redredred Messages 4 Reaction score 0 Thread starter Nov 3, 2011 #1 Can someone help me intuitively understand why if a field has zero curl then it must be the gradient of a scalar potential? Thanks!
Can someone help me intuitively understand why if a field has zero curl then it must be the gradient of a scalar potential? Thanks!
lavinia Science Advisor Messages 3,385 Reaction score 760 Nov 4, 2011 #2 redredred said: Can someone help me intuitively understand why if a field has zero curl then it must be the gradient of a scalar potential? Thanks! If the curl is zero the field does not rotate so the field lines look like gradient flows.
redredred said: Can someone help me intuitively understand why if a field has zero curl then it must be the gradient of a scalar potential? Thanks! If the curl is zero the field does not rotate so the field lines look like gradient flows.