/sci/ - Science & Math

>>10745169
Based and redpilled.

>>10748252
A field is more of a descriptive term than anything else, as they said before, it is a mathematical idea that fits closely with reality. The most important thing to understand about it are that it a) extends across all space (and time), and b) has a measurable value at every point. I think the word measurable needs a little more clarification. In pic rel, small pieces of iron are dropped around a bar magnetic, they naturally orient themselves in the observed way through magnetism. The way they orient themselves is consistent with their being a magnetic field arising from the magnet. In this way these iron fillings are measuring the magnetic field of the magnet. So when we say "measurement" we really mean something interacting with another thing in a way that allows us to quantify the behavior of that other thing.

Why is the distribution of iron filings consistent with a magnetic field? a) we see the field extends through space from the magnet, b.) We see it is a value (the strength of the effect) on the iron. Near to the magnet, the force (=value) of the field is greater and the iron filings are warped to a greater degree. Further from the magnetic, there is still some warping of the iron filings, but the warping = strength of the force (=the value of the field) is much lower.