Which term describes a coil of wire that produces a magnetic field when carrying an electric current?

Which term describes a coil of wire that produces a magnetic field when carrying an electric current?

• A. Galvonometer
• B. Transformer
• C. Solenoid
• D. Generator

Answer: (C)

A coil of wire that carries current and creates a magnetic field is called a solenoid. When current flows through the many turns, the individual magnetic fields add up to form a strong, nearly uniform field along the coil’s axis, turning the coil into an electromagnet. This makes the solenoid a common way to produce a controlled magnetic field in a compact form. The other terms describe different things: a galvanometer is a device that measures current by detecting the torque on a coil placed in a magnetic field; a transformer uses coils to transfer energy via changing magnetic flux between circuits; a generator is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. None of them names the coil itself as a source of the magnetic field.

A coil of wire that carries current and creates a magnetic field is called a solenoid. When current flows through the many turns, the individual magnetic fields add up to form a strong, nearly uniform field along the coil’s axis, turning the coil into an electromagnet. This makes the solenoid a common way to produce a controlled magnetic field in a compact form.

The other terms describe different things: a galvanometer is a device that measures current by detecting the torque on a coil placed in a magnetic field; a transformer uses coils to transfer energy via changing magnetic flux between circuits; a generator is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. None of them names the coil itself as a source of the magnetic field.