Monday 29 October 2012

What You Should Know On Electro Magnetic Coils

By Patrice McCoy


Electro magnetic coils are the simplest form of inductors and are usually used only in the simplest of electronic and electric circuits. These devices are made from a loop of wire on a cylinder of metal or disk shaped object through which electricity is passed. This basic construction is the reason for inductance in any electric circuit. The term inductance is an electrical characteristic that is paramount to the functioning of electric circuits and home appliances.

To understand the importance of electromagnetic loops or a coil one has to perform a very simple experiment. This experiment consists of a light bulb, a battery and a coil as explained previously.

The circuit consists of a light bulb connected to the battery, which is parallel to the EM coil. Basic knowledge of electricity and circuit laws shall suggest that switching on the battery should not charge the bulb since the path of highest resistance is through the parallel coil. However, something entirely different happens against all common sense that explains the benefits of an EM coil.

The bulb instead of staying dull, lights up brightly and then reduces in intensity as time passes. Similarly, switching off the battery produces the same reaction wherein the bulb lights up and then gradually loses its intensity. Accordingly, alternating quickly between an on and off switch shall cause the bulb to stay brightly lit even though EM laws suggest otherwise. This is all because of inductance in the EM coil.

In an EM coil, there are always two fields operating simultaneously. One is the electric field and the other is a magnetized field. The electric field in the case of the above experiment comes from the battery, which induces a magnetized reaction in the coil. This magnetic field produces its own accompanying electric field in an opposing side to the former current thus slowly cutting it down to zero. Hence, the light bulb dies out slowly. Stopping current in the coil allows its opposing current to power the bulb.

This property of EM coil is measured in units of Henries named after the person who discovered electromagnetic property of coils. Joseph Henry actually observed this phenomenon in a coil and then measured the performance of the same in different mediums such as water, air, vacuum etc. It turned out that the intensity differed depending on the medium which meant that there was a certain constant and variable at play. He called it inductive capacity.

EM coils mostly feature in places that require an electromagnetic field such as inductors in electric circuits or oscillators. Moreover, just about any electronic device uses it a lot along with capacitors and resistors.

Magnetic coils are today being used in the field of medicine. In a recent research paper published by the Massachusetts General Hospital, patients suffering from Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis and other such neurological issues were implanted with an EM coil configured to produce brain waves. What was astounding is the amount of relief patients got from their otherwise associated condition. Accordingly, researchers have called the process Deep Brain Stimulation and hope that EM coil may someday cure the brain conditions.




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