Solenoid vs. Electromagnet

Solenoidnoun

A coil of wire that acts as a magnet when an electric current flows through it.

Solenoidnoun

A mechanical switch consisting of such a coil containing a metal core, the movement of which is controlled by the current.

Solenoidnoun

An electrodynamic spiral having the conjuctive wire turned back along its axis, so as to neutralize that component of the effect of the current which is due to the length of the spiral, and reduce the whole effect to that of a series of equal and parallel circular currents. When traversed by a current the solenoid exhibits polarity and attraction or repulsion, like a magnet.

Solenoidnoun

a coil of wire around an iron core; becomes a magnet when current passes through the coil

Solenoid

A solenoid (,) is a type of electromagnet, the purpose of which is to generate a controlled magnetic field through a coil wound into a tightly packed helix. The coil can be arranged to produce a uniform magnetic field in a volume of space when an electric current is passed through it.

Electromagnetnoun

A magnet which attracts metals only when electrically activated

Electromagnetnoun

a temporary magnet made by coiling wire around an iron core; when current flows in the coil the iron becomes a magnet

Electromagnet

An electromagnet is a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is produced by an electric current. Electromagnets usually consist of wire wound into a coil.