Metal detectors A mental detector is essential for todays amateur treasure hunter.

But only the most expensive detector can reveal the difference between worthless items, such as pull ring tops from soft drink cans or silver foil, and a rare find such as the gold necklace discovered by one enthusiast last year. Electronic metal detectors use the principle of electromagnetic induction. This means that, if an object is placed in a changing magnetic field, an electrical current is passed through a coil of wire, called the search coil, to create a magnetic field. An alternating current (AC) needed to drive the coil. As AC regularly reserves direction, it produces the necessary ever changing magnetic field. Currents are created on a metal object which comes within this magnetic field by a process known as induction. This is because all metals conduct electricity. When a current is induced in a metal object (for example, a buried coin), this in turn produces its own magnetic fields. These magnetic fields are capable of inducing a small amount of electricity in the detectors search coil itself. The simplest kind of metal detector is the pulse induction type. A powerful current is passed from the battery through the search coin and then switched off. The pulse of magnetism causes current to flow in any target objects below the ground. But unlike the current in the search coil, the current in the object cannot be switched off; it has to die away naturally. As it dies, the current in the object reactivates the search coil. This voltage is then amplified to indicate with a sound or a flashing light that an object has been found. The effectiveness of a metal detector depends in the size and position of the object and how far beneath the ground it is buried. For example, a coin buried edge on to the search coin is much harder to detect than the same coin buried face up. Read the text below, then look at these statements. Are they true or false? You may need to use your own knowledge as well as information from the text. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Any metal detector can discriminate between gold and other metals. Gold necklaces are found quite often. The search coil is connected directly to a battery. Metal detectors require a changing magnetic field. The metal detector can only locate metals which contain iron or are magnetic. Metal detectors are only used by treasure hunters. Passing a current through the search coil and then switching it off, creates a pulse of magnetism round the coil. 8. All metal detectors are fitted with a flashing light to show when an object has been found. 9. Large objects are easier to find than small objects. 10. A con horizontal to the surface is more difficult to detect than one vertical to the surface.