Direction of Armature Motion

. It may be said in general that the armature of an electromagnet always moves or tends to move, when the coil is energized, in such a way as to reduce the reluctance of the magnetic circuit through the coil. Thus, in all of the forms of electromagnets discu ed, the armature, when attracted, moves in such a direction as to shorten the air gap and to introduce the iron of the armature as much as po ible into the path of the magnetic lines, thus reducing the reluctance. In the case of a solenoid type of electromagnet, or the coil and plunger type, which is a better name than solenoid, the coil, when energized, acts in effect to suck the iron core or plunger within itself so as to include more and more of the iron within the most densely occupied portion of the magnetic circuit. IMG:384091999325875926_fig096_t.gif.png:Illustration_ Fig. 96. Parallel Differential Electromagnet Fig. 96. Parallel Differential Electromagnet View full size illustration.