Why is there force on a current carrying conductor?

AI Thread Summary
The force on a current-carrying conductor arises from the interaction between moving electrons and a magnetic field. Although electrons are bound to the metal lattice, they drift and transfer momentum to the lattice as they move. This drift causes electrons to accumulate on one side of the conductor, creating a transverse potential difference known as the Hall effect. The resulting electrostatic field from the displaced electrons allows the magnetic force to be effectively transferred to the lattice structure. Understanding this interaction is crucial for applications in electromagnetism and electronic devices.
quawa99
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I know that charges experience a force when they are moving with respect to a magnetic field , but in case of conductor how is the force on the freely flowing electrons transferred to the structure of the conductor?
 
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The electrons aren't freely flowing. They're bound to the metal lattice. And as they drift, they interact sufficiently quickly with the lattice to transfer their momentum to it.
 
Electrons do tend to move towards one side of the conductor. This produces a transverse potential difference which impedes further such motion. This potential difference can be measured, and is known as the Hall effect:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/hall.html
 
quawa99 said:
I know that charges experience a force when they are moving with respect to a magnetic field , but in case of conductor how is the force on the freely flowing electrons transferred to the structure of the conductor?
As the electrons get pushed to the side, a positive charge (from the lattice) is left behind. The electrostatic field created allows the magnetic force to be "transferred" to the lattice.

(jtbell beat me to it!)
 
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