Conservative (English)
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Definition (advanced level)
A force which conserves a particular quantity is called conservative.
Definition (undergraduate level)
A field f(x) is conservative if for any closed curve C:
i.e. the integral of f(x) round any closed curve is zero.
This is the case if and only if we can write f(x) = − ∇φ for some scalar field φ, called a potential.
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This is the case if and only if we can write f(x) = − ∇φ for some scalar field φ, called a potential.
Relations
- broader:
- (en) Property
- references:
- (en) Curvilinear integral
- (en) Field
- (en) Force
- referenced:
- (en) potential defines conservative field
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