Path integral and line integrals

[Brown Arrow]

Homework Statement

what is the difference between path integral and line integral?

Homework Equations

n/a

The Attempt at a Solution

is path integral over a scalar function

and line integral is over vector function?


I'm confused about this pls help me understand

thanks in advance
BA

 

[lanedance]

they can quite often be used to refer to the same thing, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_integral

they basically integrate the function along the curve with repsect to arc length

as the integral is with repsect to arc length it is independent of parameterisation

also different is the path integral in quantum mechanics which is a sum over all possible paths