From an energy and force analysis based on known calculations on one a
nd two Abrikosov vortices (AV's) using the London equation, it is foun
d that the driving force on an AV is not a magnetic Lorentz force as w
idely believed. In the low-xi/lambda Limit, the force is dominated by
a kinetic rather than magnetic interaction, and is proportional to the
local densities of AV current and the driving current around the hard
core. Some simulated and experimental results published in the litera
ture on vortex depinning in Josephson-junction arrays can be interpret
ed in terms of this concept.