Shunatona 1

Caleb Shunatona
4/22/13
Physics 2
Magnetic Field Created by Putting a Current through a Solenoid
In this lab we studied the magnetic field that was created by putting different currents
through a solenoid. We studied how the magnetic field changed and how close are related to the
literature equation. Multiple recordings of varying magnetic fields were made through a
computer with variable currents. In this process the relations should be very close between our
findings and the equated answers. When starting this lab, there were known equations used to
solve for magnetic fields inside solenoids. The magnetic field (B) should be equal to the
magnetic constant (U) multiplied by the turns per unit length (n) multiplied by the current (I):
B=U*n*I.
To generate our findings we created a controlled circuit, and used a computer with a Data
Studio program with a 750 Interface and magnetic field sensor to measure the magnetic field. In
our circuit we used a 5V battery, a Solenoid, a Rheostat Resistor, Ammeter, and a switch.
Everything was connected together by wires in series. The Resistor was set to a specific
resistance and then the current was measured with the Ammeter. The Solenoid had 570 turns and
was 14.1cm long. The magnetic field sensor was then placed inside the Solenoid to measure the
magnetic field created by the Solenoid within itself. The data was created and stored into the
Data Studio program. We would then change to resistance, which would then create a different
current within the circuit. Record the different current and the different magnetic field created by
this current.

Shunatona 2

We placed all our recorded data into Excel and also created a graph from this data. The
Data recorded is placed into this table with the different created currents in Amps and the
resultant magnetic fields in Gausss
Current (A)

Magnetic Field (G)

0.68
0.72
0.75
0.8
0.83
0.9
1.05
1.2

29.6
31.2
32.4
34.2
35.5
38.8
45
51.4

The magnetic field was then converted into Teslas to be better equated in the given equation
Magnetic Field (T)
0.00296
0.00312
0.00324
0.00342
0.00355
0.00388
0.0045
0.00514
The Data followed the expected trends by the given equation. It followed that the greater the
current put through the Solenoid the greater the magnetic field. By putting it into a graph of the
magnetic field vs. the current, we should get a linear result and the slope should be magnetic
field times the number of turns per unit length. Here is our data put into such a graph.

Shunatona 3

Magnetic Field in Solenoid vs Current Through Soleniod

0.01
0.01

f(x) = 0x

0
Magnetic Field (T)

0
0
0
0
0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.1

1.2

1.3

Current (A)

With this data, it is seen that the graph created with our data creates a linear equation. The
slope created by the equation is 0.0043. When this is multiplied by the Current it gives the
Magnetic Field. In the equation given the Current should be multiplied by the magnetic constant
and the number per unit length turns to give the magnetic field. These numbers should be the
same if the theoretical matches the realistic field created. The magnetic constant multiplied by
the unit per length turns gives the number 0.0050. The math is given in this equation
4*pi*10^(-7)*570/0.141=0.0050. This number is close to the number given by the graph.
There is a slight variation given by the equated number given by the equation and the one
given by the slope of the data in a graph. This could be caused by many human errors in
measurements, such as the turns or length of the Solenoid. The Magnetic field could also be
altered by the multitude of things that created magnetic fields around the experiment but only
slightly. There could have been slight errors in the magnetic sensor. Within this lab we were able
to recreate the real life effects of a current through a solenoid and the magnetic field created. The
real life data matched very closely with the theoretical suspected results.