Magnetic Field (Helmholtz Coils)

Aim
1. To study the variation of magnetic field with position of paired coils in Helmholtz arrangement
along the axis of the coils carrying current.
2. To study the principle of super imposition of magnetic field.
3. To calculate the radius of the coil.
Apparatus required:
IC regulated constant current source, digital gauss meter, two coils, movable magnetic field sensor.
Formula Used :
Radius of coil
2𝜋𝑛𝐼∗10−3
a= 𝐵
m

where, n= number of turns (500) OR as mentioned in the set up

I= Current flowing through coil (500 mA)
B= Magnetic field produced (in Gauss). (Max. mag. Field due to a single coil).
putting the values of n, I, & B radius of coil ‘a’ can be found.

Theory:
According to Bio Savart’s law a current carrying conductor produces a magnetic field around it.
Magnetic field at a point (P) fig.(1) from the current element is given by:

𝜇0 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑟
𝐼𝑑𝑙
⃗ =
𝐵 . .… … … (1) Fig. 1
4𝜋 𝑟3

This law when applied to the case of a circular current carrying coil gives the intensity of magnetic
field (B) at a point ‘P’ lying on the axis of coil as follows:
𝜇 2𝜋𝑛𝐼𝑎2
B= 4𝜋0 . (𝑎2 +𝑟2 ).3/2 ………………..(2)

Where,
n= number of turns in the coil, a= radius of coil
I= current flowing in the coil , 𝜇0 = permeability of free space= 4 𝜋*10-7 NA-2
 𝑟 = distance of point P from centre of coil
The units of ‘B’ are Tesla or Wb/m2
The direction of the magnetic intensity at P is along OP (O being center of the coil) produced if the
current flows through the coil in the anti-clock-wise direction as seen from P. If the direction of the
current is clockwise the field at P is along PO.
The value of the magnetic intensity is maximum at the centre O of the coil and is given by
𝜇0 𝑛𝐼
B= 2𝑎
Tesla

as 1 Tesla= 104 Gauss

4𝜋∗ 10−7 𝑛𝐼∗104 4𝜋∗10−3 𝑛𝐼
B= 2𝑎
= 2𝑎
Gauss …………………(3)

If we move away from O towards the right or left, the intensity of the magnetic field decreases. A
graph showing the relation between the intensity of the magnetic field B and the distance ‘r’ is given in
Fig. 2. The curve is first concave towards O but the curvature becomes less and less, quickly changes
sign at P and Q and afterwards becomes convex towards O.
It can be shown that the points of inflexion P or Q (where the curvature changes its sign) lie at
𝑎
distances ( ) from the centre. Hence the distance between P and Q is equal to the radius of the coil.
2

If two such identical coils are placed coaxially, then depending on the relative sense of current flow
in them, the two fields add or subtract (vector sum of two fields) to give the resultant magnetic field at
any point on the axis (principle of superposition).
Helmholtz coils is an arrangement of a pair of identical coils (same no. of turns, radius) placed
coaxially and separated by a distance equal to the radius of either coil. Such a pair produces an almost
uniform magnetic field between the coils if the current through them is same and in the same sense such
that two fields add. The resultant magnetic field at an axial point ‘S’ at a distance (𝑥) from coil 1 is given
by
 𝜇0 𝑛𝐼𝑎 2 1 1
𝐵𝑟𝑒𝑠 = 2
[ 3 + 3 ] …………………………….(4)
(𝑎2 +𝑥 2 ).2 {𝑎 2 +(𝑥−𝑎)2 )}2

Fig (3) shows the resultant field for Helmholtz coils when current through them is same and flowing
in the same sense such that two fields add and create uniform magnetic field over a range.

Figure 3
Procedure
(i) Connect the Sensor Cable (3-pin) to the sensor socket and Coil Cable (4-pin) to the coils socket.

(ii) Switch 'ON' the main's power.

(iii) Turn the current adjusting knob anti-clockwise to the minimum position; so that the
current is reduced to zero.

(iv) Fix the position of COIL 2 at a distance of 112 mm from the COIL 1 i.e. equal to the radius of the
coils.

(v) Keep the sensor at about 60mm away from first coil and adjust the zero of Gaussmeter
with 'ZERO ADJ.' knob keeping current 0.0mA.

(vi) Put the ‘COIL’ knob to Position 1 so that the COIL 1 is connected to the current source. Adjust the
current to say 500 mA.

(vii) Note down the magnetic field at about 60 mm along the axis of the Coil 1. Now put the coil knob
to Position 2, so that COIL 2 is connected to current source and note down the magnetic field.

(viii) Put the coil knob to Position 3, i.e. 'BOTH', COIL 1 & COIL 2 will be connected to the source.
Now again note down the readings.
(ix) Keep the current same and note down the magnetic field for about 270 mm range at an interval of 5
mm for all the positions i.e. COIL 1 , COIL 2 & 'BOTH'.

Draw the graphs between distance and magnetic field due to COIL 1, COIL 2 and BOTH along the
axis of coils as shown in Fig. 3.

Observations :
No of Turns = 500 OR as mentioned in the set up
Position of 1st coil ……..
Position of 2nd coil ………
S.No. Sensor position Magnetic Field (Gauss)
(mm)
COIL 1 (B1) COIL 2 (B2) BOTH COILS Mag. Field
(B) B’=(B1+B2)
1
2
..
..
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
..
..
27
28

Calculations & Results

1. The profile of magnetic field with distance along the axis of a circular coils carrying current is as
shown fig 3.

2. Principal of super-imposition of magnetic field

(i) It can be seen from the profile of magnetic field that when the current is flowing through
both the coil, magnetic field at any point is the sum of the magnetic field due to coils 1
and coil 2 (i.e.) when the current was flowing individually.

(ii) Another important conclusion is that the magnetic field is very uniform over a large
space when the distance between the two current carrying coils is equal to the radius of
the coils. This property is widely used in scientific and industrial applications.
 3. Calculation of radius of coil

4𝜋 ∗ 10−3 ∗ 𝑛𝐼
𝐵=
2𝑎

Therefore,
2𝜋𝑛𝐼∗10−3
a= m
𝐵
putting the values of n, I, & B radius of coil ‘a’ can be found.

Precautions

(1) Care should be taken that is no stray magnetic field or ferromagnetic material, such as keys,
screwdriver etc. near the set up , while performing the experiment .

(2) The radius of the coil is calculated from the centre of winding.

(3) The Zero of the Gauss meter should be adjusted each time before beginning the experiment and
verified after completion of experiment by reducing the current in both the COILS to zero.

4) In order to avoid the interference of each magnetic field the axis of coils should be East -West.
West East
 EXPERIMENT

AIM
Determination of reverse saturation current I0 and material constant  of pn junction.

APPARATUS REQUIRED
1. Study of P-N Junction, PN-01 : One
2. Oven : One
3. Sample Set : One
(BC-109-Si ; IN-34-Ge ; IN5408-Diode : Mounted on Teflon Plugs)

FORMULA USED :

Material constant is given by:

q V

kT  ln I

The reverse saturation current is given by

VG 0
VT
I 0  kT e
m

And Energy Band gap

dV mkT
VG 0  V  T 
dT q

For notations please see the theory of both the experiments.

DIAGRAM :

Circuit Diagram of pn junction diode in reverse bias