magnetic line of force
1
6.7
- noun
- Specialized
:
línea de fuerza magnética
- It was proved that a magnet has magnetic lines of force that connect its poles.
Examples
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We cannot see a magnetic line of force until it interacts with a material object such as iron filings and alters their behavior in space.
Blog text (4) -
We cannot see a magnetic line of force until it interacts with a material object such as iron filings and alters their behavior in space.
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It increased their efficiency by concentrating magnetic lines of force.
Blog text (34) -
Because of the differential rotation, the spiral winding the magnetic lines of force is tighter at higher latitudes on the Sun than at lower latitudes.
Academic text (1991) -
A plasma slides easily along magnetic lines of force, like beads on wires.
Synonyms
1
7.6
An imaginary line that shows the direction of the force around magnets or electric charges
1
7.2
An imaginary line that shows the direction of force at points in an electric or magnetic field
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositional: 'magnetic' qualifies the field, and 'line of force' literally denotes a (conceptual) line showing the direction of a force, so a learner who knows 'magnetic', 'line' and 'force' can infer it denotes a line indicating the magnetic force direction. This noun + of-noun structure is transparent and has direct parallels in many languages (e.g., Spanish 'línea de fuerza'), making it accessible to B1 learners who know the constituents.
Etymology
Magnetic line of force comes from the clear image of iron filings or compass needles making visible lines around a magnet that point the way the magnetic force acts. So it means an 'imaginary' line used to show which way the magnetic push or pull acts.