HESI A2 Physics Related

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A solenoid is a long, tightly wound coil of wire that acts like a bar magnet when current flows through it. The magnetic field lines inside a solenoid are most similar to the field lines around:

  • A. A single straight current-carrying wire
  • B. A horseshoe magnet
  • C. A permanent bar magnet
  • D. A flat sheet conductor
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The magnetic field lines inside a solenoid resemble the field lines around a permanent bar magnet. Both a solenoid and a bar magnet have north and south poles, resulting in a similar pattern of magnetic field lines. A single straight current-carrying wire produces a different field pattern because it has no coil structure like a solenoid. A horseshoe magnet has a unique field shape due to its pole arrangement, different from the uniform field pattern of a solenoid. A flat sheet conductor does not exhibit the same magnetic field characteristics as a solenoid, as it lacks the coil shape and alignment of a solenoid's magnetic field.