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Metal detector
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{{Short description|Electronic instrument which detects the presence of metal nearby}} [[File:B020311e - PFC Generett and SGT Rutledge probe in yard of house.png|thumb|upright|[[United States Army|U.S. Army]] soldiers use a military standard metal detector]] A '''metal detector''' is an [[Electronic instrumentation|instrument]] that detects the nearby presence of [[metal]]. Metal detectors are useful for finding metal objects on the surface, underground, and under water. A metal detector consists of a control box, an adjustable shaft{{dubious|date=January 2025}}, and a variable-shaped pickup coil. When the coil nears metal, the control box signals its presence with a tone, numerical reading, light, or needle movement. Signal intensity typically increases with proximity and/or metal size/composition. A common type are stationary "walk through" metal detectors used at access points in [[Prison#Security|prison]]s, [[Courthouse#Security|courthouse]]s, [[Airport security|airport]]s and [[psychiatric hospital]]s to detect concealed [[Weapon|metal weapons]] on a person's body. The simplest form of a metal detector consists of an [[Electronic oscillator|oscillator]] producing an [[alternating current]] that passes through a coil producing an alternating [[magnetic field]]. If a piece of electrically conductive metal is close to the coil, [[eddy currents]] will be induced ([[inductive sensor]]) in the metal, and this produces a magnetic field of its own. If another coil is used to measure the magnetic field (acting as a [[magnetometer]]), the change in the magnetic field due to the metallic object can be detected. The first industrial metal detectors came out in the 1960s. They were used for finding minerals among other things. Metal detectors help find [[Land mine|land mines]]. They also detect weapons like [[Knife|knives]] and [[Gun|guns]], which is important for [[airport security]]. People most commonly use them to search for buried objects, like in archaeology and [[treasure hunting]]. Metal detectors are also used to detect foreign bodies in food, and in the [[construction industry]] to detect [[rebar|steel reinforcing bars]] in concrete and pipes and wires buried in walls and floors.
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