VELAMMAL VIDHYASHRAM

GUDUVANCHERY

ALL INDIA SENIOR SCHOOL

CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
PHYSICS
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT REPORT
2024–2025
EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD AND TANGENT GALVANOMETER

MADE BY:
NAME: JYOTISH N
REG NO:
GRADE: XII
SEC: E
GROUP: BIOLOGY /MATH
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this PHYSICS Investigatory Project on the

topic “EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD AND TANGENT GALVANOMETER” has

been successfully completed by “JYOTISH N” of class XII (MATH /BIOLOGY),
Register.no………………………..…. at Velammal Vidhyashram, Guduvanchery for
the partial fulfillment of this project as a part of All India Senior School
Certificate Examination - CBSE, New Delhi for the academic Year 2024–2025.

Date: …………………….

Signature of Principal Signature of the Guide

Name: Name:

Submitted for AISSCE 2024-2025, PHYSICS Practical examination on

………………….

Signature of the Signature of the

Internal examiner External examiner
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The success of any project depends largely on people associated with it. I
would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the enthusiasm of all
these personalities. I hereby express my heartfelt thanks to our Senior
Principal “ ” for having given this opportunity to do the
project in the physics laboratory and for his constant encouragement. I
extend my sincere gratitude to acknowledge my sense of gratitude to my
physics teacher “Ms DHANALAKSHMI V” for the valuable guidance offered to
me. Her wholehearted encouragement and constant stimulant inspiration
and advice enabled me to complete the project successfully. I am also
thankful to all our teachers and non Teachers for their help during my
course of study. I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to my
parents for their encouragement and support.

JYOTISH N

XII – E
 TABLE OF CONTENT
1. BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
3. AIM OF THE PROJECT
4. EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD
5. RECQUIRED APPARATUS
6. TANGENT GALVANOMETER
7. PLOTTING EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD
8. SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD
9. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Aim of project

To study earth’s magnetic field using a compass

needle bar magnet by plotting magnetic field
lines and tangent galvanometer.
 EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD

Earth's magnetic field is a complex and dynamic force that surrounds the
planet. It is generated by the movement of molten iron and nickel in the outer
core of the Earth. The movement of these electrically charged materials
creates electric currents, which, in turn, generate the magnetic field.

Earth's magnetic field is not only essential for practical applications like
navigation but also crucial for scientific research across. The information
obtained through magnetic field measurements contributes to a deeper
understanding of our planet's structure, dynamics, and interactions with the
solar system.
 Required Apparatus

1 . Bar Magnet: Generates a magnetic field; its orientation can be

adjusted.

2 . Compass Needle: Detects and aligns with magnetic field lines.

3 . Graph Paper: Used for mapping and recording compass needle

positions.

4 . Tangent Galvanometer: Measures magnetic field strength; coil

suspended in the field.

5 . Ruler: Provides accurate measurements on graph paper.

6 . Conducting Wires: Connects tangent galvanometer to the bar

magnet.

7 . Non-Magnetic Surface: Platform to place the bar magnet, preventing

interference.

8 . Lab Stand or Support: Holds the bar magnet in place for stability.
 TANGENT GALVANOMETER

Electric current is generally estimated using an instrument called a

galvanometer. These instruments are capable of measuring the presence as
well as the direction and strength of electric currents. The instrument was
first introduced in the early 19th Century just after H.C. Ostered’s famous
theory about magnetic needles. It is also used to measure the magnitude of
electric current and potential difference in the electric circuit. The
galvanometer is mostly used in the potentiometer and bridges where they
show the null deflection or zero current. Tangent Galvanometer as the

name suggests is a similar kind of galvanometer based on different

principles.

What is Tangent Galvanometer?

Tangent galvanometer is used to measure an electric current. A tangent

galvanometer is an early measuring instrument for the measurement of
small electric currents. It comprises a coil of protected copper wire twisted
on a circular non-magnetic casing. It's working basically depends on the
principle of the tangent law in magnetism. At the point when a current is
passed through the circular coil, a magnetic field is generated at the centre of
the coil in the perpendicular direction to the coil. The tangent galvanometer
is organized in such a manner that the horizontal part of the earth’s magnetic
field is toward the plane of the coil.

The magnetic needle is then under the action of the two mutually
perpendicular fields.

Construction

Tangent Galvanometer comprises a vertical circular coil consisting of

conducting wire and a small compass needle fixed at the centre of the coil.
The coil together with its frame is fixed to a horizontal base provided with
levelling screws. Terminals connected to the coil are provided on its base for
connecting the galvanometer to an external circuit. An aluminium pointer is
rigidly attached to the compass needle and perpendicular to it. The compass
needle together with the pointer can rotate freely about the vertical axis.
The end of the pointer moves over a graduated horizontal circular scale. The
graduations are marked from 0° to 90° in each quadrant. The pointer, the
scale and the compass needle are enclosed in a compact cylindrical box
which is placed with its centre coinciding with that of the coil. A plane
mirror is fixed

A plane mirror is fixed at the lower surface of the box to avoid any error due
to parallax.
Parts

The important parts of a Tangent Galvanometer are

o Vertical Circular Coil

o Horizontal Base
o Terminals
o An aluminium pointer
o A small Compass needle

Working
A tangent galvanometer is normally put on a level surface and the compass
is used to adjust the coil north to south. The needle of the compass is then
basically lined up with the direction of the coil so that, when current is
applied, the angle turned by the needle can be measured. On a tangent
galvanometer, actually, the compass needle can rotate in any horizontal
direction. A scale on the instrument comprises four quadrants, each similar
to a quarter of a circle, while a pointer connected to the needle at a right
angle can give a way to read the scale and take measurements.

When there is no electric current passing through the galvanometer, the

needle is in its natural magnetic direction which is a north-south direction.
To measure the electric current with the tangent galvanometer the base is
rotated in such a way that the plane of the coil is parallel to the compass
needle. The plane then coincides with the magnetic meridian of the Earth.
The box comprising the needle is rotated in a manner so that the aluminium
pointer shows 0° – 0° on the scale.

The electric current which is to be measured is allowed to pass through the

coil. The current passing through the coil generates a magnetic field at the
centre which leads to the deflection of the compass needle. The pointer
deflects through a similar angle and the same for both ends is read from the
scale. Then the average of these two values is calculated.

Suppose the magnitude of the current flowing through the coil is i, the radius
of the coil is r and the number of turns in it is n. Then the magnitude of the
magnetic field produced at the centre is,

B=μ0in/2r

This field is in the perpendicular direction to that of the plane of the coil. This
direction is horizontal and perpendicular to the magnetic meridian and hence
to the horizontal component BH of the earth’s magnetic field. The resultant
horizontal magnetic field is,

BR = (B2 + BH2)1/2---- (1)

in the direction making an angle θ with BH

Where,
tanθ = B/BH ----- (2)

If m is the pole strength of the needle, the force on the north pole of the
needle is mBR, along BR, and on the south pole is mBR, in the direction
opposite to BR. The needle will stay in equilibrium when its length is parallel
to BR because then no torque is produced by the two forces. Thus, the
deflection of the needle from its original position is θ as given by using (2).
Now, clearly, from equations (1) and (2), we have,

 BH × tanθ =μ0in/2r

 i=(2RbH/ μ0n)×tanθ

 i=Ktanθ

where, K=(2rBH)/(μ0n) (constant)

K is a constant value for a provided galvanometer at a fixed location. This

constant is referred to as the reduction factor of the galvanometer.

Sensitivity of Tangent Galvanometer

Good sensitivity means that the change in deflection is large for a given
fractional change in the current.

Clearly, we have current flowing through the coil, i is

i=Ktanθ —(i)

On differentiating both sides,

di=Ksec2θdθ —(ii)

On dividing equation (ii) by (i), we obtained,

 Di/i = Ksec2θdθ/Ktanθ = dθ/sin2θ

dθ=1/2×Sin2θ×di/i

Thus, to obtain good sensitivity, Sin 2θ should be as large as possible. This is

the case when θ must equal 45°. So, the tangent galvanometer is most
sensitive in cases when the deflection is somewhere around 45°.

Uses of Tangent Galvanometer

A tangent galvanometer is very much similar to the galvanometer in terms
of functionality. Let’s discuss some more uses of the tangent galvanometer.

o It can be used to measure Earth’s magnetic horizontal component.

o It can be used for calibration purposes of secondary instruments.

o · It makes possible the investigation of the vector nature of magnetic

fields and it helps in understanding how they add vectorially.

o One can easily verify the relationship between the magnetic field inside
the current loop, the current itself, and the number of turns with a
tangent galvanometer. Here, the Earth’s field is used as a reference.
 o It helps in the determination of the accurate strength of the magnetic
field of the Earth.

o It helps in investigating the magnetic field at the central portion of a

loop of wire that carries current.

o Facilitates the verification of the right-hand rule for the field inside
the current loop.

SUMMARY

The tangent galvanometer refers to a device that facilitates the

measurement of current according to the principle of tangent law. It helps in
the measurement of the presence, direction, and power of the currents.
These instruments have the following main parts- a vertical copper wire, a
circular frame, and a compass needle in the middle. In the year 1834, J.J.
Nervander designed this instrument. It was more sensitive than the
electromagnetic galvanometer. There are various uses of tangent
galvanometer pertaining to electric current and magnetic field.
 .

Plotting The Earth’s Magnetic Field

STEPS :-
1. Setting up the Experiment:
• Place the bar magnet on a flat, non-magnetic surface to ensure stability.
• Ensure the bar magnet is free to rotate so that its orientation can be
adjusted during the experiment.
• Confirm that the experiment is conducted in an area with minimal
external magnetic interference.

2. Finding the Magnetic North:

• Allow the bar magnet to come to rest.

• Identify the end pointing towards the Earth's geographic north as the
magnetic north pole.

• This is the end that attracts the north-seeking pole of a compass.

 3. Placing the Compass Needle:

• Position the compass needle near the north pole of the bar magnet.

• Observe and note the direction in which the compass needle aligns
itself. This direction represents the local magnetic field direction.

4. Marking Points:
• Mark the position of the compass needle on the graph paper.

• Rotate the bar magnet to different angles and repeat, marking new
positions of the compass needle.

• This step helps in creating a set of data points for mapping the
magnetic field lines.
 5. Connecting Points:
• Connect the marked points on the graph paper to form a smooth line.

• This line represents the direction of the magnetic field at those points
around the bar magnet. Magnetic field lines typically extend from the
north pole to the south pole.

6. Repeat for Different Locations:

• Move the bar magnet to different locations on the graph paper.

• Repeat steps 3-5 for each new location to create a map of magnetic
field lines around the magnet.

• This step helps in observing how the magnetic field lines vary at
different positions.
7. Using the Tangent Galvanometer:

• Place the tangent galvanometer near the bar magnet.

• Connect the galvanometer to the bar magnet using conducting wires.

• Adjust the orientation of the bar magnet to align it with the magnetic
meridian (the north-south direction).

8. Mapping Magnetic Field Lines:

• Record the deflection angle of the galvanometer needle when aligned
with the magnetic meridian.

• Combine data from the compass needle and tangent galvanometer

readings.

• Use the compass needle data to determine the direction of the

magnetic field lines and the galvanometer readings for an estimate of
the field strength.
 • Map the magnetic field lines on the graph paper by considering both

direction and strength information.

9. Analysis:
• Analyse the magnetic field lines to understand Earth's magnetic field at
different locations.

• Note any patterns or variations in strength and direction.

• Compare and contrast the qualitative information obtained from the

compass needle with the quantitative information from the tangent
galvanometer
PRECAUTIONS:

• Ensure the stability of the bar magnet during measurements.

• Take readings at various distances and angles from the magnet.

• Account for and minimize external magnetic influences.

• Follow safety guidelines and procedures in the laboratory.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT EARTH’S MAGNETIC

FIELD

• The Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field known as the geomagnetic

field.

• The magnetic field is not constant.

• The Earth’s magnetic field is generated by the motion of molten iron

alloys in the outer core.

• Geological evidence suggests that the Earth’s magnetic field has

reversed its polarity multiple times throughout history.

• Solar storms, also known as coronal mass ejections, release highly

energized particles that can be harmful to life on Earth. The magnetic
field acts as a shield, deflecting and trapping these particles in
the magnetosphere.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

• https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?leph1=0-8

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_magnetic_field

• https://www.niser.ac.in/sps/sites/default/files/basic_page/
Tangent%20Galvanometer.pdf

• https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/bar-magnet/

• https://www.sciencephoto.com/

• https://iitr.ac.in/Academics/static/Department/Physics/Pre
paratory/Spring/2._Bar_magnet.pdf.

• Tangent Galvanometer: Learn Working, Formula, Experiment,

Uses (testbook.com)

• https://facts.net/science/geography/11-intriguing-facts-
about-earths-magnetic-field/