To solve the problems of man-hour increase and high cost caused by changes in shape of permanent magnets and armature coils, which are required to reduce the pulsation of the thrust of a linear actuator.

Since the armature coils 3 are interlinked with magnetic fluxes from the permanent magnets 2, thrust is generated in the armature coils 3 by Fleming's left hand rule by causing specified currents to flow in the armature coils 3, and a moving element composed of the armature coils 3, a load carrying platform 4, and a linear scale 5 is moved. Since it is possible to incline the distribution of magnetic fluxes interlinking with each armature coil 3 approximately in respect to the direction of driving, a magnetic flux density distribution equivalent to that of a skewed one can be obtained. Consequently, it is possible to cause magnetic fluxes having different phases to interlink with respective armature coils 3, and reduce the pulsation of the thrust.