Talk:Line of force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The concept that a line of magnetic force exists is a heuristic or conceptual aid in visualising the idea of a magnetic field. This idea can be traced to William Gilbert's orb of virtue, which surrounded a magnet. The fact that these lines can be given an operational meaning through mathematical analysis gives them a sense of physical reality.

According to J.J. Thomson, "the method of the tubes is distinctly physical, that of the symbols and differential equations is analytical." (p.vi of Notes on Recent Researches in Electricity and Magnetism [1]). "Common Misconceptions" in article makes the J.J. Thomson physical theory approach seem faulty. --Firefly322 (talk) 13:53, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Find sources: Line of force — news, books, scholar