It is shown that a particle moving in a time‐dependent spatially inhomogeneous field is acted upon by a time‐averaged force which acts along the negative of the gradient of the oscillatory kinetic energy. This force is a generalization of the concept of the forces which act to move particles of sand towards the nodal lines in classic Chladni sand figures. Its use in electromagnetic phenomena suggests some novel applications. In this paper the phenomenon is demonstrated and is used in a device which is an electron‐optical analogue to the optical light pipe.