An apparatus for use in a borehole may include a rotor having at least one set of magnetic elements and a cylindrical stator having a winding flowing current in a direction transverse to a long axis of the stator. The polarity of each magnetic element of the rotor may be arranged to alternate along a long axis of the rotor. The stator may be in sliding engagement with the rotor and have a core formed at least partially of laminations aligned along a plane co-planar with the long axis of the stator. Energizing the winding principally causes relative sliding between the rotor and the stator. A method for performing an operation in a borehole includes forming a well tool having at least one linear motor as described above, conveying the linear motor into the borehole, and operating a well tool by activating the linear motor.