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Electromagnetism

The Catapult Effect (also called the Motor Effect).

The catapult effect shows the force on a wire in a magnetic field
when current flows through the wire.

If you put two magnets near to each other,
their magnetic fields will interact.
Interact means that the magnets will feel forces on them
as like poles will repel and unlike poles attract.

It follows then that a wire in a field from a permanent magnet
will feel a force when current flows through it.
The magnetic field generated around the wire by the current
will interact with the field around the magnet
and the two fields will push or pull on each other.

The magnetic field around a straight wire is circular.
The magnetic field between two attracting poles is straight.
When the two interact,
the wire is pushed away from the field between the attracting poles
at right angles (90°) both to the straight field lines
and to the direction of current flow.

Motor Effect

Continued next page.

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