Magnetomotive force

In physics, the magnetomotive force is a quantity appearing in the equation for the magnetic flux in a magnetic circuit, sometimes known as Hopkinson's law:

${\mathcal {F}}=\Phi {\mathcal {R}},$

where Φ is the magnetic flux and R is the reluctance of the circuit. It can be seen that the magnetomotive force plays a role in this equation analogous to the voltage V in Ohm's law: V = IR.

Magnetomotive force is analogous to electromotive force, emf (= difference in electric potential, or voltage, between the terminals of a source of electricity, e.g., a battery from which no current is being drawn) since it is the cause of magnetic flux in a magnetic circuit; i.e.,

1. ℱ = NI

   where N is the number of turns in the coil and

   I is the electric current through the circuit

2. ℱ = ΦR

   where Φ is the magnetic flux and

   R is the reluctance

3. ℱ = HL

   where H is the magnetizing force (the strength of the magnetizing field) and

   L is the mean length of a solenoid or the circumference of a toroid

References

• The Penguin Dictionary of Physics, 1977, ISBN 0-14-051071-0
• A textbook of Electrical Technology, 2008, ISBN 81-219-2440-5