How do metal detectors detect metal?

rossian

Metal detectors have a search coil which creates an electromagnetic field. Anything that reacts to the coil sets off a bleep to alert the operator. http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/other-gadgets/metal-detector2.htm Feb 01 13, 2:35 AM

1nn1

In its simplest configuration a metal detector consists of an oscillator producing a current (alternating) that passes through a coil producing an alternating magnetic field. If a piece of metal (i.e. electrically conductive) is naer the coil, other currents will be introduced in the metal, and this produces its own magnetic field. . If another coil is used to measure the magnetic field ( magnetometer), the change in the magnetic field due to the metallic object can be detected. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_detector Feb 01 13, 2:39 AM

muzzyhill3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_detector The basic metal detector has an oscillator which produces an alternating magnetic field. When this is placed in the vicinity of electrically conductive metals, what's called eddy currents are produced in the metal and this produces another magnetic field. Another coil within the detector, the Magnetometer measures the magnetic field and detects any change to it caused by the metal object. Feb 01 13, 2:39 AM