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The Physical Interpretation Is That

This document discusses conservative vector fields and the independence of path property. It states that: 1) The work done by a conservative force field around a closed path is zero. 2) Vector fields where the line integral is independent of path are conservative fields. 3) A theorem proves that if a continuous vector field F defined on an open, connected region has a line integral value that is independent of path, then F must be a conservative vector field with a potential function f such that the gradient of f is equal to F.

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gthulasi787126
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30 views

The Physical Interpretation Is That

This document discusses conservative vector fields and the independence of path property. It states that: 1) The work done by a conservative force field around a closed path is zero. 2) Vector fields where the line integral is independent of path are conservative fields. 3) A theorem proves that if a continuous vector field F defined on an open, connected region has a line integral value that is independent of path, then F must be a conservative vector field with a potential function f such that the gradient of f is equal to F.

Uploaded by

gthulasi787126
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION

The physical interpretation is


that:
The work done by a conservative force field
(such as the gravitational or electric field in
Section 16.1) as it moves an object around
a closed path is 0.

INDEPENDENCE OF PATH

The following theorem says that the only


vector fields that are independent of path

are conservative.
It is stated and proved for plane curves.
However, there is a similar version for
space curves.

INDEPENDENCE OF PATH

We assume that D is openwhich means


that, for every point P in D, there is a disk
with center P that lies entirely in D.

So, D doesnt contain any of its


boundary points.

INDEPENDENCE OF PATH

In addition, we assume that D is


connected.
This means that any two points in D
can be joined by a path that lies in D.

CONSERVATIVE VECTOR FIELD

Theorem 4

Suppose F is a vector field that is continuous

on an open, connected region D.

If

F dr is independent of path in D, then

F is a conservative vector field on D.


That is, there exists a function f
such that f F

CONSERVATIVE VECTOR FIELD

Proof

Let A(a, b) be a fixed point in D.

We construct the desired potential function f


by defining

f ( x, y )

x, y

a ,b

for any point in (x, y) in D.

F dr

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