What is the difference between electromagnet and solenoid? Both these terms seem as the same thing to me. The only difference that I can find seems to be that an electromagnet contains a soft iron core.

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Jane Acosta · Accepted Answer

An electromagnet is a made coil associated with a ferromagnetic core. This way, the strength of the magnet is controlled by the input current.A solenoid is a simple shape used in magnetostatics or magnetics. Like the plane or the sphere in electrostatics, the 1-turn coil in magnetostatics, its study is interesting because the calculus of the magnetic field inside is doable. Moreover, the solenoid produces a pretty uniform field inside, if you are neglecting edge effects.So you could say that the solenoid is interesting because of the uniform magnetic flux density inside, and the electromagnet because of the non uniform magnetic flux density outside (an electromagnet may be done with a solenoid).

Ryland Houston · Accepted Answer

A solenoid is a cylindrical coil of wire whose diameter is small compared to its length. When an electric current flows through the wire the solenoid generates a magnetic field similar to that of a bar magnet.An electromagnet is a solenoid wound around a central iron core. The magnetic field generated by the coil of wire magnetizes the core, increasing the total magnetic field.An inductor is a coil of wire wound around a central core (iron or air), and is used to provide resistance to a DC current flowing through the wire.

What is the difference between electromagnet and solenoid? Both these terms seem as the same thing to me. The only difference that I can find seems to be that an electromagnet contains a soft iron core.

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