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Gradient Theorem


\begin{displaymath}
\int_b^a (\nabla f)\cdot d{\bf s} = f(b)-f(a),
\end{displaymath}

where $\nabla$ is the Gradient, and the integral is a Line Integral. It is this relationship which makes the definition of a scalar potential function $f$ so useful in gravitation and electromagnetism as a concise way to encode information about a Vector Field.

See also Divergence Theorem, Green's Theorem, Line Integral




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-25