Re: visualizing a non-potential

[Bob LaMontagne <rlamont@POSTOFFICE.PROVIDENCE.EDU>]

"John S. Denker" wrote:

> Hi --
>
> Here's an example.  Clockwise = down, everywhere.
>    http://www.monmouth.com/~jsd/physics/img48/nonpot.png
>
> Non-experts tend to think that everything that is
> a function of position has to be a potential, but
> it's just not true.
>
> Pick two points A and B and count how many steps
> you go down along a path from A to B. The answer
> depends on your choice of path.  For a potential,
> the answer would be independent of path.

Exactly how is this a function of position? There is no actual "down" or
"up", just a visual illusion that implies it. Please write the function
you have in mind as some f(x,y,z) to clarify this for a non-expert like
me.

Bob at PC