How Can I Calculate the Force Produced by an Electromagnet?

[roldy]

I'm part of a design group for a university design course and we need to launch a mass using the solenoid idea (iron rod wrapped with wire). The problem that I am having is calculating the force produced by the electromagnet given a certain voltage and current.

I know that F=q(v x B)
in this equation we are assuming that the field is perpendicular so what we have is just F=qvB
What I need is an expression that gives the force produced by the electromagnet as a function of variables that I can find, such as voltage, current...

In the above equation, I'm trying to find the force but I do not know what v is and q. q is the charge but how do I measure that? Any help would be beneficial.

 

[mgb_phys]

Start here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenoid ?

 

[roldy]

I already tried sources on wikipedia and on hyperphysics. I need to know how to solve for the charge of the electromagnet and the velocity.

 

[mgb_phys]

F=q(v x B) isn't really appropriate for an electronmagnet

For a solenoidm, the force on the core is
Force = B^2 A / 2 mu_0

where, B = mu_relative * number of turns * current / length

 

[roldy]

I forgot to mention that the mass being launched is .02 kilograms. If capacitors were to be used, how would they help? The mass needs to be launched a distance of 6 to 10 meters. Another requirement is that the power supply can not be no more than 24 volts. What we are using is a 18.8 V rechargeable drill battery.