How does electromagnetism tell us that there is an invisible circle at every point in space and time; what does that mean, if we could see them, what would that even look like?
In: Physics
Those invisible circles are not actually there in any sense. We just use them in diagrams to denote gradients in forces.
Similar to a topographical map where these wavy shapes denote change in elevation around a hill and the closer lines are drawn the steeper the gradient.
We might draw circles around earth to show it’s gravitational field. These lines have no basis in reality because the gravitational field is EVERYWHERE. It just gets weaker the farther you are from earth. So we might draw circles very close togwther close to he earth and far apart farther from the earth.
This shows the rapidly decreasing strength of earths gravitational pull as you get farther away.
By invisible circles, do you mean the magnetic field?
It is not actually circles, it is just drawn like that to illustrate the field. in reality it is everywhere, at every single point and between every point. it has a direction and strength. Deep in space it might have almost 0 strength, where it is stronger on and near the earth, strong enough to align a compas needle along the field but weak enough that you can have an iron nail without it flying towards either pole.
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