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Q: Why two magnetic field lines do not intersect?
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What would happen if field lines crossed?

Then, at some point, the field would go into two directions simultaneously, which doesn't make much sense. The magnetic field lines form continuous closed loops.The tangent to the field line at a point represent the direction of the net magnetic field B,at that point.The magnetic field lines do not intersect,if they did, the direction of the magnetic field would not be unique at the point of intersection.


Why do two magnetic lines never intersect each other?

It is important to realize that magnetic lines do not really exist! They are a tool to visualize the magnetic field, but the field is continuous and does not exist solely inside lines. The direction of the lines gives the direction of the magnetic field, the density of lines, its strength. This also explains why no two field lines can ever intersect; a field line carries information about the direction of the magnetic field, if they would intersect an ambiguity would arise about the direction (not to mention a field of apparent infinite strength since the density would be infinite at the point of crossing). The field lines are almost never used in explicit calculations; instead one uses a vector, an entity which contains information about the magnitude and direction of a field in every point in space and time. Adding two magnetic fields is then easy; just add the vectors of both fields in every point in space (and time). You can use the resulting vector field to draw field lines again if you want. An easy way to imagine what would happen to field lines when they might intersect is to look at them as being such vectors. Imagine you have one field line pointing to the right, and another one pointing up. The result of adding would be a field line pointing somewhere in the up-right direction (the exact direction depending on the relative magnitudes of the fields). If the fields are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction they would cancel; the field line disappears. But this is to be expected! The magnetic fields canceled each other in that point! One has to take care with this analogy however; as for field lines the measure of magnitude is their density; which is an undefined thing if you are considering just one field line per field. For a vector however, the measure of magnitude is its length. Therefore adding two field lines of the same magnitude and pointing in the same direction would result in a vector of twice the length, but in field line language you would have to double the density at that point. This is one of the reasons field lines are used for visualization but not calculation. By the way, all these things apply to other fields as well. Electric fields can also be represented by field lines, and they as well cannot intersect (for the same reasons). Electric field lines, however, are not necessarily closed loops like magnetic field lines (this has to do with the non-existence of magnetic monopoles).


What are two lines that don't intersect?

Parallel lines do not intersect.


Why don't two magnetic lines of force intersect each other?

because they are solid lines and they do not have space to be combining. Also the magnetic can stay together but not melt to being a diffusion (not liquid)


What is the location called where two lines lines cross or intersect?

Two lines cross or intersect at a point.

Related questions

What would happen if field lines crossed?

Then, at some point, the field would go into two directions simultaneously, which doesn't make much sense. The magnetic field lines form continuous closed loops.The tangent to the field line at a point represent the direction of the net magnetic field B,at that point.The magnetic field lines do not intersect,if they did, the direction of the magnetic field would not be unique at the point of intersection.


How are magnetic field lines arranged?

Magnetic field lines spread out from one pole, curve around the magnet, and return to the other pole.. . ah, they don't actually spread out from the poles, inside the magnet they are bunched together but they still form closed loops with the lines outside.


Two lines intersect in a?

Two lines intersect at a point


Why do two magnetic lines never intersect each other?

It is important to realize that magnetic lines do not really exist! They are a tool to visualize the magnetic field, but the field is continuous and does not exist solely inside lines. The direction of the lines gives the direction of the magnetic field, the density of lines, its strength. This also explains why no two field lines can ever intersect; a field line carries information about the direction of the magnetic field, if they would intersect an ambiguity would arise about the direction (not to mention a field of apparent infinite strength since the density would be infinite at the point of crossing). The field lines are almost never used in explicit calculations; instead one uses a vector, an entity which contains information about the magnitude and direction of a field in every point in space and time. Adding two magnetic fields is then easy; just add the vectors of both fields in every point in space (and time). You can use the resulting vector field to draw field lines again if you want. An easy way to imagine what would happen to field lines when they might intersect is to look at them as being such vectors. Imagine you have one field line pointing to the right, and another one pointing up. The result of adding would be a field line pointing somewhere in the up-right direction (the exact direction depending on the relative magnitudes of the fields). If the fields are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction they would cancel; the field line disappears. But this is to be expected! The magnetic fields canceled each other in that point! One has to take care with this analogy however; as for field lines the measure of magnitude is their density; which is an undefined thing if you are considering just one field line per field. For a vector however, the measure of magnitude is its length. Therefore adding two field lines of the same magnitude and pointing in the same direction would result in a vector of twice the length, but in field line language you would have to double the density at that point. This is one of the reasons field lines are used for visualization but not calculation. By the way, all these things apply to other fields as well. Electric fields can also be represented by field lines, and they as well cannot intersect (for the same reasons). Electric field lines, however, are not necessarily closed loops like magnetic field lines (this has to do with the non-existence of magnetic monopoles).


What are two lines that don't intersect?

Parallel lines do not intersect.


Why don't two magnetic lines of force intersect each other?

because they are solid lines and they do not have space to be combining. Also the magnetic can stay together but not melt to being a diffusion (not liquid)


What are two lines on the same plane that do not intersect?

Two lines that do not intersect on the same plane are Parallel lines.


What is the location called where two lines lines cross or intersect?

Two lines cross or intersect at a point.


Are two lines that are not parallel coplanar and do not intersect?

are two lines that are not parallel, coplanar, and do not intersect


When two lines intersect at a point they form and what?

When two lines intersect they form an axes.


Do skew lines always intersect?

Skew lines never intersect. If two lines intersect, then they are known as "intersecting lines", not skew lines.


Do two lines always intersect at one point?

If two different lines intersect, they will always intersect at one point.