Tangential force on a linear solenoid plunger

[Jan Alexander]

Hello,

I know how a plunger in a pull solenoid is pulled to the center of the solenoid. What I am wondering is the following. Does the plunger experience a centering force towards the center of the coil? If the plunger is moved slightly off-axis from the center of a circular coil, will the magnetic component pull it further out of the center or push it back in?

Thank you very much,
Jan

 

[AndyW]

ice

Hello Janice,

Thank you for your question. To answer your first question, yes, the plunger in a pull solenoid does experience a centering force towards the center of the coil. This force is a result of the magnetic field created by the coil, which is strongest at the center and gradually decreases as you move away from it. Therefore, the plunger is pulled towards the center where the magnetic field is strongest.

As for your second question, if the plunger is moved slightly off-axis from the center of the coil, the magnetic component will pull it further out of the center. This is because the magnetic field is strongest at the center, so the plunger will be pulled towards the strongest part of the field. However, the plunger may also experience some resistance from the coil, which may push it back towards the center.

I hope this answers your question. If you have any further inquiries, please don't hesitate to ask.