Key Stage 4
Meaning
A solenoid is a coil of wire which produces a magnetic field, similar to that of a bar magnet, when it has an electrical current.
About Solenoids
- Solenoids can be used to magnetise a magnetic material.
- Solenoids have a uniform magnetic field inside the coil of wire and a non-uniform magnetic field outside the coil, similar to that of a bar magnet.
- The magnetic field is strongest inside the coil.
- Solenoids are not magnets themselves, but they are part of an electromagnet. To turn a solenoid into an electromagnet it needs a soft iron core.
- The strength of a solenoid depends upon:
- The current in the coil - The greater the current the stronger the magnetic field.
- The number of coils - The greater the number of coils the stronger the magnetic field.
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| This diagram shows the magnetic field lines of a solenoid. |