7.2.5

Motor Effect

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Motor Effect

When a wire with a current flowing through it (a current carrying wire) is placed in a magnetic field, the magnet and the conductor will experience a force. This is because of the motor effect.

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Cause of the motor effect

  • The field created by the electric current interacts with the magnetic field that the wire is placed inside. This causes the force on the wire.

Direction of Motor Effect

The direction of the force on the wire depends on the direction of the magnetic field and the direction of the current flow. The direction of the force is determined by Fleming’s left-hand rule.

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Fleming's left hand rule

  • Hold your left hand so your thumb, first finger and second finger are all at right-angles to one another.
  • Point your first finger in the direction of the magnetic field ((F)ield = (F)irst finger).
  • Point your second finger in the direction of the current ((C)urrent = se(C)ond finger).
  • Your thumb will be pointing in the direction of the force, which is the direction the conductor would move ((M)otion = thu(M)b).

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

5.1Basics of Motion

5.2Forces

5.3Effects of Forces

5.4Pressure

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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