A theoretical discussion of the intrinsic effects of a magnetic field on the real and imaginary parts of the ac electrical characteristics of superconductors is reported. The subsequent phenomenological theory emphasizes only the role of the scattering mechanisms of quasi-particles by static independent vortices. However both s- and d-wave order parameter symmetries are considered. Power laws for the field dependence at low temperature are obtained: , and , for an s and a d gap respectively, and while and . Since the published data do not seem to be (always) in agreement with these laws, this indicates effects of `extrinsic origin', e.g. granularity and weak links. A mixed order parameter symmetry cannot be ruled out in cases where these extrinsic effects occur.