Lorentz force
Americannoun
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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.
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See also electromagnetism
Etymology
Origin of Lorentz force
First recorded in 1960–65; named after H. A. Lorentz
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That creates a force - called the Lorentz force - which acts on the sea water and propels the craft along.
From BBC
Drugs can be delivered through the skin using Lorentz force, which combines electric with magnetic forces to shoot through the vaccine into the body.
From Salon
The electrified tether’s interactions with Earth’s magnetic field produce an impetus known as the Lorentz force, which pushes on the tether in a perpendicular direction.
From Scientific American
He is not averse to making protests: “I don't recognize any of this. I thought you said we were going to get the Lorentz force law.”
From Nature
To understand the Lorentz force, suppose a charged particle moves through electric and magnetic fields.
From Science Magazine
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.