PROJECT REPORT ON

DETERMINATION OF EARTH’S
MAGNETIC FIELD USING TANGENT
GALVANOMETER

SUBMITTED BY

ASWATH. S
XII - S : (142)
2023 - 2024
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Mr. M. VIGNESH KUMAR , M.Sc.,M.Phil.,B.Ed.,

P.G.Assistant in Physics ,
 Kshatriya Vidhya Sala English Medium School,

Virudhunagar

Presentation Inspiration and Motivation has always played a key role in

success of any venture

I am ineffably indebted to our Principal Mr. P. Rajasekaran, M.Sc., M.Phil.,

B.Ed., for conscientious guidance and encouragement to accomplish this
assignment

I am extremely thankful and pay my gratitude to my faculty

Mr. M. Vignesh Kumar, M.Sc., M.Phil., B.Ed., for his valuable guidance and
support on completion of this project in its presently.

I extend my gratitude to Kshatriya Vidhya Sala English Medium School for

giving me this opportunity

I also acknowledge with a deep sense of reverence, my gratitude towards

my Parents and members of my family, who has always supported me morally as
well as economically.

On the very outset of this report, gratitude goes to all my friends who
directly or indirectly helped me to complete this project report.
 At last but not least, I would like to extend my sincere and heartfelt
obligation towards all the personages who have directly or indirectly helped me
in this endeavour.

Thanking You

I hereby declare that the project entitled “Determination of Earth’s

Magnetic field using Tangent Galvanometer” is a record of original project

work done by me for the AISSCE PHYSICS PRACTICAL

EXAMINATION (2023 - 2024) under the supervision and the guidance of Mr. M.

Vignesh Kumar, M.Sc., M.Phil., B.Ed., P.G. Assistant in Physics, Kshatriya Vidhya

Sala English Medium School, Virudhunagar.

[ASWATH. S]
 Kshatriya Vidhya Sala English Medium School
Virudhunagar

This is to certify that the project entitled “Determination of Earth’s Magnetic

field using Tangent Galvanometer “is a record of original project work done by

ASWATH. S, of class XII-S, Kshatriya Vidhya Sala English Medium School,

Virudhuangar. The report is found worthy of acceptance as Final project for the

AISSCE Physics Practical Examination

(2023-2024)
 1

INDEX

S.No Topic
1 Aim

2 Introduction

3 Applications

4 Apparatus and Materials required

5 Theory

6 Procedure

7 Observation and Calculation

8 Graph and Result

9 Precautions

10 Facts

11 Bibliography
 2

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
 3

Top view of a Tangent galvanometer

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.
 4

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.
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
 5

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.

TANGENT GALVANOMETER

Principle
The tangent galvanometer works on the principle of tangent law.
 6

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.
• 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.

 7

• 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.

• 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.
 8

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.

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED

 Tangent Galvanometer (TG),

 Commutator (C),
 Rheostat (R),
 Battery (E),
 Ammeter (A),
 Key (K),
 9

Plug Key
 10

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,
 11

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 centre of coil is,

Eq 2 : 𝐹 = μ0 2πIN
4π R

Let H is the horizontal component of earth’s

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
 12

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.
 13

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 of the
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 coil
till 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.
 14

7. By adjusting the rheostat, bring the deflection in galvanometer around

45o. The deflection should not be outside the range (30o-60o).

8. 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.

9. Reverse the current in the coil of galvanometer and again record the
current and deflection of needle.

10. 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.

11. Measure the inner and the outer diameter of the coil with a half metre
scale at least three times.

RESULT

The value of earth’s magnetic field by using a tangent galvanometer is

determined

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.

 15

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.

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.
 16

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/Electrical_Measurements/
Tangent_Galvanometer/Tangent_Galvanometer.html
Galvanometer: Wikipedia, the free
encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanometer
17