Definition:Action at a Distance

Definition

Action at a distance is the process whereby bodies act on one another without being in actual physical contact.

Examples

Gravitational Field

A gravitational field is an example of a physical process which acts at a distance.

Exchange of Virtual Particles

Particularly in the field of nuclear physics, the phenomenon of action at a distance can be modelled by means of exchange of virtual particles.

Historical Note

The phenomenon of action at a distance was at one time explained by the existence of aethers.

However, since the middle of the $18$th century, this was replaced by the concept of fields of forces permeating the physical universe.

Also see

• Results about action at a distance can be found here.

Sources

• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): action at a distance
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): action at a distance