PHY112

EXP NO: 04
Name of the Experiment: Determination of the Resistance of Galvanometer by Half
Deflection Method
Theory: The resistance of a conductor is defined as the ratio of the potential difference
applied to the points of that conductor and the current flowing through it. The galvanometer
resistance can be found in the following way:
If shunt resistance S (fig 1) is very small in comparison with galvanometer resistance G, then
the potential difference
between the ends of S is almost constant for all values of .
When = 0, galvanometer current
is,
=

When

is the deflection of the pointer and

(1)

is the galvanometer constant. If a resistance

is introduced in the galvanometer circuit such that the deflection reduces to

i.e. half of the

previous deflection then

When
and (2)

(2)

is the new galvanometer current in changed circumstanced. Dividing equation (1)

=2

or,

=2

or,

(3)

Hence by simply measuring

R1

can be found out.

Apparatus:
S

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Zero centered galvanometer

Shunt box S
Resistances and
Cell E
Connecting wires
Commutator

R
K

E
Fig-1
1

PHY112

Procedure:
Make connection as shown in figure. Bring the pointer at zero mark of the scale.
Insert resistance in order of 1000 ohms in the battery circuit. Make
= 0 by putting all t
he plugs in the box. Beginning with the smallest value (S =0.1 ohm) of the shunt resistance S,
go on increasing S until you obtain a deflection of about 10 cm on the scale. Note the
deflection.
Keeping the resistance constant, adjust the value of
until the reflection is reduced to half
of the former. Record this value of
which is the value of the galvanometer resistance G.
Stop the current in the circuit and examine if the pointer is still zero of the scale. If not, adjust
the scale to bring it to zero. Make the value of
zero and keep the same. Now reverse the
current with commutator . Repeat the whole operation to get another value of G.
Repeat the operation 3 times with different value of
for each .

in the battery circuit and 2 values of S

Data:
No of Current
obs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Resistance Shunt
Resistance Deflection G = R1
R (ohm)
Resistance R1 (ohm)
S (ohm)

Mean G
(ohm)

Direct
Reverse
Direct
Reverse
Direct
Reverse
Direct
Reverse
Direct
Reverse
Direct
Reverse
Direct
Reverse

Results:
Discussions: