Why do we put the dot multiplication symbol when integrating

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

Answers and Replies

SteamKing
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
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
Mentor
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."

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