Re: Elastic Potential?

[Glenn Carlson <GCarlson@STCHAS.EDU>]

Mass "is not a field," but it creates a field.  So, a spring is "not a
field," but it can create a field.  A field is just a quantity
associated with points in space.  If we think of a spring fixed at one
end and place the other end at different locations, we can define a
"spring field" associated with each location.  We can define a spring
potential field; we can define a spring force field.  Whether such a
field is useful is another question.

Glenn A. Carlson
St. Charles Community College

> Date:    Tue, 30 Oct 2001 07:34:18 -0500
> From:    "John S. Denker" <jsd@MONMOUTH.COM>
> Subject: Re: ELASTIC POTENTIAL?
>
> 2) The gravitational field is a field.  The electrical field is a
> field.  The spring is not a field, so we shouldn't be too surprised if
it
> doesn't behave exactly like a field.