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XII Physics-Investigatory-Report - Earths Magnetic Field
XII Physics-Investigatory-Report - Earths Magnetic Field
TANGENT
GALVANOMETER
is an early measuring
INVESTIGATOR
instrument used for the
measurement of electric
Although historically ancient travelers made abundant use of the unknown current to the
earth’s magnetic field for the exploration of the earth, they were
magnetic field of the
ignorant of its origin. In many respects the earth’s magnetic field
exhibits characteristics similar to those of a bar magnet; nonetheless, Earth. It gets its name
the mechanisms responsible for generating each are vastly different.
from its operating
Magnetic field lines appear to originate near the south geographic pole,
i.e. magnetic north pole, and terminate near the north geographic pole, principle, the tangent law
i.e. magnetic south pole. It is interesting to note that in the vicinity of
of magnetism, which
Wilmington, North Carolina the magnetic field lines enter the earth at a
relatively steep angle. The angle of inclination or dip angle, which is the states that the tangent of
angle that a compass
the angle a compass
needle makes with respect to the plane of the horizon, is approximately
needle makes is
60. In this experiment principles of magnetostatics and elementary
vector analysis are used to determine the earth’s magnetic field in the proportional to the ratio
vicinity of Wilmington, North Carolina.
of the strengths of the
two perpendicular
Pouillet in 1837.Who
sensitive form of
galvanometer to verify
Ohm’s law.
Certificate
2023-24
…………….………. …………….……….
Internal Examiner External Examiner
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Acknowledgement
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OVERVIEW
The tangent galvanometer was first described in an 1837 by Claude-Servais- Mathias Pouille, who
later employed this sensitive form of galvanometer to verify Ohm’s law. To use the galvanometer, it is
first set up on a level surface and the coil aligned with the magnetic north-south direction. This means
that the compass needle at the middle of the coil is parallel with the plane of the coil when it carries no
current. The current to be measured is now sent through the coil, and produces a magnetic field,
perpendicular to the plane of the coil and is directly proportional to the current.
The magnitude of the magnetic field produced by the coil is B; the magnitude of the horizontal
component the Earth’s magnetic field is B’. the compass needle aligns itself along the vector sum of B
and B’ after rotating through an angle Ø from its original orientation. The vector diagram shows that tan
Ø = B/B’. since the magnetic field of the Earth is constant, and B depends directly on the current, the
current is thus proportional to the tangent of the angle through which the needle has turned.
Topviewofa
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vanometer
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TangentgalvanometermadebyJ.H. BunnellCo.around1890
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APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
o Tangent galvanometer (TG),
o commutator (C),
o rheostat (R),
o battery (E),
o ammeter (A),
o key (k), etc
Rheostat
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When a bar magnet is suspended in two Magnetic fields B and Bh, it comes to rest making an angle
θ with the direction ofh.
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 earth’s magnetic field (Bh) is in the direction of
the plane of the coil. The magnetic needle is then under the action of two mutually perpendicular fields.
If θ 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,
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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 earth’s magnetic field Bh is,
APPLICATIONS
o T.G can be used to measure the magnitude of the horizontal component of the geomagnetic
field.
o The principle can be used to compare the galvanometer constants.
PROCEDURE
Connections are made as shown in the figure given below, where K is the key, E the battery, A the
ammeter, R the rheostat, C the commutator, and T.G the tangent galvanometer. The commutator can
reverse the current through the T.G coil without changing the current in the rest of the circuit. Taking
the average of the resulting two readings for deflection averages out, any small error in positioning the
TG coil relative to the earth’s magnetic field Bh .
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PROCEDURE FOR PERFORMING EXPERIMENT
1. The plane of the coil is made vertical by adjusting the levelling screws.
2. The compass box alone is rotated so that the 90-90 line in the compass box is in the plane of
the coil.
3. The T.G as a whole is rotated till the Aluminium pointer reads 0-0.
4. Note down the number of turns in the coil.
5. A suitable current is allowed to pass through the coil.
6. Note down the current as well as the deflection in T.G.
7. Reverse the current and note the deflection again.
8. Repeat the procedure for different values of current.
9. Plot the graph.
10. Measure the radius of the coil from its perimeter by using a thread and rotating it around the
round circle.
11. Determine the reduction factor and horizontal intensity of earth's magnetic field.
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OBSERVATIONS AND GRAPH
Number of turns in the coil =....
The Horizontal component of earth's magnetic field (Bh) can be calculated using the formula,
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FROM GRAPH
RESULT
The reduction factor of the given tangent galvanometer, K =............A
FACTS
APPLICATIONS
T.G. can be used to measure the magnitude of the horizontal component of the geomagnetic
field.
The principle can be used to compare the galvanometer constants.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Tangent Galvanometer (Procedure) : Electricity & Magnetism Virtual Lab : Physical Sciences :
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Virtual Lab
Tangent Galvanometer (Theory) : Electricity & Magnetism Virtual Lab : Physical Sciences :
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Virtual Lab
Tangent Galvanometerhttp://physics.kenyon.edu/EarlyApparatus/Electrical_Measurements/
Tangent_Gal van meter/Tangent_Galvanometer.html
Galvanometer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanometer
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Amit sh | Vanasthali public School | XII- B/A/C 13
Amit sh | Vanasthali public School | XII- B/A/C 14