow of a fluid in which it was embedded. ...
See: potential flow, potential flow in two dimensions. In fluid dynamics, potential flow, also known as irrotational flow (of incompressible fluids) is steady flow defined by the equations Note that ∇ · v is something different than ∇ v The equations above imply , or Laplaces equation, holds. ... In fluid dynamics, potential flow in two dimensions is simple to analyse using complex numbers. ...
The term is also used in electrostatics. Electrostatics is the branch of physics that deals with the forces exerted by a static (i. ...
The fieldlines are closer together in the regions of space closest to the charge; and they are spread further apart in the regions of space furthest from the charge.
The strength of the field is represented by the length of the arrow and the direction of the field is represented by the direction of the arrow.
Whatever the method used to determine the electric fieldline patterns for a configuration of charges, the general idea is that the pattern is the resultant of the patterns for the individual charges within the configuration.
Fieldlines converge where the magnetic force is strong, and spread out where it is weak.
Fieldlines were introduced by Michael Faraday (see history), who named them "lines of force." For many years they were viewed as merely a way to visualize magnetic fields, and electrical engineers usually preferred other ways, mathematically more convenient.
Indeed, the role of fieldlines in a plasma resembles that of grain in wood: just as the grain is the "easy" direction along which wood splits most readily, so the direction of fieldlines is the one along which particles, electric currents, heat and certain types of waves prefer to flow.
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