Tangent Galvanometer

A tangent galvanometer is an early measuring

instrument used for the measurement of electric
current. It works by using a compass needle to
compare a magnetic field generated by the
unknown current to the magnetic field of the Earth.
It gets its name from its operating principle, the
tangent law of magnetism, which states that
the tangent of the angle a compass needle makes
is proportional to the ratio of the strengths of the
two perpendicular magnetic fields. It was first
described by Claude Pouillet in 1837.
A tangent galvanometer consists of a coil of
insulated copper wire wound on a circular non-
magnetic frame. The frame is mounted vertically on
a horizontal base provided with leveling screws.
The coil can be rotated on a vertical axis passing
through its centre. A compass box is mounted
horizontally at the centre of a circular scale. It
consists of a tiny, powerful magnetic needle pivoted
at the centre of the coil. The magnetic needle is
free to rotate in the horizontal plane. The circular
scale is divided into four quadrants. Each quadrant
is graduated from 0 to 90. A long thin aluminium
pointer is attached to the needle at its centre and at
right angle to it. To avoid errors due to parallax, a
plane mirror is mounted below the compass needle.


Theory

Tangent galvanometer is an early measuring instrument for small
electric currents. It consists of a coil of insulated copper wire wound on
a circular non-magnetic frame. Its working is based on the principle of
the tangent law of magnetism. When a current is passed through the
circular coil, a magnetic field (B) is produced at the center of the coil in a
direction perpendicular to the plane of the coil. The TG is arranged in
such a way that the horizontal component of earths magnetic field (B
h
)
is in the direction of the plane of the coil. The magnetic needle is then
under the action of two mutually perpendicular fields. If is the
deflection of the needle, then according to tangent law,


Let I is the current passing through the coil of radius a with n turns, then
the field generated by the current carrying circular coil is,



Equating (1) and (2), we get,







The left hand side of equation (4) is a constant and is called the
reduction factor (K) of the given tangent galvanometer.



Now from equation (3) & (5), the horizontal intensity of earths magnetic
field Bh is,





The initial adjustments are done as follows

The plane of the coil is made vertical by adjusting the
leveling screws.

The compass box alone is rotated so that the 90-90 line
in the compass box is in the plane of the coil.

The T.G as a whole is rotated till the Aluminium pointer
reads 0-0.

Note down the number of turns in the coil.

A suitable current is allowed to pass through the coil.

Note down the current as well as the deflection in T.G.

Reverse the current and note the deflection again.

Repeat the procedure for different values of current.

Measure the radius of the coil from its perimeter.

Determine the reduction factor and horizontal intensity of
earth's magnetic field.






Procedure

1. Place the tangent galvanometer on an inverted wooden box
to raise it above the ferrous metal of the laboratory table.
Remove all ferrous metal (such as certain mechanical pencils)
from the immediate vicinity of the tangent galvanometer. Turn
the thumbscrew to free the pointer, but do not raise the pointer
so high that it pushes against the glass plate. Orient the
instrument so that the pointer reads zero. If the pointer is bent,
each end should be equally close to zero.

2. Place the circular level on top of the glass plate. Level the
tangent galvanometer by rotating one or more feet. Remove the
level some distance from the instrument. If necessary, rotate the
box to re-zero the pointer.

3. Refer to the circuit diagram in section IV. Set the VOLTAGE
and CURRENT control knobs on the triple-output power supply
to zero (full counter-clockwise position). Use a banana plug lead
to connect the positive terminal of the ammeter to the positive
terminal of the power supply (red banana jack). Connect the
negative terminal of the ammeter (0.1-A range) to a clip on the
wiring board. Connect the 50 turn binding post of the tangent
galvanometer to the same wiring board clip. Connect the
common binding post of the tangent galvanometer (the post with
no number next to it) to another clip of the wiring board. Connect
one fixed terminal of the 50 resistor to the same clip. Use a
banana plug lead to connect the other fixed terminal of the 50
resistor to the negative terminal of the power supply (black
banana jack). Set the ammeter (with its internal magnet) some
distance from the tangent galvanometer.
4. Turn the power supply on and rotate the CURRENT control
knob to its far counter-clockwise position. While observing the
ammeter, adjust the VOLTAGE control knob until that the
tangent galvanometer reads 20
o
. If the ammeter reading
fluctuates noticeably, tighten all connections. Record the current.
Repeat for angles of 30
o
, 40
o
and 50
o
. Change the ammeter
range, if necessary, to keep it on scale.

5. Reverse the direction of the current through the coil (NOT
THROUGH THE AMMETER) and repeat.

6. Change to the 5 turn binding post of the tangent
galvanometer and the 1-A range of the ammeter. Replace the 50
resistor by the 5 resistor. Repeat steps 4 and 5.

7. Lock the pointer, but do not move the tangent galvanometer.

8. Use outside calipers and a meter stick to measure the outside
diameter of the coil. Measure the actual windings, not the metal
frame.

9. Measuring the inside diameter of the windings is a bit more
difficult, because the compass is in the way. Also, we must
compensate for the thickness of the metal frame. Measure and
record the thickness of the metal which makes up the frame.
Using the calipers as outside calipers, open them until they span
the inside diameter of the metal frame. Place them on the meter
stick; read and record the distance.




Observations and calculations

Number of turns in the coil =.........

Circumference of the coil, 2a =........cm

Radius of the coil, a =........cm

Range of Ammeter =..A

Least count of Ammeter =.. A

















1. To find the radius of the coil of Tangent
Galvanometer

S.No.
Inner
Diameter
(d
1
)
(cm)
Outer
diameter
(d
2
)
(cm)
Mean
Diameter
(d
1
+ d
2
)
(cm)
Mean
radius

(cm)






2. To determine the reduction factor of T.G:
Trial
No.
Ammete
r
Readin
g
(I)A
Pointer deflection in degrees

Direct
Reverse


1

2

3

4


Mean
(degree
)

tan
(degree
)

K=I/tan
(A)

B
H
(T)









Note: Take deflection between 30 and 60 degrees.


Graph



































Calculations


Take two points A and B wide apart on the
straight line graph. Draw perpendiculars from B on
the x-axis and that from A on the y-axis
intersecting each other at point C.

Now, Slope of graph =

=

So, Slope,

= m

Now compute the value of B
H
by using the relation

B
H
=

= gauss













Result



The value of earths magnetic field
by using a tangent galvanometer and
measuring current by an ammeter is
_________________














Acknowledgement

I would like to express my special thanks of
gratitude to my Physics teacher, Mrs. Shikha Jain
as well as our principal who gave me the golden
opportunity to do this wonderful project which also
helped me in doing a lot of Research and i came
to know about so many new things I am really
thankful to them.
Secondly i would also like to thank my parents
and friends who helped me a lot in finalizing this
project within the limited time frame.



ANKUR PALMIA


Certificate

This is to certify that Ankur Palmia (22) student of
class 12
th
B, has completed the project titled To
determine the strength of the earths
magnetic field during the academic year 2014
2015 towards partial fulfillment of credit for the
Physics practical evaluation of CBSE, and
submitted satisfactory report, as compiled in the
following pages, under my supervision.



Department of Physics
Oxford Sr. Sec. School








Aim
To determine the strength of Earths
magnetic field using a Tangent
Galvanometer.