The motor effect

• What is the motor effect?

  When a conductor carrying a current is placed in a magnetic field, the magnet producing the field and the conductor will exert a force on each other.
• How do we calculate the size of the force?

  Force (N) = Magnetic flux density (T) x Current (A) x Length (m)

  
  

  This applies to a wire which is at right angles to the magnetic field.

  The magnetic flux density is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field
• What happens if the conductor is parallel to the magnetic field?

  It will not experience a force.
• How do we determine the direction of the force?

  Fleming's left hand rule