Equipotential in the context of "Elevation"

⭐ In the context of Elevation, an equipotential surface used as a reference point for measuring height is characterized by what fundamental property?

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⭐ Core Definition: Equipotential

In mathematics and physics, an equipotential or isopotential refers to a region in space where every point is at the same potential. This usually refers to a scalar potential (in that case it is a level set of the potential), although it can also be applied to vector potentials. An equipotential of a scalar potential function in n-dimensional space is typically an (n − 1)-dimensional space. The del operator illustrates the relationship between a vector field and its associated scalar potential field. An equipotential region might be referred as being 'of equipotential' or simply be called 'an equipotential'.

An equipotential region of a scalar potential in three-dimensional space is often an equipotential surface (or potential isosurface), but it can also be a three-dimensional mathematical solid in space. The gradient of the scalar potential (and hence also its opposite, as in the case of a vector field with an associated potential field) is everywhere perpendicular to the equipotential surface, and zero inside a three-dimensional equipotential region.

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👉 Equipotential in the context of Elevation

The elevation of a geographic location is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface (see Geodetic datum § Vertical datum).The term elevation is mainly used when referring to points on the Earth's surface, while altitude or geopotential height is used for points above the surface, such as an aircraft in flight or a spacecraft in orbit, and depth is used for points below the surface.

Elevation is not to be confused with the distance from the center of the Earth. Due to the equatorial bulge, the summits of Mount Everest and Chimborazo have, respectively, the largest elevation and the largest geocentric distance.

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In this Dossier

Equipotential in the context of List of elevation extremes by region

The following three sortable tables list land surface elevation extremes by region.

Elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid, an equipotential gravitational surface model of the Earth's sea level.

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Equipotential in the context of List of elevation extremes by country

The following sortable table lists land surface elevation extremes by country or dependent territory.

Topographic elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface.

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Equipotential in the context of Roche lobe

In astronomy, the Roche lobe is the region around a star in a binary system within which orbiting material is gravitationally bound to that star. It is an approximately teardrop-shaped region bounded by a critical gravitational equipotential, with the apex of the teardrop pointing towards the other star (the apex is at the L1 Lagrangian point of the system).

The Roche lobe is different from the Roche sphere, which approximates the gravitational sphere of influence of one astronomical body in the face of perturbations from a more massive body around which it orbits. It is also different from the Roche limit, which is the distance at which an object held together only by gravity begins to break up due to tidal forces. The Roche lobe, Roche limit, and Roche sphere are named after the French astronomer Édouard Roche.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Elevation ← List of elevation extremes by region ← List of elevation extremes by country ← Roche lobe
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Mathematics → Physics → Region (mathematics) → Electric potential → Scalar potential → Level set → Vector potential → Function (mathematics) → Dimension → Del → Isosurface → Solid (mathematics) → Gradient →