# Conservative vector field conditions

1. Dec 5, 2009

### understand.

My calculus book states that a vector field is conservative if and only if the curl of the vector field is the zero vector. And, as far as I can tell a conservative vector field is the same as a path-independent vector field.

The thing is, I came across this: http://www.math.umn.edu/~nykamp/m2374/readings/pathindex/" [Broken]

The site shows a vector field where the curl is equal to the zero vector, yet the vector field is not conservative.

As far as I can tell, saying "F is conservative iff Curl(F) = 0" contradicts the claims of the site I posted.

What conditions must be met for a vector field to be conservative?

Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2017
2. Dec 6, 2009

### hamster143

Like the site says, the curl should be zero and the domain should be simply connected. Your calculus book probably implies that you work in R^n or some other simply connected space.

A conservative field is usually defined as one that is a gradient of some scalar field. Curl of gradient is automatically zero. On the other hand, if you have a field whose curl is zero and its domain is simply connected, you can smoothly deform any closed path into a point, and then it's possible to prove that the field is path-independent, therefore you can construct the scalar field out of the vector field.

Last edited: Dec 6, 2009
3. Dec 6, 2009

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
"Conservative" is really a physics term, from conservative force fields. A more mathematical term is "exact differential".

"F is conservative iff Curl(F) = 0" is not true. What is true is that if Curl(F)= 0 on a simply connected set then F is conservative. In the example given on that site, F is not defined at (0, 0) so is not conservative on any set that includes (0,0). If you were to integrate around any curve that does NOT have (0,0) in its interior, you would get an integral of 0- conservative field. But if the path does include (0,0) in its interior, its interior is not "simply connected" so you cannot expect to get a 0 integral.

"Simply connected" means that any closed curve can be "shrunk" to a single point while staying inside the region. Since (0,0) is not in the region (F is not defined at (0,0) so Curl(F)= 0 is not true there), any closed curve that includes (0,0) in its interior cannot be "shrunk" to a single point without passing through (0,0) which is not in the region.

Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2017