Introduction

A solenoid is made by taking a tube and wrapping it with many turns of wire. A metal Slinky^® is the same shape and will serve as a solenoid. When a current passes through the wire, a magnetic field is present inside the solenoid. Solenoids are used in electronic circuits or as electromagnets.

In this lab you will explore factors that affect the magnetic field inside the solenoid and study how the field varies in different parts of the solenoid. By inserting a Magnetic Field Sensor between the coils of the Slinky, you can measure the magnetic field inside the coil. You will also measure µ₀, the permeability constant. The permeability constant is a fundamental constant of physics.

Objectives