Line, surface and volume integrals

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the classification of line, surface, and volume integrals in vector calculus. It establishes that line and surface integrals can involve combinations of scalar and vector fields, specifically: Vector x vector, Vector . vector, Scalar . vector, Scalar . scalar, and Vector . scalar. In contrast, volume integrals are limited to Scalar . scalar and Vector . scalar due to the treatment of the infinitesimal volume segment (dV) as a scalar. The conversation also touches on the potential extension of these concepts to four-dimensional space using the divergence theorem.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of vector calculus concepts
  • Familiarity with scalar and vector fields
  • Knowledge of line and surface integrals
  • Basic principles of the divergence theorem
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the applications of the divergence theorem in higher dimensions
  • Explore the properties of scalar and vector fields in physics
  • Learn about the computational techniques for evaluating line and surface integrals
  • Investigate the implications of integrating in four-dimensional spaces
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Students and professionals in mathematics, physics, and engineering who are working with vector calculus, particularly those interested in integrals and their applications in various dimensions.

LucasGB
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Please help me check if the following reasoning is correct:

When considering line and surface integrals, one must integrate over a scalar or vector field. The infinitesimal line (dl) or surface (dA) segments can be treated either as vectors or scalars. Therefore, the only types of line and surface integrals one can run into are:

Vector x vector
Vector . vector
Scalar . vector
Scalar . scalar
Vector . scalar

Volume integrals, on the other hand, are simpler, since the infinitesimal volume segment (dV) can only be treated as a scalar. Therefore, we can only run into the following types of volume integrals:

Scalar . scalar
Vector . scalar

Does this check out? Tell me what you think.
 
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In theory one can also integrate a scalar or vector field within volume with some directional vector. This would come up if you extended the divergence theorem to a four-dimensional space.
 
I see. But are the line and surface integals complete?
 

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