Status Updates From The Quantum Labyrinth: How ...

(Cont)

In classical electromagnetic theory, vector fields convey both electric and magnetic forces. These fields fill space like a boundless sea of energy. Electric fields represent the amount and direction of electric force per unit charge at each point in space. Magnetic fields characterize the amount of magnetic force per unit moving charge at each point (classically, only moving charges experience magnetism).

(Cont)

Think of a weather map to understand the difference between scalar and vector fields. At any given time, each point has a single temperature. Therefore, the temperature readings for each location form a scalar field. Each point also has a certain wind velocity, which, unlike temperature, has both a magnitude (speed) and a direction. Consequently, the map of wind velocities constitutes a vector field.

(Cont from last update)

Fields that have single values at each point are called "sca-lar fields." Fields with multiple values at each point, detailing how the magnitude (amount) and direction of the chosen property change from location to location, are called "vector fields."

A "field" is a kind of landscape of a chosen property (e.g., electrical strength) depicting how that property's values vary from point to point throughout all of space. It is like a map with data (e.g., GPS co-ordinates, elevation, population density) associated with every single location. (Cont next update)

Certainly not Feynman, who realized from an early age that life is too short and time too precious to base one's actions on what other people think. He knew that he stood out but found this a source of humor and strength rather than embarrassment.