Department of Physics and Astronomy: Publications and Other Research
Date of this Version
1-1958
Abstract
When a wire moves through a uniform magnetic field of induction B, in a direction at right angles to the field and to the wire itself, the electric charges within the conductor experience forces due to their motion through this magnetic field. The positive charges are held in place in the conductor by the action of interatomic forces, but the free electrons, usually one or two per atom, are caused to drift to one side of the conductor, thus setting up an electric field E within the conductor which opposes the further drift of electrons. The magnitude of this electric field E may be calculated by equating the force it exerts on a charge q, to the force on this charge due to its motion through the magnetic field of induction B.
Comments
Published in Physics, by Henry Semat and Robert Katz, New York: Rinehart & Company, Inc., 1958. Copyright © 1958 Henry Semat and Robert Katz. All rights reserved. Used by permission.