[2025/01/11] Perpendicular of contour lines
2 years ago by siriusmart to c/dailymaths
As you may have noticed, whenever a field line and contour line crosses each other, they are perpendicular.
Prove it.
Isn't one calculated from the other? Surface gradient, so it is perpendicular by definition. Not sure if this is actually proven by measuring (or rather to what extent).
The surface gradient is the part of a 3d (n dimensional) gradient of a scalar valued function (e.g. a flux vector) that remains within a 2d (n-1 dimensional) surface, i.e. without the contribution normal to the surface.
The iso-lines, however, represent the regions where the function value remains constant. As the directional derivative, i.e. the scalar product of the gradient and the tangential vector of the curve must vanish, the gradient is orthogonal to those somewhat by definition. Yet, that the negative gradient is the direction of steepest descent, remains to be proven.
Line of greatest descent is the shortest distance between two contour lines.
I'm sure there are many other ways to solve this, as it is a very open ended question. But anyways this is one of the favourite proof i've done
::: spoiler Solution
:::
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@lemmy.world
Share your cool maths problems.
Complete a challenge:
Post a challenge:
Feel free to contribute to a series by DMing the OP, or start your own challenge series.
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Well, that's...normal.
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