University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 21 - Electric Charge and Electric Field - Problems - Discussion Questions - Page 713: Q21.23

Answer

Yes, air velocity is a vector field. No, air temperature is a scalar field, not a vector field.

Work Step by Step

Velocity is a vector, with a magnitude and direction. Air velocity, which assigns a velocity to each point in the Earth’s atmosphere, is a vector field. Temperature is a scalar (despite the fact that it can take on both positive and negative values when using the Celsius or Fahrenheit scale, it does not have a direction). Air temperature, which assigns a temperature to each point in the Earth’s atmosphere, is a scalar field, not a vector field.
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