Electromagnetic field strength:

Question

Electromagnetic field strength:

Let's say I have 2 electromagnets both emitting fields and can be turned on and off. One is stationary and the other is attached to a (to hopefully make it easier as to mass and weight, etc.(or what should I use; kg, lb, N,etc?)) 1lb car on a track. The fields are positioned to face each other.

Starting in the off position, the 1lb car is backed up to the stationary electromagnet, magnet faces magnet. The electromagnets are both turned on, the car is then repelled by the stationary electromagnet. How much electricity is needed to move the 1lb car to move 1 meter per second?

Don't worry about the car coasting further, it'll stop at 1 meter and will get there in 1 second. - let's say it's sliding w no friction other than air resistance (oy so many factors but Im certain there is a relatively simple-ish answer.)

Other factors:

The "magnet wire" and the iron or steel which it is wrapped around. As to the iron or steel, which is the best material to use and why - what other materials are there, which is the best?

How many times should I wrap the wire around the core and why?

Thanks,

Chris

Answer 1

There are different magnetic relationships that need to be researched before this problem can easily be solved.

Material selection:  Some materials will be magnetized easier than others.  Iron is better than steel for electromagnets because the magnetism will diminish faster when the current is no longer in the coil.

 

You have a couple of design considerations:

1) Number of coils
2) Resistance of the wire

3) Diameter of the coil

4) Current or voltage.  

5) Material

 

If you are using meters it is better to use kgs instead of pounds so you stay in a metric system.

 

This is a design problem that can have an infinite amount of solutions.  You need to fix some of the variables like number of coils, diameter, or current, ect.

 

You can figure out the force/distance and then you can figure out the acceleration of the car/distance.  Because the acceleration will not be constant, you will need to use calculus to figure out the mean force/distance that is needed to get an average speed of 1 m/s.

 

This problem is not trivial and has too many unknowns at this point to solve it.