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Re: [Phys-l] bound vectors ... or not



One might say that a vector field (e.g. the electric field E(r,t) ) defines a vector (E) associated with, "located at", (or "bound to") each space-time point.
It seems that Faraday extended this view to reification.

Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (EM)
treborsci@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/res12merh/

--------------------------------------------------
From: "John Denker" <jsd@av8n.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2010 1:04 PM
To: "Forum for Physics Educators" <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
Subject: [Phys-l] bound vectors ... or not

In the wikipedia article on "the vectors mainly used in physics
and engineering" it talks about "free vectors" and "bound vectors".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euclidean_vector

This came as a surprise to me. I am 99.99% certain the
notion of "bound vector" does not appear in any of my math
books. I don't recall seeing it in any of my physics books.
I don't recall hearing any physicist utter the term or use
the concept.
. . .