B Current-carrying coil and solenoid

AI Thread Summary
The primary distinction between a current-carrying coil and a solenoid lies in their shapes. A solenoid is specifically a helical coil, while other forms of coils, such as toroidal or planar spirals, do not qualify as solenoids. Both structures consist of multiple turns of wire carrying the same current, but their geometric configurations define their classifications. The discussion emphasizes that the shape is the key factor in differentiating between the two. Understanding these differences is crucial for applications in electromagnetism and circuit design.
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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