Digging into NHI of all things there is a trend of conclusions being made on a lack of understanding on what fields are and that there are different kinds. Here is a quick list for reference if you ever need to know WTH you are reading about.
Physical Fields
Quantum Fields
Other Types of Fields
Hypothetical and Speculative Fields
Physical Fields
- Magnetic Field
- Effect: Exerts force on magnetic materials and moving charges (e.g., electric currents).
- Source: Magnets, moving electric charges, or changing electric fields.
- Example: Earth's magnetic field, which influences compasses.
- Effect: Exerts force on magnetic materials and moving charges (e.g., electric currents).
- Electric Field
- Effect: Exerts force on charged particles (e.g., electrons or protons).
- Source: Static or moving electric charges.
- Example: The field around a charged balloon causing hair to stand up.
- Effect: Exerts force on charged particles (e.g., electrons or protons).
- Static Field
- Effect: A stationary field, such as an electric field from a static charge or a gravitational field from stationary mass.
- Source: Stationary charges (electric) or stationary masses (gravitational).
- Example: The static charge buildup in dry weather.
- Effect: A stationary field, such as an electric field from a static charge or a gravitational field from stationary mass.
- Gravitational Field
- Effect: Exerts an attractive force on masses.
- Source: Any mass.
- Example: Earth's gravitational field pulling objects toward its center.
- Effect: Exerts an attractive force on masses.
- Electromagnetic Field
- Effect: Combines electric and magnetic fields, affecting charged particles and currents.
- Source: Oscillating charges or currents.
- Example: Light waves or radio waves.
- Effect: Combines electric and magnetic fields, affecting charged particles and currents.
Quantum Fields
- Higgs Field
- Effect: Gives particles mass through interaction.
- Source: Fundamental quantum field.
- Example: Explains why particles like electrons have mass.
- Effect: Gives particles mass through interaction.
- Quantum Field
- Effect: Describes interactions of particles and forces at the quantum level.
- Source: Fluctuations in fundamental fields (e.g., electromagnetic, weak nuclear, strong nuclear).
- Example: Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) for photons and electrons.
- Effect: Describes interactions of particles and forces at the quantum level.
- Strong Nuclear Field
- Effect: Binds protons and neutrons within the nucleus.
- Source: Gluons (particles mediating the strong force).
- Example: Holds atomic nuclei together.
- Effect: Binds protons and neutrons within the nucleus.
- Weak Nuclear Field
- Effect: Governs radioactive decay and neutrino interactions.
- Source: W and Z bosons.
- Example: Beta decay in radioactive isotopes.
- Effect: Governs radioactive decay and neutrino interactions.
Other Types of Fields
- Acoustic Field
- Effect: Propagation of sound waves through a medium.
- Source: Vibrating objects.
- Example: Sound waves in air from a speaker.
- Effect: Propagation of sound waves through a medium.
- Thermal Field
- Effect: Heat transfer and distribution in a region.
- Source: Temperature gradients.
- Example: Heat radiating from a fire.
- Effect: Heat transfer and distribution in a region.
- Scalar Field
- Effect: Describes a scalar value (e.g., temperature or pressure) at each point in space.
- Source: Any quantity that can be represented by a single value at each location.
- Example: A temperature map showing variations.
- Effect: Describes a scalar value (e.g., temperature or pressure) at each point in space.
- Vector Field
- Effect: Represents magnitude and direction (e.g., wind velocity, electric field).
- Source: Any quantity with direction and magnitude.
- Example: Wind flow over an area.
- Effect: Represents magnitude and direction (e.g., wind velocity, electric field).
Hypothetical and Speculative Fields
- Dark Energy Field
- Effect: Accelerates the expansion of the universe.
- Source: Unknown; associated with the cosmological constant.
- Example: Observations of distant galaxies.
- Effect: Accelerates the expansion of the universe.
- Dark Matter Field
- Effect: Adds gravitational effects to galaxies and clusters beyond visible matter.
- Source: Hypothetical particles or interactions.
- Example: Galaxy rotation curves.
- Effect: Adds gravitational effects to galaxies and clusters beyond visible matter.
- Tachyon Field
- Effect: Hypothetical; linked to faster-than-light particles.
- Source: Hypothetical quantum fields.
- Example: Theoretical models in string theory.
- Effect: Hypothetical; linked to faster-than-light particles.
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