on in his research (circa 1831), Faraday calls the patterns of apparently continuous curves traced out in metallic filings near a magnet magnetic curves. Later on he refers to them as just an instance of magnetic lines of force or simply lines of force. Eventually Faraday would also begin to use the phrase "magnetic field". See also Field line Flux tube Flux Other relevant papers Faraday, Michael, "Thoughts on Ray Vibrations", Philosophical Magazine, May 1846, or Experimental Researches, iii, p. 447 Faraday, Michael, Experimental Researches, Series 19. Notes Electricity