Differences and Similarities between toroid and solenoid | Electromagnet
In this post we not only discuss about the differences and Similarities between toroid and solenoid. But also learn, what is solenoid and toroid with the help of diagram. For simplicity to understand solenoid and toroid in detail. we discuss all the possible topics related to solenoid and toroid.
Solenoid and toroid both terms are interconnected to each other. Both solenoid and toroid comes from electromagnet. Electromagnet is the branch of physics which deals with the study of electricity and magnetism together. In simple word we can say that electromagnet is the study of magnetic properties of a current carrying conductor.
In an electromagnet a current carrying conductor behaves like a magnet. No matter How the shape of conductor be. It may be straight, curve, round etc. There are many types of electromagnet. Solenoid and toroid are one of them. Basically both solenoid and toroid are a current carrying conductor, but there are many differences between solenoid and toroid. Not only the difference there is some similarities between solenoid and toroid.
Here are the following table of content which is described below in detail.
Difference between toroid and solenoid
(1.) Solenoid is straight current carrying conductor whereas toroid is a circular current carrying conductor.
(2.) Magnetic field exist outside the solenoid but magnetic field doesn't exist outside the toroid.
(3.) The shape of the solenoid is straight like a bar magnet but toroid is in circular shape.
(4.) The magnetic field produced by solenoid is same as the magnetic field produced in a bar magnet whereas the magnetic field is not same as bar magnet in toroid.
(5.) The magnetic field lines inside the solenoid is in the form of parallel straight line whereas the magnetic field lines inside the toroid is in the form of circular line.
(6.) In a solenoid the strength of magnetic field is same at all the points but In a toroid the strength of magnetic field is different at all the point.
(7.) In a solenoid the direction of magnetic field is same at all the points whereas In a toroid the direction is different at all the point.
(8.) In a current carrying solenoid the magnetic field is uniform whereas In a current carrying toroid the magnetic field is non-uniform.
(9.) In a solenoid there is fixed north pole and south pole whereas In toroid there is no fixed of north and south poles.
With the many differences, toroid and solenoid has also some common point called as similarities. That means some of the phenomena and laws are same for both toroid and solenoid. So lets discuss some similar points between toroid and solenoid.
Similarities between toroid and solenoid
These are the following similarities between toroid and solenoid:-
(1.) In solenoid there is a large number of close turns of insulated copper wire, similarly In toroid there is also a large number of close turns of insulated copper wire.
(2.) Solenoid acts as an electromagnet similarly toroid also acts as an electromagnet.
(3.) Solenoid is a current carrying conductor similarly toroid is also a current carrying conductor.
(4.) Strength of solenoid depends on the number of turns of insulated copper wire on the same way the strength of toroid also depends on the number of turns of insulated copper wire.
(5.) Strength of solenoid depends on the amount of current passing through conductor similarly strength of toroid also depends on the amount of current passing through the conductor.
(6.) Solenoid depends on the nature of material used in making it, similarly toroid also depends on the nature of material used in making it.
(7.) Solenoid behaves like a magnet. on the same way toroid also behaves like a magnet.
(8.) solenoid produce magnetic field due to external electric current on the same way toroid produce magnetic field due to external current.
(9.) Soft iron is used in solenoid as well as in toroid.
After a lots of discussion on differences and similarities between solenoid and toroid. It would be the best situation. when we should talk about solenoid and toroid in more detail with the help of diagram. So lets start with Solenoid?
What is Solenoid?
A Solenoid is a long straight coil containing a large number of close turns of insulated copper wire. See above fig. Shows a solenoid whose two ends are go up. having length 'L'. Suppose these two ends are connected to a battery. Hence, the solenoid are connected to a battery so that it produced magnetic field around it. As shown in fig. the blue lines indicates the electric field lines which produced magnetic field.
Now as we discuss earlier the magnetic field produced in a current carrying solenoid is similar to the magnetic field produced by a bar magnet. We can see that in fig. the magnetic field lines comes from one end, enters in from the second end. So from where the magnetic field lines comes outside called north pole of the solenoid on the other hand from where the magnetic field enters inside called south pole of the solenoid.
Please note that the magnetic field lines is parallel to each other inside the solenoid. see above fig. This indicates that the the magnetic field strength inside the solenoid is same to all the points. Thus we can also say that the magnetic field strength is uniform inside the solenoid.
As we discuss there is a strong magnetic field inside the solenoid. Why? In current carrying solenoid. the current flow through the bent insulated copper wire is in the same direction by each turn. So that the whole current adds up, giving a strong magnetic field inside the solenoid.
What is Toroid?
A toroid is a round shape of solenoid. In other words a toroid is a circular coil containing large number of turns of insulated copper wire. see above fig. Suppose this above toroid is connected to a battery. Hence, the toroid is connected to a battery so that it produced magnetic field within it. Please note that the magnetic field produced by the torod is not much strong around it. So that we neglect it and the magnetic field outside the toroid become zero.
The magnetic field lines inside the toroid be in circular shape. that means the magnetic field strength inside the toroid will be different in different points. There is no north pole and south pole in the toroid.
Conclusion
After a long discussion on toroid and solenoid. we conclude that both solenoid and toroid are just a current carrying conductor. But the differences is both has two different shape. otherwise both are same. But due the different shape some of the phenomena of toroid is entirely different from solenoid. Like there value of magnetic field inside and outside.
There are many common phenomena of both toroid and solenoid. like both produces magnetic field when current passing through it.