Translations:Introduction to Dielectricity & Capacitance (Eric P. Dollard)/12/en

Faraday & Lines of Force Theory

Faraday felt strongly that action at a distance is not possible through empty space, or in other words [ p.293 in “Experimental Researches in Electricity” vol.3 ], matter cannot act where it is not. He considered space pervaded with lines of force. Almost everyone is familiar with the patterns formed by iron filings around a magnet. These filings act as numerous tiny compasses and orientate themselves along the lines of force existing around the poles of the magnet. Experiment has indicated that a magnetic field does possess a fibrous construct. By passing a coil of wire through a strong magnetic field and listening to the coil output in headphones, the experimenter will notice a scraping noise. J. J. Thompson performed further experiments involving the ionization of gases that indicate the field is not continuous but fibrous (ELECTRICITY AND MATTER, 1904).