Motor effect

The motor effect is the term used when a current-carrying wire, in the presence of a magnetic field, experiences a force.

This can be demonstrated easily in a simple school experiment. Place a thin aluminium strip in between two opposing magnets.

Apply an electric current through the aluminium foil.

You can see the aluminium strip move and, using Fleming's left-hand rule (used when electricity passes through a wire), you could have predicted it.

To be able to recall the meaning of "motor", remember the following:

This motor effect can be used to drive a motor

See the definition of motors.

This effect is used to drive electric motors, even cars.