Equipotential Surface


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Related to Equipotential Surface: electric dipole

equipotential surface

[¦e·kwə·pə′ten·chəl ′sər·fəs]
(electricity)
A surface on which the electric potential is the same at every point.
(geophysics)
A surface characterized by the potential being constant everywhere on it for the attractive forces concerned.
(mechanics)
A surface which is always normal to the lines of force of a field and on which the potential is everywhere the same.

Equipotential Surface

 

in geodesy, a surface where the gravitational potential is the same at all points. The direction of the normal to an equipotential surface coincides with the direction of the force of gravity, that is, with the plumb line. An example of an equipotential surface is the surface of a liquid in equilibrium. The equipotential surface of the earth’s gravity field coincides with the mean water level in the oceans; this surface is called the geoid and is taken as the mathematical surface of the earth, or the “sea level,” from which the heights of points of the earth’s surface are measured. The form of the geoid is highly complex and depends on the internal structure of the earth.

Equipotential Surface

 

a surface all of whose points have the same potential. For example, the surface of a conductor in electrostatics is an equipotential surface. In a force field the lines of force are normal, or perpendicular, to an equipotential surface.

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References in periodicals archive ?
Accordingly, the equipotential surfaces of the Earth are curved (Fig.
Precise levelling data processing near terraced landforms
geoid], but if we want to comply with the traditional definition, which says that the geoid is an equipotential surface coinciding with the mean ocean level (with dynamic ocean topography removed), it is possible to determine [W.
Global and regional seasonal variations of the geoid detected by grace
The quality of approximation of the water-surface to the equipotential surface depends on the rate of changes of the field of potential forces, the hydrodynamic parameters of the system, the viscosity of the applied fluid, as well as the level of local-origin disturbances.
Earth free oscillations observed in plumb line variations from the 26 December 2004 earthquake
Improvements of the hydrodynamic system caused that the process of accommodation of water surface to equipotential surface became quasi-equilibrium (null phase shift) for geodynamic effects of five-minute or longer periods.
Discussion on the results of analyses of yearly observations (2003) of plumb line variations from horizontal pendulums and long water-tube tiltmeters
Etching from drawing by James Clerk Maxwell, Diagram of the Lines of Force and Equipotential Surfaces, plate from A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, vol.
James Clerk Maxwell, Plate II, "Lines of Force and Equipotential Surfaces," in A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, vol.
On caustics: a conversation
Long range interaction of electrostatic potential do not allow equipotential surfaces formation.
Estudio computacional de las estructuras alotropicas del carbono utilizando teoria de funcionales de densidad (DFT)
Two equipotential surfaces of equal and opposite potentials are thus generated defines the profile of the biconical antenna.
Selection of ideal feed profile for asymptotic conical dipole fed impulse radiating antenna
Geopotential numbers are determined in GRS 80 normal field, applying the new European gravity system and evaluating non-linearity of GRS 80 normal field equipotential surfaces (Moritz 1988).
To determine normal height differences of points, it is necessary to evaluate non-paralellity of normal field equipotential surfaces as well as real and normal field non-coincidence.
The united geodetic vertical network of Latvia and Lithuania

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