Lorentz force

noun

, Electricity.

1. the force on a charged particle moving through a region containing both electric and magnetic fields.

Lorentz force

1. The total force exerted on a charged particle by electric and magnetic fields. All charged particles encounter a force from an electric field, oriented in the direction of the field (or the opposite direction, depending on the sign of the charge), while moving charged particles also encounter a force oriented at a right angle to both the direction of motion and the magnetic field. The Lorentz force is the driving force in electromagnets and is responsible for the Hall effect. The Lorentz force is named for Henrik Lorentz.
2. See also electromagnetism

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lorentz force¹

First recorded in 1960–65; named after H. A. Lorentz