ODISHA ADARSHA VIDYALAYA, SUTEI,

REMUNA,BALASORE

PHYSICS PROJECT

SESSION : 2024-2025
A PROJECT REPORT ON
TO STUDY THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD USING A COMPASS
NEEDLE - BAR MAGNET BY PLOTTING MAGNETIC FIELD LINES
AND TANGENT GALVANO METER

SUBMITTED BY
JEEBAN BALLAV BINDHANI
CLASS - 12TH (SCIENCE)
ROLL NO : 15

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

MRS. JYOTIRMAYEE DASH
PGT (PHYSICS)
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the investigatory project report
entitled“TO STUDY THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD
USING A COMPASS NEEDLE - BAR MAGNET BY
PLOTTING MAGNETIC FIELD LINES
AND TANGENT GALVANO METER”
Submitted by Jeeban Ballav Bindhani , Student Of Class
XII is original and has been completed under my
supervision and is completed in all due respect for
CBSE 2024-2025

_____________ ______________
Teacher's Signature Principal's Signature

_______________
External Examiner's Signature

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am Jeeban Ballav Bindhani studied in Odisha

Adarsha Vidyalaya pursuing 12TH Science. 8 would like to
express my special thanks of gratitude to my Physics
Teacher (Mrs. Jyotirmayee Dash) who gave me the
golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the
topic “TO STUDY THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD
USING A COMPASS NEEDLE - BAR MAGNET BY
PLOTTING MAGNETIC FIELD LINES AND TANGENT
GALVANO METER”,
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 her.

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 INDEX
S.No TOPIC Page No

1 Aim 4

2 Introduction 5-9

3 Applications 9

4 Apparatus and Material Required 10-11

5 Theory 12-13

6 Procedure 13-15

7 Observation and Calculation 15-16

8 Graph and Result 16-17

9 Precautions 17

10 Facts 18

11 Bibliography 19

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 AIM
The aim of the project is to study the Earth’s magnetic field and find its
value (BH) using a tangent galvanometer.

Tangent Galvanometer

Top View of Tangent Galvanometer

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 INTRODUCTION
Earth's magnetic field, also known as the geomagnetic field, is the
magnetic field that extends from the Earth's interior to where it meets the
solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun. Its
magnitude at the Earth's surface ranges from 25 to 65 microteslas (0.25 to
0.65 gauss).Roughly speaking it is the field of a magnetic dipole currently
tilted at an angle of about 10 degrees with respect to Earth's rotational
axis, as if there were a bar magnet placed at that angle at the center of the
Earth. Unlike a bar magnet, however, Earth's magnetic field changes over
time because it is generated by a geodynamic (in Earth's case, the motion
of molten iron alloys in its outer core).

The North and South magnetic poles wander widely, but sufficiently
slowly for ordinary compasses to remain useful for navigation. However,
at irregular intervals averaging several hundred thousand years, the
Earth's field reverses and the North and South Magnetic Poles relatively
abruptly switch places. These reversals of the geomagnetic poles leave a
record in rocks that are of value to paleomagnetists in calculating
geomagnetic fields in the past. Such information in turn is helpful in
studying the motions of continents and ocean floors in the process of plate
tectonics.

The magnetosphere is the region above the ionosphere and extends

several tens of thousands of kilometers into space, protecting the Earth
from the charged particles of the solar wind and cosmic rays that would
otherwise strip away the upper atmosphere, including the ozone layer that
protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Earth's magnetic field serves to deflect most of the solar wind, whose
charged particles would otherwise strip away the ozone layer that protects
the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. One stripping mechanism is
for gas to be caught in bubbles of magnetic field, which are ripped off by
solar winds.

The intensity of the field is often measured in gauss (G), but is generally
reported in nanoteslas (nT), with 1 G = 100,000 nT. A nanotesla is also
referred to as a gamma (γ).The tesla is the SI unit of the Magnetic field, B.

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The field ranges between approximately 25,000 and 65,000 nT (0.25–0.65
G).

Near the surface of the Earth, its magnetic field can be closely
approximated by the field of a magnetic dipole positioned at the center of
the Earth and tilted at an angle of about 10° with respect to the rotational
axis of the Earth. The dipole is roughly equivalent to a powerful bar
magnet, with its South Pole pointing towards the geomagnetic North Pole.
The north pole of a magnet is so defined because, if allowed to rotate
freely, it points roughly northward (in the geographic sense). Since the
north pole of a magnet attracts the south poles of other magnets and
repels the north poles, it must be attracted to the South Pole.

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TANGENT GALVANOMETER
Principle

The tangent galvanometer works on the principle of tangent law.

Tangent law of Magnetism

● The tangent law of magnetism states that the tangent of the angle
of a compass needle which is due to the movement under the
influence of magnetic field is directly proportional to the ratio of
strengths of two perpendicular magnetic fields

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● In simpler words, the tangent of the angle made by the moving
needle under the magnetic field directly indicates the strength of the
perpendicular magnetic fields.

Definition
● Tangent galvanometer is the device which was used to measure
small amounts of electric current.

Construction
● The working of tangent galvanometer is based on the principle
of tangent law of magnetism.

● It consists of a coil of insulated copper wire wound on a

circular non-magnetic frame.

● It is utmost necessary that the coil wound is done in helical

arrangement otherwise, the field due to the wire will affect the
compass needle, thus inducing an error in the reading.

● This frame is mounted vertically on a horizontal base for

support.

● The coil of insulated copper wire is usually rotated on a vertical

axis passing through its centre.

● A small sized magnetic compass with a powerful magnetic

needle is made to pivote at the centre of this coil, such that it is
free to rotate in a horizontal plane.

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● The circular scale is used to read the movement of this
magnetic needle which is divided into four quadrants, each
ranging from 0° to 90°.
● A pointer is attached to this needle at right angles, usually
made up of thin alluminium as alluminium is lighter in mass.
● The usual way of discarding possibilities of parallax is also
used i.e placing of a plane mirror below the compass needle.

Working

● The instrument needle starts moving firstly under the influence

of Earth's magnetic field.

● Movement continues untill the magnetic field of earth is

parallel with the plane of coil.

● Then, on application of an uknown current, a second magnetic

field on the axis of the coil which is perpendicular to the Earth's
magnetic field is created.

● Hence the compass needle responds to the vector sum of the

two fields.

● This deflection angle is equal to the tangent of the ratio of

those two fields.

APPLICATIONS
1. T.G. can be used to measure the magnitude of the horizontal
component of the geomagnetic field.

2. The principle can be used to compare the galvanometer

constants.

3. For calibration of secondary instruments.

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APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED

➢ Tangent Galvanometer (TG),

➢ Commutator (C),
➢ Rheostat (R),
➢ Battery (E),
➢ Ammeter (A),
➢ Key (K),

Plug Key

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11
 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 working of tangent
galvanometer is based on the tangent law. It is stated as when a magnet is suspended
freely in magnetic field F and H, the magnet comes to rest making an angle θ with the
direction H such that,
Eq 1: F = H tan θ

When a bar magnet is suspended in two Magnetic fields B and Bh,

it comes to rest making an angle θ with the direction of Bh.
Let a current I be passed through the coil of radius R, having turns N.
Then magnetic field produced at the center of coil is,

Eq 2 : 𝐹 = μ0 2πIN
4πR

Let H is the horizontal component of earth’s

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magnetic field and the magnetic needle comes to rest at angle 𝜃 with the
direction of H, then according Eq. (1),

𝐻𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =μ0 2πIN

4π R

𝐻𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 10-7 2πIN

𝑅

Eq 3 : 𝐻 = 2π×10-⁷IN
𝑅𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃

by substituting the value of current I, from eq. (3),

Eq 4: 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 𝐼 = 𝜇0 2𝜋𝑁
4𝜋 RH

radius of coil of galvanometer R, deflection 𝜃 and N, the value of H can

be calculated.

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 T.G coil relative to the earth’s
magnetic field H

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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

PROCEDURE FOR PERFORMING THE EXPERIMENT

1. Make the circuit connections in accordance with the circuit diagram.
2. Using spirit level, level the base and the compass needle in
compass box of tangent galvanometer by adjusting the leveling
screw.
3. Now rotate the coil of the galvanometer about its vertical axis, till the
magnetic needle, its image in the plane mirror fixed at the base ofthe
compass box and the coil, i.e.all
4. These three lie in the same vertical plane.
5. In this setting, the ends of the aluminium pointer should read
zero-zero. If this is not so, rotate the box without disturbing the
position of the coiltill at least one of the ends of the pointer stands at
the zero marks.
6. By closing the key K, the current flow in the galvanometer. Read the
both ends of the pointer. Now reverse the direction of current by
using the reversing key. When the mean values of both deflections
shown by the pointer in the two cases (i.e. before and after
reversing the current) differ by more than 1o, then turn slightly the
vertical coil until the two values agree. This will set the plane of the
coil exactly in the magnetic meridian.
7. By adjusting the rheostat, bring the deflection in galvanometer
around 45o. The deflection should not be outside the range
(30o-60o).

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 ● Record the reading of the ammeter and the deflection of the
compass needle in the box shown by two ends of pointer on the
scale.
● Reverse the current in the coil of galvanometer and again record the
current and deflection of needle.
● By changing the value of current, take four or more set of readings
and plot the graph between I and tan𝜃. The graph will be a straight
line.
● Measure the inner and the outer diameter of the coil with a half
meter scale at least three times.

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS

Table 1. For variation of 𝜽 with I

S.No Value of deflection θ (degree) Mean tan θ Ammeter

reading (A)
For direct For reverse
current current

θ1 θ2 θ3 θ4 Obs Correct
ed

1. 35 35 35 35 35 0.70 0.15 0.15

2. 49 47 60 64 53.6 1.36 0.20 0.20

3. 36 36 55 58 46.25 1.04 0.25 0.25

4. 50 50 65 68 58.2 1.61 0.30 0.30

5. 45 45 64 65 53.8 1.37 0.27 0.27

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 Table 2. For radius of tangent Galvanometer

S.No Inner Outer Mean Mean

diamete diameter diameter radius
r d1 (cm) d2 (cm) d (cm)

1. 16.0×10-2 16.40×10-2 16.20×10-2 8.10×10-2

2. 16.16×10-2 16.08×10-2 16.12×10-2 8.06×10-2

3. 16.06×10-2 16.10×10-2 16.08×10-2 8.04×10-2

Mean radius of coil R = 8.04 × 10−2

GRAPH

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Slope of straight line = BC
AC

m = tanθ
I
Now substitute the m in Eq. (4),
m = μ0 2πN
4π RH

Then, H = = 7.6867 × 10−8 𝑇

RESULT
The value of earth’s magnetic field by using a tangent galvanometer
is
H = 7.6867 × 10−8 𝑇

PRECAUTIONS
1. The battery should be freshly charged.

2. The magnetic needle should swing freely in the horizontal

plane.

3. The plane of coil must be set in magnetic meridian.

4. There should be no parallax in noting down the readings of

ammeter and deflection.

5. All the readings should be adjusted between 30o and 60o.

SOURCES OF ERROR

1. There may a magnetic material around apparatus.

2. The plane of coil will not be exactly in the magnetic meridian.

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 FACTS
The tangent galvanometer is an early measuring instrument for
Current
➢ The magnetic field produced by a circular coil carrying current
I is Proportional to I.
➢ The S.I unit of magnetic field is Tesla .
➢ The magnitude of horizontal intensity of earth’s magnetic field
is3.5x10⁻⁵ T .
➢ For better result while doing tangent galvanometer experiment,
the deflection should be in between 30o-60o.

➢ The value of μ₀ is 4πx10⁻⁷ NA⁻².

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

➢ Tangent Galvanometer (Procedure):Comprehensive

Physics Activities Volume I :Laxmi Publications Pvt Ltd.
➢ Tangent Galvanometer (Theory) : Comprehensive
Physics Activities Volume I : Laxmi Publications Pvt Ltd.
➢ Tangent Galvanometer (Precautions and Sources of error):
Comprehensive
Physics Activities Volume I : Laxmi Publications Pvt Ltd.
➢ Galvanometer:http://physics.kenyon.edu/EarlyApparatus/Electrial_
Measurements/Tangent_Galvanometer/Tangent_Galvanometer.html
➢ Galvanometer: Wikipedia, the free
encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanometer

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