DESCRIPTION AND PROPERTY OF FIELDS:

CONCEPTS OF FIELD

A field is a region under the influence of some physical agencies such as gravitation,
magnetism and electricity.

Force field is a force that do not require contact with the body to which they are applied.

There are two classes of field:

Vector field

Scalar field.

A vector field is that field which is usually represented by lines of force; while a scalar field is
that field that is not represented by lines of force.

Examples of vector fields include gravitational field, magnetic field and electric field.

Examples of scalar fields include regions with distribution of temperature, density, etc.

Types of Field

i) Gravitational field

This is a force field that influence the motion of objects in the space where it operates without
coming in contact with the objects.

The gavitational field was first studied or observed on the planet by a scientist called TYCHO
RAHG he states three laws called Kepler's law.

KEPLER'S LAW

1. Kepler's first law state that the planet described eclipse of the sun as on focus

2. Kepler's second law state that the line joining the sun and the planet sweep out equal areas in
equal line.

3. Kepler's third law state that the square of the period of revolution of the planets are
proportional of the cube of their mean distance from the sun.

ii) Magnetic Field

Magnetic field is a region around a magnet where it exerts force on other magnets. It is also a
region where magnetic force is felt.

We have 2 types of magnet; these are Bar magnet and Horse shoe magnet. The pole of a
magnet where it's magnetic attraction appears to be the strongest, the end of the magnet that
points in the direction North ward is called North pole while the other hand that points in the
southward direction is called South pole. If a magnet is suspended freely it is always appearing
North-South direction.

Like or similar poles of magnet repel one another but unlike or dissimilar pole attract one
another.

A magnet can attract some substances like piece of iron buckle and cobalt such substances is
called Magnetism.

Magnetic line of of force is defined as the line along which a free N pole would tend to move if
placed in the field or line such the tangent to it at any point gives the direction of the field at that
point.

iii) Electric Field

It is a region where of space where a charged body experiences an electric force.

PROPERTIES OF FIELD LINES

i) The lines of force start on positive charges and end only on negative charges.

ii) Line of force do not cross each other

iii) In a uniform field, the line of force are straight, parallel and uniformly spaced.

iv) Lines of force indicates the direction of the field. The field points in the direction
tangential to the lines of force at any point.

v) The lines of force are continuous in any region with free charges

vi) The lines are drawn in such that the electric field is proportional to the number of
line crossing unit area perpendicular to the lines. The closer the lines are together,
the stronger the electric field in that region.