Current-carrying coil and solenoid

In summary, a current-carrying coil generates a magnetic field due to the flow of electric current through its windings, which can be visualized as loops of wire. When these coils are tightly wound into a cylindrical shape, they form a solenoid, which produces a uniform magnetic field inside its core. The strength of the magnetic field in both cases depends on factors like the number of turns of wire, the current flowing through the coil, and the core material. Solenoids are widely used in various applications, including electromagnets, inductors, and transformers.
  • #1
Meow12
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What is the difference between a current-carrying coil and a solenoid?
 
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  • #3
Baluncore said:
The difference is the current.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenoid
Assume that the same current I passes through the coil and the solenoid. Honestly, that picture in the Wikipedia article looks like a coil to me. It seems that both a coil and a solenoid have N turns of a current-carrying wire with radius r, and I don't see the difference.
 
  • #4
Meow12 said:
Assume that the same current I passes through the coil and the solenoid.
Then the only difference is the shape of the coil.
A solenoid is a helix.
A coil wound on a toroid, or as a planar spiral, is not a helix, so not a solenoid.
 
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