line of force

American  

noun

Physics.

1. an imaginary line or curve in a field of force, as an electric field, such that the direction of the line at any point is that of the force in the field at that point.

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line of force British  

noun

1. an imaginary line representing a field of force, such as an electric or magnetic field, such that the tangent at any point is the direction of the field vector at that point

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line of force Scientific  

1. A line used to indicate the direction of a field, especially an electric or magnetic field, at various points in space. The tangent of a line of force at each point indicates the orientation of the field at that point. Arrows are usually used to indicate the direction of the force.

2. See Note at magnetism

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Etymology

Origin of line of force

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Once a line of force begins, he keeps it going, even adding strength to it, until it meets an immovable object or exhausts itself in open space.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 8, 2017

Imparting force on the planet should change the state of magnetic flux instantly throughout that line of force.

From New York Times • May 29, 2014

Maddeningly, the script offers a number of scenes that suggest an air of gathering menace, but it never quite manages to stitch them together into a tense line of force.

From Time Magazine Archive

No ill effects when I ventured into the line of force; so I began to experiment with the switches.

From The Blind Spot by Hall, Austin

Each filing becomes a temporary magnet by induction, and sets itself, like the compass needle, in the direction of the line of force of the magnetic field.

From Hawkins Electrical Guide, Number One Questions, Answers, & Illustrations, A Progressive Course of Study for Engineers, Electricians, Students and Those Desiring to acquire a Working Knowledge of Electricity and its Applications by Hawkins, Nehemiah