[Physics] How temperature gradient is a vector

temperaturethermodynamics

Everyone knows Temperature gradient is a vector quantity having direction from cold to hot.My confusion: why is temperature gradient vector if its direction is always fixed (as in the case of pressure) (Don't say that it is because it follows vector law of addition,I am searching for more concrete answer…)

Best Answer

A maybe more mathematical awnser: You can define temperature as a scalar field (e.g. on earth). So given a certain position on the surface of the earth (or in three dimensions if you wish, it does not change anything) you have a scalar, the temperature on this position. Now you can take the gradient of this field, and now you have a vector.

More directly on your question: 1) A vector is still a vector, even if he has a constant value. 2) Why is its value fixed? You don't know where the temperature is highest, or you can even define a time dependend temperature field, (on earth temperature is not fix, it changes quite obviously), then its gradient is not fixed either