Solenoids
This current-carrying coil produces a magnetic field that can be calculated.Copyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. All rights reserved.
In this lesson about solenoids, students learn how to calculate the magnetic field along the axis of a solenoid and then complete an activity exploring the magnetic field of a metal slinky. Solenoids form the basis for the magnets of MRIs. Exploring the properties of this solenoid helps students understand the MRI machine.
Engineers use giant solenoids to create the magnetic fields of MRIs. Just as engineers must understand the properties of solenoids in order to design and build MRI machines, students must understand these properties in order to determine the safety hazards of MRI machines.
After the lesson, students should be able to:
- Calculate the magnetic field of a solenoid from its current, radius, and number of coils.
- Explain how a solenoid creates a magnetic field.