Extending the range of electro magnets? Can it be done?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the possibility of extending the range of electromagnets, focusing on theoretical and practical approaches to enhance their effectiveness in exerting force over distance. Participants explore various methods, including adjustments to current, coil design, and core materials.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that increasing the current in the coil can enhance the magnetic field strength at a given distance.
  • Others suggest using an intermediary piece of metal to extend the reach of the electromagnet.
  • There are claims that the force exerted by an electromagnet is proportional to the number of turns in the coil.
  • It is noted that an electromagnet with an iron core will reach saturation at a certain field strength, beyond which increasing current has diminishing returns.
  • Participants discuss the potential benefits of increasing the diameter of the core and coil to improve performance.
  • Questions are raised about the effects of increasing the length of the iron core and whether there are better core materials than iron.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the methods to extend the range of electromagnets, with no consensus on a single approach or design. Some agree on the importance of current and coil design, while others introduce alternative considerations regarding core materials and dimensions.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific designs or empirical data to support the proposed methods, as well as unresolved questions about the optimal configurations for electromagnets.

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Is it possible to extend the range of an electromagnet? How would one do this?
 
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Extend the range? Why do you mean? If by range you mean the distance at which it exerts a force, well, that's already infinity.
 
You can extend the reach by using an intermediary piece of metal, along the line of picking up a chain of paper clips.
 
Nabeshin said:
Extend the range? Why do you mean? If by range you mean the distance at which it exerts a force, well, that's already infinity.

Ummm...yeah. I'm pretty sure he means he distance at which it produces a measurable, non-negligible force that is capable of doing something. If so, then russ waters is right. The larger the current in the coil, the stronger the magnetic field will be at any given distance.
 
russ_watters said:
Crank up the juice.

cepheid said:
Ummm...yeah. I'm pretty sure he means he distance at which it produces a measurable, non-negligible force that is capable of doing something. If so, then russ waters is right. The larger the current in the coil, the stronger the magnetic field will be at any given distance.

Yah this is more along the lines that I was meaning. Crankin it would work for sure, so I assume from the responses though there are no designs that would effects this?
 
well if you can design the electromagnet by yourself - the force should be proportional to the number of turns of the coil
 
Last edited:
An electromagnet with iron as a core will saturate at some value of the field strength. At that point you get no more help from the iron in increasing the field strength and cranking up the juice will have much less effect. At this point it's better to increase the diameter of the core and the coil. (and crank up the juice as well to keep the field strength constant).
a 1 cm^2 coil with a field strength of 1T will produce the same force at 5 cm as a 100 cm^2 coil with the same field strength will at 50 cm.
 
kamerling said:
An electromagnet with iron as a core will saturate at some value of the field strength. At that point you get no more help from the iron in increasing the field strength and cranking up the juice will have much less effect. At this point it's better to increase the diameter of the core and the coil. (and crank up the juice as well to keep the field strength constant).
a 1 cm^2 coil with a field strength of 1T will produce the same force at 5 cm as a 100 cm^2 coil with the same field strength will at 50 cm.

So thicker diamater = stronger magnet. What about increasing the legth of the iron core/coil? Does that make any changes? Are there better core materials than iron?
 

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