The first industrial metal detectors were developed in the 1960s and were used extensively for mineral prospecting and other industrial applications. 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. 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. The simplest form of a metal detector consists of an oscillator producing an alternating current that passes through a coil producing an alternating magnetic field. Another common type are stationary "walk through" metal detectors (see § Security screening below) used at access points in prisons, courthouses, and airports to detect concealed metal weapons on a person's body. Usually the device gives some indication of distance the closer the metal is, the higher the tone in the earphone or the higher the needle goes. If the sensor comes near a piece of metal this is indicated by a changing tone in earphones, or a needle moving on an indicator. They often consist of a handheld unit with a sensor probe which can be swept over the ground or other objects. Metal detectors are useful for finding metal inclusions hidden within objects, or metal objects buried underground. Army soldiers use a military standard metal detectorĪ metal detector is an instrument that detects the presence of metal nearby.