The discussion following this example generated a sign where both hands are held rather high, palms down, fingers spread; and then the hands moving downwards without changing the spread of the fingers. (This sign is closely related to the sign for 'rain', and the strings of rain resembles the field lines of a force field). This would become the general sign for a force field. A similar, but modified, sign would be used for horizontal, homogenous fields. The 'homogenous' would be left out for most uses, but if needed, it would be signed as "like through". The sign describing the gravitational field of the Earth, would be used to designate central fields.

The direction of movement would indicate the direction of the force.

 

  

  Rain

 vertical field

 horizontal field

    

homogenous vertical field

 
Sign discussion completed, the class went on to a laboratory exercise on magnetic fields around magnets of different shapes. Another day would bring an exercise on electrical fields between electrodes of different shapes.