Meaning & use
field lines
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Meanings
nounpluraltechnicalphysics
Imaginary lines drawn to show the direction and strength of a magnetic, electric, or gravitational field at each point.
Grammar: Used in the plural; the singular 'field line' names just one of these lines.
Patterns
- field lines around something
- the field lines point from … to …
- draw field lines
Iron filings sprinkled on paper line up along the magnetic field lines.
Field lines are drawn closer together where the field is stronger.
In the diagram, the field lines curve from the north pole to the south pole.
nounpluraltechnical
Lines on a map or chart that join points where a measured quantity has the same value.
Grammar: Also plural; often used with a modifier such as 'magnetic' or 'gravitational'.
Patterns
- magnetic field lines
- electric field lines
The map's field lines show areas with equal magnetic strength.
Students sketched the electric field lines around two charged points.
Word forms
| singular | field line |
|---|
Common combinations
- magnetic field lines
- Magnetic field lines run from the north to the south pole outside a magnet.
- electric field lines
- Electric field lines start on positive charges and end on negative ones.
- draw field lines
- The teacher asked us to draw field lines for the bar magnet.
- field lines point
- The field lines point away from a positive charge.
- closely spaced field lines
- Closely spaced field lines mean the field is strong there.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lines of force
- An older term for the same idea; 'field lines' is now the more usual choice in modern physics.
Word family
- field noun
- The region of space where a force acts.
- magnetic field noun
- The field produced by magnets and electric currents.
- electric field noun
- The field produced by electric charges.
Commonly confused: field lines or field line?
field lines vs field line
The singular form refers to one line; 'field lines' is the plural used for the whole pattern.
Practice
In a physics diagram, what do field lines show?
Choose one answer.
Field lines indicate the direction of the field and, by their spacing, its strength. They do not show a fixed path a particle must follow, so the first option is wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “field lines”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.