6.

FIGURE OF MERIT OF A GALVANOMETER

Aim:
To determine the figure of merit of a table galvanometer, voltage sensitivity of
the galvanometer, current required for half scale deflection (15 divisions) and full
scale deflection (30 divisions) of galvanometer.
Apparatus required:

Battery (2V), three resistance boxes, key, commutator, table galvanometer,

connecting wires, etc.
Circuit
A battery of emf 2V is connected in series with two resistance boxes P and Q
through a key K. A resistance box R is connected in parallel from the two terminals
of Q through the commutator. A table galvanometer is connected from the other two
terminals of the commutator.

2V K

P Q

G R
Commutator

Figure

Procedure

Resistance of suitable values are introduced in P and Q so that

(P+Q) = 1000 ohm ( for example P = 986 Ω and Q = 14 Ω), the resistance in R is
adjusted to zero. The key is closed and the deflection in the galvanometer is noted as
say θ1. Resistance in R is gradually increased till the galvanometer deflection becomes
half of θ1. The resistance required for this is noted as R1. The resistance in R is reduced
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to zero. The keys of the commutator are reversed and the defection in the
galvanometer now is noted as θ2. Resistance in R is gradually increased till the
galvanometer deflection becomes half of θ2. The resistance required for this is noted
as R2. The average value of R1 and R2 gives G the galvanometer resistance. The
resistance in R is then reduced to zero. The experiment is repeated by decreasing Q
in steps of 2 ohm and increasing P by the same value so that P+Q = 1000 ohm. The
observations are tabulated. The average value of G is determined.

Formula:

(i) Figure of merit of galvanometer = E 1 Q amperes/div

(P  Q) G 
where E is the emf of the battery,
P and Q are resistances introduced in the resistance box,
G is the galvanometer resistance and
θ is the deflection observed in the galvanometer.
(ii) Current required for half scale deflection = 15 x Figure of merit (amperes)
(iii) Current required for full scale deflection = 30 x Figure of merit (amperes)
(iv) Voltage sensitivity of the galvanometer = G x Figure of merit ( Volt / div)

P Q Deflections (div) R for half deflections R=G Q/ θ

S.No R1 Ω R2 Ω Mean R (Ω)
(Ohm) (Ohm) θ1 θ2 Mean θ (Ω) (Ω /div)

1. 982 18 27 28 85 80
2. 985 15 23 23 80 82
3. 988 12 20 19 80 87
4. 991 09 16 15 83 82
5. 994 06 11 10 83 85

Mean value = =

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Calculation:

(i) Figure of merit of galvanometer = E 1 Q amperes/div

(P  Q) G 

 

=[ 2 / (1000)] x [1 / ( ) ] x [( )]

=[ ]x[ ]x[ ]

= Amperes / division

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 (ii) Current required for half scale deflection = 15 x Figure of merit (amperes)
= 15x ( ) (amperes)
= Amperes

(iii) Current required for full scale deflection = 30 x Figure of merit (amperes)
= 30 x ( ) Amperes
= Amperes

(iv) Voltage sensitivity of the galvanometer = G x Figure of merit ( Volt / div)

=( )x( )
= Volt / division

Result:

The figure of merit of the galvanometer is = amp/div

Voltage sensitivity of the galvanometer is = volt /div
Current required for half scale deflection = amp
Current required for full scale deflection = amp

Viva – voce questions

1. Distinguish between figure of merit and current sensitivity of a galvanometer.

2. Which type of galvanometer is used to measure the quantity of electricity a)
due to steady current and b) due to a transient current?
3. Why should you use two resistance boxes P and Q in the primary circuit?
4. Why should you keep P+Q as constant? Can this be any value?
5. How will you convert a table galvanometer into a) an ammeter and b) a
voltmeter?
6. What is half deflection method of finding the resistance in this experiment?
7. What is the use of commutator in this circuit?

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