Why is there force on a current carrying conductor?

[quawa99]

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?

 

[mikeph]

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.

 

[jtbell]

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

 

[Doc Al]

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!)

 

[sardar]

The force on a current carrying conductor is a result of the interaction between the magnetic field and the moving charges within the conductor. When a current flows through a conductor, it creates a magnetic field around the conductor. This magnetic field interacts with the external magnetic field, causing a force to be exerted on the conductor.

The force on the freely flowing electrons is transferred to the structure of the conductor through the process of electromagnetic induction. As the electrons move through the conductor, they create a magnetic field around the conductor. This changing magnetic field then induces an electric field within the conductor, which in turn creates a force that acts on the structure of the conductor.

This phenomenon is known as the Lorentz force and is described by the equation F = q(v x B), where F is the force, q is the charge, v is the velocity of the charge, and B is the magnetic field. This equation shows that the force on the conductor is dependent on the strength of the magnetic field and the velocity of the charges.

In summary, the force on a current carrying conductor is a result of the interaction between the magnetic field and the moving charges within the conductor. This force is transferred to the structure of the conductor through the process of electromagnetic induction. Understanding this concept is crucial in many applications, such as electric motors and generators, where the force on a conductor is harnessed to produce mechanical work.