High School Current-carrying coil and solenoid

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SUMMARY

The primary distinction between a current-carrying coil and a solenoid lies in their shapes and configurations. A solenoid is defined as a helical coil, while a current-carrying coil can take various forms, such as toroidal or planar spiral configurations. Both consist of N turns of wire carrying the same current I, but their geometric arrangements determine their classification. Understanding this difference is crucial for applications in electromagnetism and circuit design.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of electromagnetism
  • Familiarity with coil and solenoid configurations
  • Knowledge of current flow in electrical circuits
  • Concept of magnetic fields generated by current-carrying conductors
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of electromagnetic induction
  • Explore the applications of solenoids in electromechanical systems
  • Learn about the magnetic field calculations for different coil shapes
  • Investigate the design considerations for toroidal coils
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in the principles of electromagnetism and coil design will benefit from this discussion.

Meow12
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What is the difference between a current-carrying coil and a solenoid?
 
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Baluncore said:
The difference is the current.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenoid
Assume that the same current I passes through the coil and the solenoid. Honestly, that picture in the Wikipedia article looks like a coil to me. It seems that both a coil and a solenoid have N turns of a current-carrying wire with radius r, and I don't see the difference.
 
Meow12 said:
Assume that the same current I passes through the coil and the solenoid.
Then the only difference is the shape of the coil.
A solenoid is a helix.
A coil wound on a toroid, or as a planar spiral, is not a helix, so not a solenoid.
 

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