The Hall Effect: Discovering Hidden Currents

The Hall Effect occurs when a magnetic field pushes moving charges sideways in a conductor.
This sideways push creates a tiny voltage across the conductor—called the Hall voltage.
It was discovered in 1879 by physicist Edwin Hall.
The effect proves that electric currents are carried by moving charges, usually electrons.
Hall sensors use this principle to detect the presence and strength of magnetic fields.
They’re found in everyday tech, from car wheel sensors to smartphone compasses.
The Hall Effect helps measure current without breaking a circuit.
It’s also used to determine whether charge carriers in a material are positive or negative.
In physics labs, it provides key insights into semiconductors and quantum behavior.
From factory machines to satellites, the Hall Effect is a quiet but powerful tool of modern science.