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I am in the process of designing a loudspeaker and have a question regarding the number of turns in the multilayered solenoidal coil and the speaker impedance of $8\:\Omega$. I understand that the Impedance is equal to the real part $R$ (resistance) added to the inductance and that the inductance is partly a function of the number of turn of the copper wire. I am having difficulty with understanding which equation describes this relationship between inductance and number of turns. Thanks.

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Keep in mind that the speaker's "8 ohm" impedance only applies at one particular frequency. At other frequencies it will be higher. And the impedance is not determined purely by the coil, but also by the mechanical design of the speaker. –  endolith Nov 29 '11 at 19:26
Your first mistake is to state that impedance is equal to inductance plus resistance. This is not correct. –  Magpie Dec 16 '12 at 4:16

2 Answers 2

The one that comes to mind:

$L= μN^2 A/s ∴N= \sqrt{\frac{Ls}{μA}}$

$\text {where A is the cross sectional area, s is the length, and μ is the permeability }(4\pi \times 10^{-7} \frac {H} {m} \text{of air}) $

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a fairly nice read....wiki

In short, impedance $X$ is expressed as $$X=X_R+X_I+X_C$$ where the resistive load, $$X_R = R$$, the inductive load, $$X_I=j\omega L$$ the capacitive load, $$X_C=\frac{1}{j \omega C}$$

where, $L,C,R$ are inductance, capacitance and resistance.

Now since you have the complex impedance, find out the $|X|$ to get net impedance in Ohms.

So, to get $L$, we have a formula which as you correctly suspect is dependent on $N$, number of turns.

$$L=\frac{\mu_r \mu_0 N^2A}{l}$$ where, $A$ is circular cross section of solenoid, $l$ is length of solenoid (not of wire), $\mu_0$ permeability of air (a constant) and $\mu_r$ relative permability of core (iron, in your case; probabably; you can find the value here).

you can calculate it here itself.

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I think he knows this, he's confused about the relation between L and N –  Manishearth Mar 14 '12 at 17:45
ohh..ya...i read it again...and yes..he knows that... –  Vineet Menon Mar 15 '12 at 10:10
No he was also confused about that too. Check again. This is a nice answer. –  Magpie Dec 16 '12 at 4:17

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