If fields fill all of space, how do they have room to move?

In summary, fields do not need empty space to exist or change. They can overlap and have values at every point in space. Changes in fields do not require physical movement, as they can change in magnitude and direction without physically moving from one point to another. This concept is similar to the representation of wind on a weather map, where arrows in a fixed grid represent the wind at various points, but the wind itself does not physically move to different points.
  • #1
Pjpic
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If fields fill all of space, how do they have room to move? Those tile games we had as kids always required one empty space to slide the tile into.
 
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  • #2
Fields aren't matter. They aren't solid. They don't have to take up space to fill it and they can overlap.
 
  • #3
They don't move. For example, the E field has a magnitude and a direction at each point in space, and that magnitude and direction can change over time, but it does not have a velocity at any point.
 
  • #4
Dale said:
They don't move. For example, the E field has a magnitude and a direction at each point in space, and that magnitude and direction can change over time, but it does not have a velocity at any point.

How can something change if there's no empty space (room to grow you might say)? I must be missing a basic idea.
 
  • #5
Pjpic said:
How can something change if there's no empty space (room to grow you might say)? I
I have no idea what would possibly give you the idea that empty space is necessary for change to occur. It seems like such a bizarre connection, how can you possibly justify it?
 
  • #6
Dale said:
I have no idea what would possibly give you the idea that empty space is necessary for change to occur. It seems like such a bizarre connection, how can you possibly justify it?

If you have 12 eggs you can't change the arrangement in the carton, but if you only have 11 (one empty space) you can arrange the eggs in 12 different ways.
 
  • #7
Pjpic said:
If you have 12 eggs you can't change the arrangement in the carton, but if you only have 11 (one empty space) you can arrange the eggs in 12 different ways.
So what? Changing the arrangement is obviously not the only thing that could change. You could change an egg's temperature or pressure or color or hardness or smoothness or shape or any number of other changes that would be changes without requiring empty space and would be possible with all 12 eggs in place. The idea that the only possible change is change which requires empty space is so wrong I don't know where to begin.

Changing the value of a field is not like changing the arrangement of eggs. I cannot see any reason for thinking that it should be.
 
  • #8
Suppose a certain point in space has, at a certain time, an electric field E = 10 V/m northward, and a nearby point has E = 0 at the same time; then a bit later, the first point has E = 5 V/m northward and the second point has E = 10 V/m northward. This doesn't mean the 10 V/m has literally "moved" from the first point to the second point. The field has simply changed its value at both points.
 
  • #9
jtbell said:
Suppose a certain point in space has, at a certain time, an electric field E = 10 V/m northward, and a nearby point has E = 0 at the same time; then a bit later, the first point has E = 5 V/m northward and the second point has E = 10 V/m northward. This doesn't mean the 10 V/m has literally "moved" from the first point to the second point. The field has simply changed its value at both points.

Are these points the dimensionless points I've read about? And they can have values of any size (except infinite)?
 
  • #11
One example of a field that I've found people have an easier time of visualizing is temperature. Imagine the temperature at every point in space. This is a scalar field. Clearly the temperature can be defined at every point in space, so there are no "empty points" where the temperature is not defined. But clearly the temperature can change in many ways. It can get hotter everywhere, colder everywhere, or hotter in some places and colder in others. No movement is required for these changes to occur. Vector fields like the electric field are the same idea, but instead of one number at every point in space, there are three numbers at every point in space.
 
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  • #12
One of my local TV stations includes on its animated weather maps, arrows representing wind speed and direction. The arrows are arranged in a square grid of fixed locations. As time elapses, the arrows grow and shrink to reflect changes in speed (magnitude), and pivot around to point in different directions, but they do not move from their fixed locations. Any vector field, e.g. the electric and magnetic fields, can be represented in the same way. In each case the grid represents only a sample of possible locations. The field actually exists everywhere, and you can imagine "filling in" the spaces between arrows with more and more arrows, spaced closer and closer together.
 

Related to If fields fill all of space, how do they have room to move?

1. What exactly are fields and how do they fill all of space?

Fields are physical quantities that exist at every point in space. They are invisible and intangible, but they interact with matter to create observable effects. Examples of fields include gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields.

2. If fields fill all of space, does that mean there is no empty space?

Fields do not take up physical space like matter does. Instead, they exist in the space between matter. So while fields do fill all of space, there is still empty space between particles and objects.

3. How do fields have room to move if they fill all of space?

Fields do not move in the traditional sense. They can change in strength or direction, but they do not physically move like objects do. Additionally, fields can overlap and interact with each other, giving the appearance of movement.

4. Are there any limitations to how fields can move?

The movement of fields is governed by the laws of physics, so there are limitations to how they can move. For example, electromagnetic fields can only move at the speed of light. Additionally, the movement of fields can be affected by the presence of matter or other fields.

5. How do scientists study and measure the movement of fields?

Scientists use various instruments and techniques to study and measure the movement of fields. For example, they can use a magnetometer to measure the strength and direction of a magnetic field. They can also use mathematical equations and computer simulations to model and predict the movement of fields.

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