Lab 6: Magnetic Field

By: Matt Grojean October 4th 2011 3:30PM ___________________________________________________________

Ricky Cordoba, Ryan Speir, Dustin Spears

Goal
To determine the number of turns in 2 separate solenoids with different gauges or wire and different lengths. Also using a small DC generator and the solenoids to map out the magnetic field of the solenoids compared to a bar magnet. Equipment Pasco magnetic field sensor (take readings by placing in the center of a solenoid) Pasco voltage and current sensor (this will be used only as a current sensor in this lab) 2 Pasco USB link adaptors PC with Data Studio software Vernier calipers 2 solenoids of different numbers of coils DC power supply connecting clips and wires bar magnet compasses Procedure Start off with some basic measurements of the length of each solenoid. For reference, count the number of turn on the solenoid with the thicker gauge wire, not to forget multiplying by two as its two layers thick. Now were going to begin hooking up the series-style circuit involving the solenoid, Pasco meter and DC power supply. Start with one wire leading out of the positive terminal of the DC source and attaching that to one end of the solenoid. Attach a lead to the opposite end of the solenoid and continue the circuit to the positive in of the Pasco meter associated with reading amperage. To finish the circuit connect the negative, or out, terminal to the negative terminal on the DC source. Using another USB port and Pasco interface attach the magnetic field meter to the Pasco port and place it inside of the solenoid. After all is connected and the laptop is set-up to display the correct data, have someone ready on the DC source control knob and someone on the laptop ready to start the recording. Immediately following the start of the recording, slowly and

consistently increase the voltage on the DC source to keep the increase on the graph relatively smooth making sure not to dial past one amp. This will show you the relation between Tesla per unit time and current per unit time. In this case our time measurements will be in seconds. After you have reached the goal of one amp or dialed to the end of the DC sources capable power output, wait for the graph to level off then pause the recording and take down ten measurements at constant increments. Repeat this paragraph of instructions for both solenoids. Now that you have finished your trials and have both graphs for both solenoids, we are going to calculate the number of turns in each solenoid based on the graphs. This is done by using the slope of your Tesla vs. Amperes graph. As a separate exercise, with the current set to no higher than one Amp and fifteen, use the supplied compass to map out the direction of the magnetic field emitted from the larger solenoid and the smaller gauge wire. Make sure you determine north and south points and points label the direction of the field lines. Compare this to the same sketch you get from a typical bar magnet. Data and Sample Calculations Data of Large Coil Time(s) Current(I) Magnetic Field(B) 8.8 10.0 11.5 12.5 13.5 16 17.5 19.5 21.5 25 27.5 30 0 0.02 0.05 0.06 0.08 0.11 0.12 0.16 0.19 0.21 0.22 0.22 0.000074 0.000065 0.001700 0.002100 0.002900 0.003900 0.004600 0.005800 0.006600 0.007800 0.008300 0.008600 Data of Small Solenoid

Time(s) Current(I) Magnetic Field(B) .1 1 2 3 4 Length = 9.9 cm (large solenoid), 5 solenoid) 6 Current = No more than 1 Amp 7 Voltage = Varied up to 15 V 8 Approx. number of turns on smaller 9 turns times 2 layers 10 11 Calculated turns of large solenoid = .041*.099m = .004059/(1.26e-6) = 3221.5 Turns Calculated turns of small solenoid = .001*.110 = .00011/(1.26e-6) = 87.3 Turns 0.04 0.08 0.19 0.35 0.45 0.58 0.70 0.76 0.90 1.07 1.09 1.09 0.000014 0.000034 0.000180 0.000490 0.000670 0.000890 0.001000 0.001200 0.001400 0.001700 0.001800 0.001900

11.0 cm (small

solenoid = 76

Magnetic Field vs. Current, Small Solenoid

1.4 1.2 Magnetic Field (T) 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 0.0005 0.001 Current (A) 0.0015 0.002 y = 571.64x + 0.0711

Magnetic Field vs. Current, Large Solenoid

0.01 0.009 0.008 0.007 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.001 0 -0.001 0

Magnetic Field (T)

y = 0.0386x - 0.0003

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

Current (A)

Analysis Beginning this lab we had some issues getting the Pasco to read the amount of current flowing through each of our set-ups. After much trial and error on different configurations we were unsure of the cause of the situation though we eventually found both the DC source and Pasco interface to begin reading. While performing the operation we still had some doubt whether or not we had the correct hook up as the DC source was only reading an output of about .25 Amps. Though using the same configuration but substituting the smaller solenoid, we found much more results with less sensitive moves of the dial. The needle began to rapidly approach 1 Amp which we were cautioned not to exceed. The fact that we didnt see activity like this with the larger solenoid kept us thinking there was an error in the setup. Since everything was hooked in proper order, we came to the conclusion that with the smaller solenoid having less turns and thicker wire, it would produce much less resistance and therefore we would see a much quicker climb in current and lesser climb in magnetic force. In comparing the two solenoid trials, one can see that the more turns definitely creates a stronger magnetic field with the same as well as even less power required. The magnetic moment and the magnetic field of the electromagnet are proportional to the number of loops of wire, to the cross-section of each loop, and to the current passing through the wire. The right hand rule goes to prove the direction of the magnetic field in relation to the current flow. As current travels through, it causes the entrance point of the current to be a northern pole and the exit a southern point.

The diagram we sketched is identical to the layout a bar magnet presents because a solenoid is also known as an electron magnet. A bar magnet is identical to a solenoid only a solenoid uses electricity to create its field and can be reversed when the current is reversed. The Magnitude of the earths magnetic field is estimated to be 5.0 10-5 Tesla (Elert). That being said I dont believe the field played an even remotely powerful role in our measurements. I believe for the earths field to have an effect, if would depend on the orientation of our solenoid but since we were taking measurements from almost no distance from the solenoid, I dont think the Pasco was affected by the pull. As for a comparison of our counted turns on the smaller solenoid and the calculated from our experiment, I believe the number of turns for the larger solenoid sounds plausible. I dont say they sound exactly on only because when calculating the number of turns on the smaller solenoid, we only found and approximate 87. Manually counting them we find 78 though its wrapped in 2 layers so why we didnt calculate 156 is unknown. Conclusion When looking at our calculations and our sketches I believe we partially achieved our goal. Our sketches of the magnetic field of the solenoid are what were expected so that proves everything was connected in order as well as demonstrating the right hand rule in showing the direction of the field. Why I say our goal wasnt completely accomplished is because when calculating our number of turns for each solenoid, the larger solenoid calculation seems proper though not the smaller. Its about half as many turns as expected. Since calculations were relatively simple, I think it may have been an error in data recorded for the graph which generated the slope to use in the calculation. Although the numbers we calculated were not perfect we were able to demonstrate how the bar magnet and the solenoid are alike. When given an amount of current the solenoid generates a field identical to the bar magnet, hence the name electromagnet. The strength of the magnetic field and power consumption to generate the field follows the rule that the magnetic moment and the magnetic field of the electromagnet are proportional to the number of loops of wire, to the cross-section of each loop, and to the current passing through the wire. This fact demonstrates the differences we saw from solenoid to solenoid on the same power source.

References
Elert, Glenn. "Magnetic Field on Earth." Hypertextbook.com. 1999. Web. 26 Oct. 2010. <http://hypertextbook.com/facts/1999/DanielleCaruso.shtml>