Question

How will you find the magnetic polarity of a solenoid without using a magnetic needle?

Answer 1

1. The solenoid behaves like a cylindrical magnet with the south and north poles at its free ends.
2. The direction of the current in the coil determines the polarity at any particular end of the solenoid.
3. North pole is formed at the end where the current flows in anticlockwise direction and the south pole is formed at the end where the current flows in clockwise direction.
4. It can be said that solenoid acts like a bar magnet as it shows north-south direction when suspended freely. Therefore, we can find the magnetic polarity of a solenoid without using a magnetic needle.