Electrodynamic Duo Part One +lines of force

[jacmac]

This was part of this Picture Of the Day:
http://www.thunderbolts.info/tpod/2011/ ... namic1.htm

"There is no physical flow, but the lines of induction confirm descriptions of magnetism. Lines of induction (magnetic field lines) emanate from a magnet's north pole and terminate at the south pole. The number of lines per a given area indicates the field strength: where the lines converge at the poles, the field is large, while the field becomes progressively weaker where the lines diverge."

Does this language conflict with the idea given elsewhere on this site that there are no actual lines, but they(the lines) are used to illustrate the magnetic field ?

Jack

[The Great Dog]

The patterns are the result of induction taking place in the iron filings. They separate from one another based on the internal magnetic fields induced in them by a magnet's field of force. A field is not quantized into discreate domains, it is a continuum. Thus, an electric field or a magnetic field can be described using schematics (lines). E-fields use arrows, magnetic fields use lines of induction as their diagrams.

Lines of longitude or latitude are good illustrations of the principle. There are no lines.

[Levatio]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_reconnection

This reconnection is used to explain stuff like solar flares and the aurora. However, it can't be explained with the magnetic field lines, as they are just fictional.

That's an other reason why nasa is wrong, and eu is right.

[jacmac]

Yes, the lines are "illustrative" and not real. I am suggesting that the language used by Mr. Stephen Smith in his Electrodynamic Duo Part One is misleading and could be used by EU detractors to say that the lines are real.

Jack

[The Great Dog]

Only if they know nothing about the hypothesis and take that particulaar comment out of context.