LEP

4.3.03
-15
Magnetic field of paired coils in Helmholtz arrangement
with Cobra3
PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen P2430315 1
Related topics
Maxwell s equations, wire loop, flat coils, Biot-Savart s law.
Principle
The spatial distribution of the field strength between a pair of
coils in the Helmholtz arrangement is measured. The coil
geometry at which a nearly uniform magnetic field is produced
is investigated and the superposition of the two individual
fields to form the combined field of the pair of coils is demon-
strated.
Equipment
Pair of Helmholtz coils 06960.00 1
Power supply, universal 13500.93 1
Hall probe, axial 13610.01 1
Meter scale, demo, l = 1000 mm 03001.00 2
Barrel base -PASS- 02006.55 1
Support rod -PASS-, square, l = 250 mm 02025.55 1
Right angle clamp -PASS- 02040.55 2
G-clamp 02014.00 3
Connecting cord, l = 750 mm, blue 07362.04 2
Connecting cord, l = 750 mm, red 07362.01 2
Bench clamp PASS- 02010.00 1
Stand tube 02060.00 1
Plate holder 02062.00 1
Silk thread, l = 200 m 02412.00 1
Weight holder 1 g 02407.00 1
Cobra3 Basic Unit, USB 12150.50 1
Cobra3 Force/Tesla software 14515.61 1
Tesla measuring module 12109.00 1
Cobra3 Current sensor, 6 A 12126.00 1
Movement sensor with cable 12004.10 1
Adapter, BNC-socket/4 mm plug pair 07542.27 1
Adapter, BNC socket 4 mm plug 07542.20 1
Power supply, 12 V DC 12151.99 1
PC, Windows

95 or higher
Tasks
1. Measure the axial component of the magnetic flux density
(magnetic induction) B
z
along the z-axis of the flat ring coils
when the distance a between them equals the radius of
the coils R, and when it is larger and smaller than that.
2. Measure the spatial distribution of the magnetic flux densi-
ty B

when the distance between coils a = R, using the rota-

tional symmetry of the set-up:
a) measure the axial component B
z
in dependance on z for dif-
ferent values of the radial position r.
b) and measure the radial component B
r
in dependance on z
for different values of r.
3. Measure the radial components B
r
and B
r
of the two indi-
vidual coils in the plane midway between them and see that
they cancel each other so that B
r
0 in that plane.
Fig.1: Experimental set-up.
LEP
4.3.03
-15
Magnetic field of paired coils in Helmholtz arrangement
with Cobra3
P2430315 PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingeny 2
Set-up and procedure
The set-up is seen in Fig1. Connect the Tesla module to the
Modul port of the Cobra3 unit and the Hall probe to the
"Tesla" module. The Hall probe is at the tip of the plastic rod
and measures the magnetic flux density's component parallel
to the rod's axis, it's an axial Hall probe. Connect the
6 A-Sensor to the Analog In 2 / S2 port of the Cobra3 unit.
Connect the Movement recorder to the Cobra3 unit accord-
ing to Fig. 2.
The radius of the coils R is 200 mm. The magnetic field of the
coil arrangement is rotationally symmetrical about the axis of
the coils, which is chosen as the z-axis of a system of cylin-
drical coordinates (z,r,w). The origin for measuring the mag-
netic field may be set to the centre of the system. The mag-
netic flux density does not depend on the angle, so only the
components B
z
(z,r) and B
r
(z,r) need to be measured.
Connect the coils in series and with the fields in the same
direction as seen in Fig. 3, "A" represents the 6 A current sen-
sor. The current must not exceed 3.5 A (operate the power
supply as a constant current source).
Connect the Cobra3 unit to your USB port and start the "mea-
sure" program. Select "Gauge" > "Cobra3 Force / Tesla" and
set the parameters as seen in Fig. 4.
When turning on the displays and diagams, "Display options"
charts appear. Click "OK" for the displays and set the para-
meters for the diagram as seen in Fig. 5.
Fig. 5 Diagram settings
Fig. 4: Force / Tesla settings
Fig. 2. Connection of the movement sensor to the Cobra3
Basic Unit
red
black
yellow
BNC1
BNC2
Fig. 3: Wiring diagram for Helmholtz coils.
LEP
4.3.03
-15
Magnetic field of paired coils in Helmholtz arrangement
with Cobra3
PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen P2430315 3
After clicking the "Options" button the "Options" menu
appears and the parameters in the different charts may be set
as seen in the Figs. 6 to 9. Execute the "Calibrate in the setup"
function on the "Angle / Distance" chart (Fig. 7). The thread
may be wound one time around the bigger wheel of the move-
ment sensor and it maybe good to put some more weight on
the thread's end to ensure that the wheel follows all the
thread's movements properly. The silk thread is allways to be
parallel to the movement of the Hall probe along the meter
scale and the wheel is to be well aligned with the thread.
Click the "Calibrate" button when the current of the coils is off
and the Hall probe in the position where you want to take the
measurement.
1. Set coils and Hall probe up according to Fig. 10 and, after
the calibrations, record curves for B
z
(z, r = 0 for different coil
distances a with the "Continue" button and the then appear-
ing "Start measurement" button. Be sure the current stays
constant for all measurements. The "measure" program sets
the distance to zero at the beginning of data recording, so
note down the place of the Hall probe when beginning the
measurement. You may alter the zero position in your data
with the "Analysis" > "Channel modification" function by
selecting "Distance" as source channel and adding some
value to the distance s and overwriting the old set of distance
as seen in Fig. 11. You may change the names of the coordi-
nates with "Measurement" > "Information".
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10: Measuring B
z
(z, r = 0) for different coil distances a.
LEP
4.3.03
-15
Magnetic field of paired coils in Helmholtz arrangement
with Cobra3
P2430315 PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen 4
After putting several curves into one diagram with the
"Measurement" > "Adopt channel" function and scaling
them with the "Scale curves" button and the selection "fit col-
lectively", the result may look like Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 after
using the Smooth function.
2. Now connect both coils with the spacers so that they have
the fixed distance a = R = 200 mm forming the Helmholtz
assembly.
a) Displace the coils in the r-direction, i.e. perpendicular to the
axis of the coils or to the scale the Hall probe slides along. The
Hall probe moves along the meter scale parallel to the axis of
the coils but in some distance r from it. Record curves B
z
(z)
for different values of r.
If you combine several curves with "Measurement" > "Adopt
channel" and scale them to the same value, your result may
look like Fig. 14. It can be seen, that the field almost uniform
in the space between z = -100 mm and z = 100 mm and r <
100 mm. You may also record curves for r > R = 200 mm to
see the flux density outside the coil arrangement.
b) Set up coils and Hall probe according to Fig. 15 and record
curves of B
r
in dependance of z for different values of r.
Fig. 16 shows typical results and it can be seen, that the radi-
al component of B is small in the whole space between the
coils, if r < 150 mm.
You may also record curves of B
r
in dependance of r for dif-
ferent values of z using the set-up of Fig. 10 but with the coils
rotated about 90 in order to measure the field outside the
coils, too.
Fig. 11: Altering the zero position
Fig. 12: Flux density B
r
(z) for different distance between coils
a with r = 0, i.e. along the axis of the coils
Fig. 13: Same as Fig.12 but with the "Smooth" function used
on the data
Fig. 14: B
r
(z) for different values of radius r
Fig. 15: Measuring B
r
(z).for different values of r
LEP
4.3.03
-15
Magnetic field of paired coils in Helmholtz arrangement
with Cobra3
PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen P2430315 5
3. To measure the radial component of one coil alone, short
circuit the other. Be sure the current source is in the constant
current mode, check the current, always turn the current down
before unplugging a cable leading to a coil. Record curves
along the axis of the coils for each single coil on and both coils
on.
Theory and evalutation
From Maxwells equation
(1)
where K is a closed curve around area F, we obtain for direct
currents (D

= 0), the magnetic flux law

(2)
which is often written for practical purposes in the form of
Biot-Savarts law:
(3)
where

is the vector from the conductor element to the

measurement point and dH

is perpendicular to both these

vectors.
The field strength along the axis of a circular conductor can be
calculated using equation (3). (Fig. 18).
The vector is perpendicular to, and

and dH

lie in, the

plane of the sketch, so that
(4)
dH

can be resolved into a radial dH

r
and an axial dH
z
com-
ponent.
The dH
z
components have the same direction for all conduc-
tor elements and the quantities are added; the dH
r
com-
ponents cancel one another out, in pairs.
Therefore,
H
r
= 0 (5)
and
H = H
z
= (6)
along the axis of the wire loop, while the magnetic flux den-
sity
(7)
The magnetic field of a flat coil is obtained by multiplying (7)
by the number of turns N.
Therefore, the magnetic flux density along the axis of two
identical coils at a distance apart is
(8)
B 1z, r 02
m
0
IN
2R
a
1
11 A
1
2
2
3>2

1
11 A
2
2
2
3>2
b
B 1z2
m
0
I
2R

1
11 1
z
R
2
2
2
3>2
I
2

R
2
1R
2
z
2
2
3>2
d i
S
dH
I
4p r
2
di
I
4p

di
R
2
z
2
d i
S
d i
S
dH
S

I
4p

d i
S
r
S
r
2

K
H
S
d s
S
I

K
H
S
d s
S
I

D
S
d f
S
dt
Fig. 16: B
r
(z) for different r
Fig. 17: B
r
(z) with r = 0 for single coils or both coils
Fig. 18: Sketch to aid calculation of the field strength along
the axis of a wire loop.
LEP
4.3.03
-15
Magnetic field of paired coils in Helmholtz arrangement
with Cobra3
P2430315 PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen 6
where
When z = 0, flux density has a maximum value when < R and
a minimum value when > R. The curves plotted from our
measurements also show this (Fig. 13); when = R, the field
is virtually uniform in the range
Magnetic flux density at the mid-point when = R:
when N = 154, R = 0.20 m and I = 3.5 A this gives:
B (0.0) = 2.42 mT.
For comparison: B
z
(0.0) for a = R was measured as 2.31 mT
(Fig. 13). As seen in Fig. 17, calibration and geometrical align-
ment were not accurate, so an offset field of 0.15 mT
appeared. With respect to that error, the measured value is in
accordance with the theoretical value. If you take care for
proper coil alignment and calibration, you may achieve better
accuracy.
You may plot the theoretical curves with "Measurrement" >
"Function generator" and the chart "Equation". The func-
tions
y = 1,6938075*(1/(1+(((x-50)/125+0,1)/0,2)^2)^1,5+1/(1+
(((x-50)/125-0,1)/0,2)^2)^1,5)
y = 1,6938075*(1/(1+(((x-50)/125+0,2)/0,2)^2)^1,5+1/(1+
(((x-50)/125-0,2)/0,2)^2)^1,5)
y = 1,6938075*(1/(1+(((x-50)/125+0,05)/0,2)^2)^1,5+1/(1+
(((x-50)/125-0,05)/0,2)^2)^1,5)
are plotted in Fig. 19. The term (x-50)/125 scales the numbers
0 to 100 to the range 0.4 to 0.4. Mind to use the german dec-
imal point throughout your work with the "measure" program.
0.716 m
0
N
I
R
B
z
10.02
m
0
I
2R
N
2
1
5
4
2
3>2

R
2
6 z 6
R
2
A
1

z a>2
R
, A
2

z a>2
R
Fig. 19: B
z
(z) for r = 0, theoretical values according to (8)