I'd add, that the usual quantity indicated by the scalar I, is really a
flux of current density through a surface. I.e. Integral_over_surface
of j_DOT_dA
________________________
Joel Rauber
Department of Physics - SDSU
Joel.Rauber@sdstate.edu
605-688-4293
| -----Original Message-----
| From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
| [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf
| Of John Denker
| Sent: Monday, February 20, 2006 10:08 AM
| To: Forum for Physics Educators
| Subject: Re: [Phys-l] RC Discharge
|
| Vern Lindberg wrote:
|
| > Current is a vector?????
|
| Yes, current is a vector. It has direction and magnitude.
|
| We would have big problems with the Biot-Savart law (among
| other things) if it weren't.
|
| > Current density is, but not current.
|
| If current density is a vector, then I sum up all the current
| density in some area to get the current.
| Summation does not change the vectorial character.
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