Index

Introduction
Materials Required
Principle
Diagram
Theory
Procedure
Observations
Calculations
Result
Precautions
Sources of error
Bobliography

Materials Required
Tangent galvanometer (TG),
Rheostat (R),
Battery (E),
Ammeter (A),
Key (k)
Reversing key
Connecting wires
Metre scale

Principle
When a bar magnet is suspended in two
Magnetic fields B and Bh, it comes to rest
making an angle with the direction of Bh.

Diagram

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 nonmagnetic 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 earths
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 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,

Equating (1) and (2), we get,

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 earths magnetic
field Bh is,

Procedure:
For performing in real life
Connections are made as shown in the figure, 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 earths
magnetic field Bh .

The magnetic field can be calculated as

follows:
1. Make the circuit connections in accordance
with the circuit diagram.
2.
Using a spirit level, level the base and
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 of the mirror fixed at the
base of the compass box and the coil ie all
these three lie in the same vertical plane. In
this setting, the ends of aluminum pointer
should reads 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 mark.
4. By closing the key K, the current flows in the
galvanometer. Read the both ends of the
pointer. Now reverse the direction of current
by using the reserve key. when the mean
values of deflections shown by the pointer in
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.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

By adjusting the rheostat, bring the deflection

in galvanometer around 45 degree. The
deflection should not be outside the range(3060).
Record the reading of the ammeter and the
deflection of the compass needle in a box
shown by two ends of pointer of the scale.
Reverse the current in the coil of the
galvanometer and again record the current
and deflection of needle.
By changing the value of current, take four
more set of reading and plot the graph
between I and tan. The graph will be a
straight line.
Measure the inner and outer diameter of the
coil with a half metre scale at least 3 times.

Observations
Range of ammeter r=_____________A
Least count of ammeter = __________A
Zero error in ammeter = __________A
Number of turns used (N) = __________
Table for Variation of with I.
S.
No.

Value of deflection,
For direct
current
1
2

For reverse
current
3
4

Mean

Tan

Ammeter Reading
(A)
Observed Corrected

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Table for radius of tangent galvanometer

S. no. Inner
diameter
d1
1.
2.
3.

Outer
diameter
d2

Mean
Mean
Diameter Radius
d

Calculations
Result
The value of earths magnetic field by
using tangent galvanometer is
H = _________, G = _________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. All the readings must be adjusted
between 30o and 600.

Sources of error
1. There may be a magnetic material
around the apparatus.
2. The plane of the coil will not be exactly in
the magnetic meridian.

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.

Bibliography
http://amrita.vlab.co.in/?
sub=1&brch=192&sim=1049&cn
t=2
Comprehensive Physics Practical
Book
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvano
meter
o Tangent Galvanometer
(Procedure) : Electricity &
Magnetism Virtual Lab : Physical
Sciences : Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham Virtual Lab
amrita.vlab.co.in/?
sub=1&brch=192&sim=10
49&cnt=2
o Tangent Galvanometer
(Theory) : Electricity &
Magnetism Virtual Lab : Physical

 Sciences : Amrita Vishwa

Vidyapeetham Virtual Lab
amrita.vlab.co.in/?
sub=1&brch=192&sim=10
49&cnt=1
o Tangent
Galvanometer

http://physics.kenyon.edu/EarlyA
pparatus/Electrical_Measurement
s/Tangent_Galvan
ometer/Tangent_Galvanometer.ht
ml
o Galvanometer - Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia

Observations and
Graph
Radius of the coil, a = 7.72cm
Number of turns in the coil = 2
Circumference of the coil,2a =
48.5cm

Trail
Numbe
r

Ammete
r
Reading
(A)

Pointer Deflection in
Degrees
Direct

Reverse

2 3

Mean

(degre
e)

tan

(degre
e)

K=1/tan

(A)

Bh

(I)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.11

10
20
30
40
45
50
55
60

10
20
30
40
45
50
55
60

15
30
40
50
55
60
65
70

15
30
40
50
55
60
65
70

12
25
35
45
50
55
60
65

o.22
0.57
0.77
1.00
1.19
1.43
1.73
2.14

2.27
1.75
2.14
2.00
2.10
2.09
2.03
1.87

3.6
7
2.8
3
3.4
6
3.2
4
3.4
0
3.3
8
3.2
8
3.0
3

3.To determine the

reduction factor of
T.G. :
Reduction factor K of the tangent
galvanometer can be determined.
From the graph drawn as,
K=A
B
B
C

Result: The reduction factor of the

given tangent galvanometer,
K = 2.03_A
Horizontal component of Earths
magnetic field,
Bh = 3.28x104 T

10
10