Building a Pair of Helmholtz Coils - Questions & Tips

In summary, the speaker is building helmholtz coils for magnetism-related experiments using an old Avo Douglas coil winder. They plan to have two sections with a specific distance between them, achieved by using nylon threaded rod. They have two questions regarding the physical width of the coils and the distance between them. They also ask for any other practical advice on making helmholtz coils. They also ask for information on why the deflection plates are short-circuited and connected to the anode when measuring the accelerating voltage.
  • #1
Froskoy
27
0
Hi,

I'm building a pair of helmholtz coils to do a variety of magnetism-related experiments. I've borrowed an old Avo Douglas coil winder and plan to do a couple of thousand turns on two sections of 50mm or 60mm diameter pipe. Some nylon threaded rod will pass through the middle of each coil, to make the distance between them tweakable, to ensure that the distance between them is exactly equal to the radius of each coil.

I have two questions:

1) Does the physical width of each coil have an effect? That is the width of each layer of the coil. Should this be minimised (e.g. just have five adjacent wires per layer) or does this not have any effect?

2) Is the distance r between the coils the distance between the centrepoint of each coil, or the distance between the closest points on each coil?

Any other comments to do with the practical aspects of making a pair of helmholtz coils and difficulties that may be encountered would be very much appreciated.

With very many thanks,

Froskoy.
 
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  • #2
ASLAMUALIKUM
please someone inform me why we short circuit the deflection plates and connect them to anode while measuring the accelerating voltage?
 

FAQ: Building a Pair of Helmholtz Coils - Questions & Tips

What are Helmholtz Coils?

Helmholtz Coils are a pair of identical circular wire coils that are placed parallel to each other with a distance equal to their radius. They are used to generate a uniform magnetic field within their central region.

What materials are needed to build Helmholtz Coils?

The main materials needed to build Helmholtz Coils are insulated copper wire, a power supply, a power amplifier, and a signal generator. Other materials such as a baseboard, screws, and a switch may also be necessary depending on the specific design.

What factors determine the strength of the magnetic field produced by Helmholtz Coils?

The strength of the magnetic field produced by Helmholtz Coils is determined by the number of turns in the coils, the current running through the coils, and the distance between the coils. Increasing any of these factors will result in a stronger magnetic field.

What are some tips for building Helmholtz Coils?

Some tips for building Helmholtz Coils include using a high-quality copper wire with a thick insulation to prevent short circuits, ensuring that the coils are evenly spaced and aligned, and using a power supply with adjustable current and voltage to control the strength of the magnetic field.

What are the applications of Helmholtz Coils?

Helmholtz Coils have various applications in scientific research, such as in studying the effects of magnetic fields on biological systems, testing and calibrating magnetic field sensors, and creating uniform magnetic fields for particle accelerators. They are also used in practical applications such as magnetic field shielding and levitation devices.

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