Scalar fields¶
Definition¶
A scalar field is a magnitude that attributes a single number (a scalar) to each of the point of the space where it is defined.
Example
Mapa del tiempo
Fig. 21 A 2 dimensional scalar field representing the pressure on the Earth’s surface¶
In the above diagram the air pressure (a scalar) is shown on a two-dimensional map of the Earth’s surface. The collection of all the P(\vec{r}) values constitutes a scalar field.
Concepts¶
Isosurface: In a scalar field the sub-space defined by the field taking a particular, constant value is called an isosurface. An example of these isosurfaces can be seen in the usual weather report maps showing the pressure on a map. The isobars are the lines (a sub-space of a surface) where the pressure takes the same value.
Fig. 22 In this map we can see the pressure over the Atlantic side of Africa and Europe. Continuous lines denote the presence of constant pressure lines called isobars.¶