Question

In physics, a field refers to a quantity that has a value for every point in a space. In a sense, a field is like a function in mathematics; the input is some point in space and the output is some object. A familiar example of a field is elevation. At every point on earth's surface, we can ask how far above or below sea level we are.
1) (Introduction) For the following physical quantities, decide which are fields and which are not. You may remember that vectors are physical quantities that have a direction (and magnitude) and scalars physical quantities that are just numbers. If you decide the quantity is a field, s it a scalar field?
a) Temperature at ground level
b) Wind velocity at 100 feet above the ground.
c) Gravitational force on Roessler Hall.
d) Height of a person in your group.
e) Height (above sea level) of the ground.
f) Slope of the surface of the earth.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

a ) Temperature at ground level is a field and it is scalar field .At any point in space near ground level  , the temperature is specific so it is a field .  It is scalar  because temperature has no direction .

b )

 Wind velocity at 100 feet above the ground is also a field but it is a vector field . At any point in space , the wind velocity is specific so it is a field .  It is vector   because velocity  has a particular  direction at any point .

c )

Gravitational force on Roessler Hall is a vector field because gravitational force also depends on location in space and it has direction.

d )

Height of a person in your group is not a space because it does not depend upon  location is space . It is same for all location .

e )

Height (above sea level) of the ground is a field  because it also depends upon location in space . It is scalar field .

f )

Slope of the surface of the earth is a scalar field .