Solenoid with Leads: Magnetic Field Model


Here the magnetic field of a two-turn solenoid is calculated* on a set of cartesian grid points located at the base of each plotted arrow. As you can see, a cluster of near-parallel magnetic field lines is created when a current runs through the coil. You can reorient the model by dragging the mouse over it for a clearer look at its three-dimensional structure. Puzzler #1: Which way is the current in this solenoid flowing, i.e. is current moving in the direction of the larger magnetic field arrows, or vice versa?

* (by integrating Biot-Savart's dBoIds×r/r3 over the wire's length)

For the complete page on this subject, and the solenoid-only model, click here.

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