Solenoid turn density ($n=N/\ell$)

The solenoid turn density $n$ counts turns per unit axial length in a uniformly wound solenoid. The total turn count $N$ is dimensionless, whereas $n$ has units ${\mathrm{m}}^{-1}$. A $1000$-turn coil of length $0.50\mathrm{m}$ has $n=2000{\mathrm{m}}^{-1}$; an axial interval of length $s=0.010\mathrm{m}$ then contains $ns=20$ turns. The effective circumferential surface current density in the closely spaced circular-turn model is $K=nI$, with units $A/m$. ^[ref].

For a single-layer helix, the axial advance per turn is approximately $1/n$. The circular-turn model neglects this advance and the associated axial component of electric current, as well as the detailed magnetic field close to individual wires. The number of turns around the whole coil is always $N=n\ell$ here; it must not be substituted for $n$ in $B={\mu }_{0}nI$.