B Why do we put the dot multiplication symbol when integrating

Jatin Kaushal · May 29, 2016

This is I think a really dumb question, but I never got it, why do we have that dot symbol when we integrate. Like in gauss's law, we have ∫E⋅dA . why is that ⋅ there?

Thank you for your help

SteamKing · May 29, 2016

Jatin Kaushal said: ↑

This is I think a really dumb question, but I never got it, why do we have that dot symbol when we integrate. Like in gauss's law, we have ∫E⋅dA . why is that ⋅ there?

Thank you for your help

You are integrating two vector quantities. The dot is there to indicate the scalar product of the electric field E and the infinitesimal bit of surface area dA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauss's_law

Mark44 · May 29, 2016

SteamKing said: ↑

You are integrating two vector quantities. The dot is there to indicate the scalar product of the electric field E and the infinitesimal bit of surface area dA.

The scalar product that SteamKing mentions is also called the "dot product."

Jatin Kaushal · May 30, 2016

Ah!! Thank you! That really clears it up!

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B Why do we put the dot multiplication symbol when integrating

Jatin Kaushal

SteamKing

Mark44

Staff: Mentor

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