line of force

line of force

[′līn əv ¦fȯrs]

(physics)

An imaginary line in a field of force (such as an electric, magnetic, or gravitational field) whose tangent at any point gives the direction of the field at that point; the lines are spaced so that the number through a unit area perpendicular to the field represents the intensity of the field. Also known as flux line; line of flux.