# Does Hall voltage disappear?

## Homework Statement

Does hall voltage disappear after the electric force on charge carriers balance the magnetic force?

qE=qvB

## The Attempt at a Solution

My understanding: By placing a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field, magnetic force is exerted on the moving charges. The positive charges will be on one side and the negative charges on the other. In this way, electric field will be produced. Electric force will balance the magnetic force. Here comes the part that I am confused. When the electric force balances the magnetic force, does it mean that there's no more hall voltage??

Delta2
Homework Helper
Gold Member
When the electric force balances the magnetic force, the total force is zero, so the electrons don't move anymore towards one side of the wire (this is due to Newton's 1st law of motion, when total force is zero the velocity remains constant in magnitude and direction, the path of motion is a straight line) , so we wont have more increase of the hall voltage... The hall voltage is still there, we just don't have any further increase of the hall voltage.

What keeps the electrons that have accumulated on one side of the wire , separated from the positively charged ions that have accumulated on the opposite side of the wire (because they attract due to coulomb forces)?. The electrons though they are accumulated on the one side of the wire, they are still flowing there with the current (drift) velocity, the magnetic force that is exerted on them by the magnetic field cancels the electric force that is exerted on them by the positive ions of the opposite side.

Last edited:
Icy98
When the electric force balances the magnetic force, the total force is zero, so the electrons don't move anymore towards one side of the wire (this is due to Newton's 1st law of motion, when total force is zero the velocity remains constant in magnitude and direction, the path of motion is a straight line) , so we wont have more increase of the hall voltage... The hall voltage is still there, we just don't have any further increase of the hall voltage.

What keeps the electrons that have accumulated on one side of the wire , separated from the positively charged ions that have accumulated on the opposite side of the wire (because they attract due to coulomb forces)?. The electrons though they are accumulated on the one side of the wire, they are still flowing there with the current (drift) velocity, the magnetic force that is exerted on them by the magnetic field cancels the electric force that is exerted on them by the positive ions of the opposite side.
I understand now. Thank you so much