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Current flow through a solenoid
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A coil of wire wrapped around a cylinder is called a solenoid.

have_a_go.gif (3415 bytes)Click on the solenoid to see the magnetic field produced by current flow through the solenoid.

Note:

The coils in a solenoid are generally more tightly coiled than this diagram may suggest.

When a current passes through a solenoid, the lines of magnetic flux through the middle of the solenoid are parallel to the axis, so the magnetic field is uniform. The lines outside the solenoid are similar to those of a bar magnet. Its ends behave like the poles of a bar magnet.

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