http://www.ck12.org Chapter 5. Energy
5.86 Solenoid
- Describe a solenoid.
- Explain how to strengthen the magnetic field of a solenoid.
- List some uses of solenoids.
Splat! This paintball player took a direct hit! Did you ever play this extreme game? The trigger on a paintball gun
is electronic and uses a device called a solenoid.
What Is a Solenoid?
Asolenoidis a coil of wire with electric current flowing through it. You can see a solenoid in theFigure5.185.
Current flowing through the coil produces a magnetic field that has north and south poles. You can see an actual
solenoid with a compass showing its magnetic north pole at this URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgZHq
fIBkUI.
MEDIA
Click image to the left for use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/82388Q:How is a solenoid like a bar magnet?
A:Like a bar magnet, a solenoid has north and south magnetic poles and is surrounded by a magnetic field.