A
linear motor or
linear induction motor is an
alternating current (AC)
electric motor that has had its
stator "unrolled" so that instead of producing a
torque (
rotation) it produces a linear
force along its length. The most common mode of operation is as a
Lorentz-type actuator, in which the applied force is
linearly proportional to the
current and the
magnetic field (
F =
qv ×
B).

Many designs have been put forward for linear motors, falling into two major categories, low-acceleration and high-acceleration linear motors. Low-acceleration linear motors are suitable for
maglev trains and other ground-based transportation applications. High-acceleration linear motors are normally quite short, and are designed to accelerate an object up to a very high speed and then release it, like
roller coasters. They are usually used for studies of
hypervelocity collisions, as
weapons, or as
mass drivers for
spacecraft propulsion. The high-acceleration motors are usually of the linear induction design (LIM) with an active
three-phase winding on one side of the air-gap and a passive conductor plate on the other side. The low-acceleration, high speed and high power motors are usually of the linear synchronous design (LSM), with an active winding on one side of the air-gap and an array of alternate-pole magnets on the other side. These magnets can be permanent magnets or energized magnets. The
Transrapid Shanghai motor is an LSM.
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