Field Lines in a Toroidal Solenoid

This animation illustrates the magnetic field lines created by a series of loops that form a torus. The animation shows how increasing number of current loops confines the magnetic field to the interior of the torus.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• physical
• science
• magnetic
• field
• solenoid
• toroid

[quidproquo2004]

Very cool, how different is the field when using ac current as opposed to dc current?

[mrg3]

@quidproquo2004 The field would just be alternating as well. From a maximum, it would decrease in strength to zero then start increasing in the opposite direction. Once it reaches max strength (in that opposite direction) it decreases to zero and then begins growing again.

Trying to show this with an animation, where field strength is represented by the concentration of field lines, would be difficult at best.

[Saskachewan]

@TheUFOeffect: I've tried different cores. The material or solid/hollow doesn't matter [though ferrous cores increase the magnetic field inside the core].

I know Rodin coil. But it's a different type of coil.

[TheUFOeffect]

@Saskachewan Is the torid used hollow or non ferrous? Look up the rodin coil.

[quidproquo2004]

@mrg3 Ha, I imagine it would be very tough to simulate the effects of successively adding more rings while also simulating an alternating current. I guess the question I was really getting at is whether or not the magnetic field would be confined to the toroid given the alternating current scenario.

[Saskachewan]

Awesome! I was always looking for that kind of visualization of magnetic field around a toroid, because I observed that if we wrap a loop of wire passing through the center, the electric current would induce in that loop despite the fact that it passes through the space where is no magnetic field at all! :P So it looks like it "feels" the magnetic field closed in a toroid at a distance.