The Standard Electrical Dictionary

1. Magnetic Curves

   The pictorial representation of magnetic lines of force. It is generally produced by scattering filings on a sheet of paper or pane of glass held over a magnet. The filings arrange themselves in characteristic curves. Tapping the paper or pane of glass facilitates the arrangement, or jarring the filings off a smaller magnet, so that they fall polarized upon the paper, is thought by some to improve the effect. The group of curves forms what are termed magnetic figures, q. v.